Sweet Nothings Crochet: ONE PIECE EASY BOLERO (child & adult sizes)

One piece Easy bolero - (Child & adult sizes) - free crochet pattern info from Sweet Nothings Crochet

Sweet Nothings Crochet free crochet pattern blog ; photo of adult bolero ; this blog has video tutorials for all stitches used in this project ;

This bolero is a quick project – and it can be made in several sizes.
I’ve made it first for a little girl (Size 26”) and then again for an adult (Size 33”).

Neither pattern are originally mine.. these are just my notes for my creations.
As many a times, we find that the yarns used in the original pattern do not match our Indian available yarns, here are my notes with those inclusions.

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GIRL’S BOLERO / SHRUG

This is NOT my pattern and for the original pattern, please visit the link here

Materials used : Vardhaman millennium, DK ply ; about 70 – 80 gms ; with a 4.5 mm crochet hook ; fabric glue to seal ends

This yarn is not specific for this project.

You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros e ; Red rose metallic or unbranded knitting cotton as well as Oswal acrylic yarns

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.

Size made : Chest size 26”

Skill level : Intermediate, advanced beginner

Notes : The little girl’s bolero and the ‘big girl’ bolero are basically the same idea.. the main difference is that in the lil girl’s bolero, the designer has not used a pattern for the square back piece. So if you want the patterned back, please read the first few lines of the ladies bolero.

Now how does one figure out how big a back needed ??

Well, as you will see from diagram below, the square back portion should cover all of back – so if you get an approx across back in that square, your creation will fit the young ‘un you wish to make this for

There is a small difference in the back portions for kid and adult bolero :

For the adult bolero, back is larger, so you will only use part of this back portion for the armhole.

For the child bolero, you will go along the top edge, then chains for one armhole till bottom edge, again work along the bottom edge and make chains for the other armhole, attaching at the top edge where you’ve started.

So a quick diagram to re-iterate what I’ve explained.

Finally, I used only one colour for my kid bolero (original pattern uses two colours), and followed the pattern with our Vardhaman yarn, and it’s worked out well for me. Hope you have fun making it as well.

LADIES BOLERO / SHRUG

Abbreviations (U.S terminology)

fsc : Foundation single crochet
dc : Double crochet

ch : Chain
sl-st : Slip stitch

Instructions (Using U.S terminology)

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog (as well as through the blog) for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement. This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.

We make this ladies bolero, as we do for the small child’s one – by first making the square at the back, then working in a round to make the bolero.

So before we rush off to make this, I’d like to give you a diagrammatic idea of what we’re going to do.

This is NOT my pattern and for the original pattern, just my notes on making this pattern.

Materials used : Baby 4-ply by Stylecraft ; about 90 gms ; with a 4.5 mm crochet hook

Stylecraft is not an Indian yarn, however, I find that this yarn is similar to our regular unbranded or Oswal 4 ply acrylic yarn, Vardhaman baby soft yarn, or Oswal Cashmilon yarn.

Size made : Chest size 32” (I’ve done the square = 35 cm x 35 cm)

Once again, only given for estimation of yarn requirement.

You can make this project to any size.

Skill level : Intermediate to advanced

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY

Now the original pattern chart shows 3 sizes for this back portion of 35 cm, 37 cm and 39 cm for a Small (S), Medium (M) and Large (L) size.

The pattern for the back is in multiples of 5.
So make the first row to equal the S,M or L size you wish accordingly.

Per my calculations, the S is a 32-33”, just for information.

AND, (like you don't have enough numbers and ideas spinning in your head) here's another idea.

For this project I suggest you lay down a t-shirt or top that fits you well, and mark out how you want this back.

I always find that using a template helps a lot in visualising your end result.

OK so first we will work on the pattern for square back.

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Row 1 : Start with fsc in multiples of 5. Turn.

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

What is a chain stitch ? https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY

Row 2 : sc in 1^st fsc ;

ch 5, sk next 4 fsc, sc in next fsc ;

*ch 5, sk next 4 fsc, sc in next fsc* ;

rep from *to* till 2^nd last fsc ;
sc in last fsc. Turn.

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Row 3 : dc in 1^st sc ;

5 dc in ch-5 sp ;

*ch 2, sc in next ch-5 sp ;
ch 2, 5 dc in next ch-5 sp* ;

rep from *to* till end ;
dc in last sc. Turn.

Row 4 : sc in the 1^st st ;

*ch 5, sk next 4 dc, sc in the next dc ;

ch 5, sk both ch-2 sps and sc, sc in next dc* ;

rep from *to* till end. Turn.

Row 5 : dc in 1^st sc ;

ch 2, sc in the 1^st ch-5 sp ;

ch 2, 5 dc in the next ch-5 sp ;

*ch 2, sc in next ch-5 sp ;
ch 2, 5 dc in next ch-5 sp* ;

rep from *to* till last ch-5 sp ;
dc in last sc. Turn.

Row 6 : sc in the 1^st st ;

*ch 5, sk next 4 dc, sc in the next dc ;

ch 5, sk both ch-2 sps and sc, sc in next dc* ;

rep from *to* till end. Turn.

Rep Rows 3 - 6 till your back fits that template you've made earlier.

Note : In the last row, work sc’s in such a way that you get the original number of sts you started with in the first fsc row.

Right so we’ve made the back piece, now we will work in rounds and get the sleeves and front ‘vest’ bits in.

So once more a quick explanation of what we’re going to do –

We will work a set of chain along both the sides of this square which will be your armhole. The designer has given instructions of leaving 17.5 cm from the top (of back square) for armhole.

May I suggest that if the 17.5 cm opening does not work for you, please use a half round armhole measure.

Body of Bolero

Note : As we’re using the original chart for guidance, and the first row of chain has not been numbered, I am calling this first row as a start round.

We are now going to work in a round all around the square we've made, creating the armhole spaces as we go around.

What is a crochet slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Start Round : sc in 1^st st ;

*ch 5, sk 4 sts, sc in next st* ;

rep from *to* till end of this row ;

then make a long ch in multiples of five (that equals half your round arm) ;

sc in st about 18 cm from top (or the length from top that equals to half your round arm) ;

rep from *to* till you reach the opposite side of your square where your armhole is needed, and leaving the space for your armhole with the chains ;

rep *to* till end.
Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Please note

(A) that the ch shown for armhole is diagrammatic representation and not actual st count

(B) For reference : My calculations : Round armhole = 14” ; ch number made = 35 ; attached onto top of the 5^th set of 5 dc (the 5 dc in the 5 ch-sp we’ve done on back)

(D) Silly but practical – when you’ve finished your armhole opening, slip on to check that it fits comfortably – else now’s the time to make the changes needed

Small shell : (dc, ch 1, dc) all in the same st or ch-sp

Large shell : (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in the same st or ch-sp

Round 1 : small shell in the 1^st sc ;

ch 3, sc in the next ch-5 sp ;
*ch 3, large shell in next ch-5 sp ;
ch 3, sc in the next ch-5 sp ; ch 3, small shell in the next ch-5 sp ;
ch 3, sc in the next ch-5 sp* ;
rep from *to* till end.
Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.