Bolero Sweater
Size
Bust 39" [97 cm] (43" [108 cm]). The sweater shown is size 43". This sweater measures about 15" [37 cm] from shoulder
to hem (including ribbing), and the sleeve measures about 21" [53 cm] before underarms.
Yarn
SandnesGarn Kitten Mohair (30% mohair, 20% wool and 50% acrylic, 178 yards/1.75 oz), 5 balls.
Needles
US #6 (4 mm) circular needles (24"[60 cm] and 32" [80 cm]).
Gauge
18 sts and 27 rows is stockinette st = 4" [10 cm].
This bolero sweater is not so much a close-fitting sweater but something you can just throw on and wear comfortably on
top of a shirt. If you want a more close-fitting sweater, you might need to adjust the size slightly. You can easily do
so by choosing a smaller needle size.
Read the entire pattern before casting on.
Note about the pattern: You will notice there are instructions for increases and decreases given as, for example,
"increase 1 st three times on every 6th row". This means, after an increase row, you will knit 5 rows without changes,
then repeat the increase row, knit 5 rows without changes, and repeat the increase row once more. In short, when
instructions for increases or decreases are given as "increase 4 x 1 st every 6 th row", it means that you will knit 5 rows
between increase rows, and repeat these so that you have increased 4 sts in total.
Back
Cast on 80 (90) st and knit 1,5" [4 cm] in stockinette st. On next RS row, begin decreases for armholes. Decrease on
both edges 1 x 2 sts and 2 x 1 st on every other row for armholes = 72 (82) st. Cont in st st until piece measures 11"
[26,5 cm].
Right shoulder: On next RS row, knit 23 (26) sts, turn, p1, p3tog, p to end. On next row (RS), k all sts until 4
sts remain, k3tog, k1. Knit next row (WS) without decreases. On next row (RS), k all sts until 4 sts remain, k3tog, k1.
Knit 3 rows even in st st, BO all 17 (20) sts.
Left shoulder: Place 26 (30) sts on holder for collar. Knit the remaining 23 (26) sts. Next row (WS), p all sts until
4 sts remain, p3tog tbl, p1. On next row (RS), k1, k3tog tbl, k to end. Knit next row (WS) without decreases, decrease
once more on RS row. Knit 3 rows even, BO all sts.
Left front
Cast on 23 (26) sts. Begin increases on first RS row. Always increase at the end of row (increases will be
on the left edge of work, the right edge will be straight.)
NOTE: Work decreases for armhole shaping after piece measures 4 cm along the straight edge. See instructions for back
for decreases.
Increase using the backward loop method. Increase 3 x 3 (4) sts, 5 x 3 sts, 1 x 2 sts and 9 x 1 sts on every RS row.
Then, increase 3 x 1 st on every other RS row = 57 (63) sts. After last increase, knit 3 rows even, ending with a WS row.
Left shoulder:
R1 (RS): knit 26 (29) sts, turn.
R2: p1, p3tog, p to end.
R3: k until 4 sts remain, k3tog, k1.
R4: p all sts.
R5: k until 3 sts remain, k2tog, k1.
Repeat rows 4 and 5 three more times (4 times total), knit 2 rows even, and repeat rows 4 and 5 once more. Knit 13 rows
even, BO all sts.
Right shoulder:
Place 19 (22) sts on holder for collar. Knit the other shoulder with 12 sts.
R1 (RS): knit all sts, turn.
R2: p until 4 sts remain, p2tog tbl, p1.
R3: k1, k3tog, k to end.
R4: p all sts.
R5: k1, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat rows 4 and 5 three more times (4 times total), knit 2 rows even, and repeat rows 4 and 5 once more. Knit 13 rows
even, BO all sts.
Right front
The right front is knitted exactly as the left front, except the increases (before placing collar sts on hold and knitting
shoulders) are worked at the end of WS rows. The right front is thus the mirror image of the left front.
Work the ribbing in each piece separately. Sew the pieces together after working the ribbing.
Left front:
Pick up 98 (114) sts for ribbing. Work in *k2, p2* ribbing until the ribbing measures about 3,5" [9 cm]. Bo all sts.
Right front:
Knit ribbing as in left front.
Back:
pick up 72 (82) sts for ribbing, work in *k2, p2* ribbing until the ribbing measures about 3,5" [9 cm]. BO all sts.
Collar
Sew the pieces together before knitting the collar. First, join the sideseams. In shoulders, the fronts overlap, so
sew them to the back at the same time. You can either graft the first front (the one that will remain on top)
to the back and then sew the other front onto both back and first front in the WS row, or you can attach both fronts
to the back at the same time.
When joining pieces, please note: the right front will be on top, when the pieces are joined together.
For collar, pick up 100 (112) sts. You will pick up sts on two pieces in the fronts, as the pieces overlap. If this
feels tricky, pick up stitches on the edge of the top (right) front and, when you have finished the collar, sew the
bottom front to the top front on WS row.
Work the *k2, p2* ribbing in the round, until piece measures 10" (or as desired). BO loosely: k2 sts, slip them back
to left needle and k them together tbl. *k next st on left needle, slip both sts back to left needle and k tog tbl*.
Repeat *-* to end.
Sleeves
Cast on 46 (50) sts and knit in *k2, p2* ribbing until piece measures 8,5" [21 cm]. Cont in st st and begin increases.
*Increase row (RS): k1, M1 (pick up the thread between sts, twist it and k into the loop), k until 1 st remain, M1, k1.
Work 3 rows even.* Repeat *-* 20 times = 86 (90) sts. Knit 7 rows even.
Sleeve cap:
R1 (RS): k1, k3tog tbl, k until 4 sts remain, k3tog, k1.
R2: p all sts.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 once more.
R5: k1, k2tog tbl, k until 3 sts remain, k2tog, k1.
R6: p all sts.
Continue by binding off sts on both edges (beg of each row). BO 2 x 3 sts, 2 x 4 sts, 7 x 5 sts and 2 x 6 sts. BO
all sts on next row.
Weave in yarn ends. Block all pieces. Attach sleeves.
I will give out this pattern only for personal use. Any commercial use is strictly prohibited.
If you have any questions, suggestions or corrections, please let me know.