What would winter be without a cheeky item in your closet? An item that takes away the hassle when you have a lunch out, an exhibition to visit, or ramen for dinner, but you don't want to get too dressed up. When you want simplicity without giving up style. There is a solution because we have a pattern to make a truly original bolero. With long batwing sleeves, a nice consistent cuff and needlework that makes the bolero light and with an interesting see-through effect.
The yarn matched for this project is our precious Sierra. A yarn with a generous percentage of baby alpaca. Here seen in the colour Horizon, however, you can find other beautiful colours on our shop.
Shall we begin?
MATERIALS
Sierra yarn col. Horizon 175 g / 6.2 oz
Needles n° 5 EU / 8 US
Safety pins
Wool needle
GAUGE
10 cm x 10 cm / 4" x 4"
15 stitches and 17 rows
in elongated cross-stitch
STITCHED USED
Knit
Purl
Twisted stitch:
knit the stitch in the back loop of the stitch below.
Twisted purl:
purl the stitch in the back loop of the stitch underneath.
Garter stitch:
knit all rows
Ribs 2/2:
work alternating 2 knit stitches and 2 purl stitches on both the right side and the wrong side of the piece.
Wrapped stitch:
insert the right needle into the next stitch and wrap the thread 4 times around the tip of the needle, then knit the stitch, passing the 4 wrapped threads through the stitch.
Crossing 4 elongated stitches:
knit 4 stitches with the thread behind the work, letting the threads wrapped in the previous row fall (4 elongated stitches are formed on the right needle), insert the tip of the left needle into the first 2 of the 4 elongated stitches and overlap them over the 2 elongated stitches next, slip the 4 stitches onto the left needle again and knit them in the order in which they appear (so work the 2 original final stitches first, then the 2 original initial stitches).
Crossing 8 elongated stitches:
knit 8 stitches with the thread behind the work, letting the threads wrapped in the previous row fall (8 elongated stitches are formed on the right needle), and insert the tip of the left needle into the first 4 of the 8 elongated stitches and overlap them over the 4 elongated stitches next, slip the 8 stitches onto the left needle again and knit them in the order in which they appear (so work the 4 original final stitches first, then the 4 original initial stitches).
Elongated cross stitch:
knit on 8 stitches (if no other stitches are preceding or following, knit 1 edge stitch at the beginning and end of the row on all rows).
From row 1 to row 4: knit all
row 5: 1 wrapped stitch in each following stitch
row 6: knit 1 cross stitch of 4 lengthened stitches, then repeat 1 cross stitch of 8 lengthened stitches until the last 4 stitches, knit 1 cross of 4 lengthened stitches
from row 7 to row 10: knit all
row 11: 1 wrapped stitch in each following stitch
row 12: repeat (1 cross of 8 elongated stitches) until the end of the row.
Repeat from row 1 to row 12.
Increased stitch:
pick up the thread between the worked stitch and the next and work 1 twisted stitch.
Increased Purl:
pick up the thread between the stitch worked and the next and work 1 twisted purl.
DIMENSIONS OF FINISHED PIECE
Length 160 cm / 63"
Width 72 cm / 24.34" (at widest point)
DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
PROCEDURE
The shrug is worked flat and is made up of a single piece, sewn at the ends to form the cuffs.
Cast on 38 stitches with needles n° 5 EU / 8 US.
Row 1: Purl 2, repeat (knit 2, purl 2) to the end of the row
row 2: knit 2, repeat (purl 2, knit 2) until the end of the row.
Rows 1 and 2 set the 2/2 rib knit, repeat them another 8 times, then work row 1 once more (you will arrive at row 19).
Row 20: Knit 1, increase stitch 1, knit 1, repeat (purl 1, increase purl 1, purl 1, knit 1, increase stitch 1, increase stitch 1) to the end of the row.
You have completed the first cuff and increased 38 stitches, reaching 76 stitches for the front and back pieces.
From row 21 to row 23: garter on all stitches
row 24: knit the first 6 stitches on the edge, repeat (knit 1, increase stitch 1) 4 times, knit the next stitches up to the last 10 stitches, repeat (increase stitch 1, knit 1) 4 times, knit the last 6 stitches on the edge. You have increased 4 stitches at the beginning and end of the row, inside the 6 edge stitches
row 25: knit the 6 stitches on the edge, continue by working 1 wrapped stitch until the last 6 stitches, knit the last 6 stitches on the edge
row 26: knit the 6 edge stitches, turn over and knit only the 6 edge stitches, turn and knit the 6 edge stitches again, continue and knit 1 cross of 4 elongated stitches, repeat (1 cross of 8 elongated stitches) up to the last 10 stitches, work 1 cross of 4 elongated stitches, then knit the last 6 stitches on the edge, turn and knit only on the 6 stitches on the edge, turn and knit again on the 6 edge stitches. The row is finished, and you have worked 2 more rows on the garter stitches on the edges to compensate for the height of the crossings of elongated stitches
from row 27 to row 30: work garter on all stitches
row 31: work as done for row 25
row 32: knit the 6 edge stitches, turn and knit only the 6 edge stitches, turn and knit the 6 edge stitches again, continue repeating (1 crossing of 8 elongated stitches) until the last 6 stitches, knit the last 6 stitches on the edge, turn and knit only on the 6 stitches on the edge, turn and knit again on the 6 stitches on the edge. The row is finished, and you have worked 2 more rows on the garter stitches at the edges to compensate for the height of the crossings of elongated stitches.
For the last 12 rows, from 21 to 32, set the elongated cross stitch motif with increases and edge of 6 garter stitches, and repeat them 3 more times (you will arrive at row 68 with 108 stitches on the needle).
Rows 69 to 72: garter on all stitches
rows 73 and 74: work as rows 25 and 26
rows 75 to 80: work as rows 27 to 32.
For the last 12 rows, from 69 to 80, set the elongated cross stitch motif with an edge of 6 garter stitches, repeat them once, then work rows from 69 to 72 once (you will arrive at row 96).
Now, to open the neckline, continuing with the repetition of the 12 rows of the motif (starting from row 73), work on the first 54 stitches, then cast on 1 new stitch and turn the work. Continue only on the 55 stitches of this first side, leaving the other 54 stitches hanging on a safety pin. Always following the repetition of 12 rows and always knitting the new stitch cast on, work for 29 rows (you arrive at row 126, corresponding to the repetition of row 78), then leave these 55 stitches hanging on a stitch collecting pin.
Now pick up the needles again, cast on 1 new stitch and, always following the repetition of the 12 rows of the motif (starting from row 73), work 30 rows also on the stitches on the second side: the new stitch cast on is always knitted. Leave these stitches hanging on a safety pin.
Always following the repetition of the 12 rows of the motif (starting from row 79), pick up and work the 54 stitches of the first side, close the last stitch of this side and the first of the second side, then pick up and work the 54 stitches of the second side: you have now completed the opening of the neckline.
Always following the repetition of the 12 rows of the motif, work again on all 108 stitches for another 25 rows (you arrive at row 152, corresponding to the repetition of row 80). Now begin the decreases, symmetrical to the initial increases.
Rows 153 to 155: garter on all stitches
row 156: knit the 6 edge stitches, then knit 2 stitches together 4 times, continue knitting until the last 14 stitches, then knit 2 stitches together 4 times, then knit the last 6 stitches edge stitches. You have decreased 4 stitches at the beginning and end of the row, inside the 6 edge stitches
rows 157 and 158: work as rows 25 and 26
rows 159 to 164: work as rows 27 to 32.
The last 12 rows, from 153 to 164, set the elongated cross stitch motif with decreases and an edge of 6 garter stitches, and repeat them 3 more times (you arrive at row 200 with 76 stitches on the needle).
Rows 201 to 203: work all the garter stitches
row 204: knit 2 stitches together for the entire row.
You now have 38 stitches on the needle, ready to start the second cuff.
Row 205: Purl 2, repeat (knit 2, purl 2) to the end of the row
row 206: knit 2, repeat (purl 2, knit 2) until the end of the row.
For the last 2 rows, 205 and 206, set the 2/2 rib knit, and repeat them 9 more times.
The last 2 rows, 205 and 206, set the 2/2 rib knit, and repeat them 9 more times.
Bind off.
Fold the work in half widthwise, then sew the edges of the 20 starting and ending 2/2 ribbed rows to close the cuffs.
If you enjoyed knitting the bolero and are a knitting enthusiast, then we suggest you read our section dedicated to knitting tutorials. You may find new ideas for your projects.
WRITE A COMMENT