Sweet Nothings Crochet: MAKADEE BOLERO

MAKADEE BOLERO - a free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet

This oh, so beautiful bolero uses two patterns – one is the lovely spider stitch and the other is a basic simple pattern. It is the easy combination of these two patterns that makes this such a gorgeous top. Throw in some multi colored yarn and you end up with an awesome creation.

Makadee is the Hindi word for Spider – so the frown that crossed your forehead in trying to figure out why I named this project just got cleared.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 400 gms of the gorgeous Indian Hobby India All Seasons acrylic yarn with a 3 mm crochet hook ; fabric glue to seal ends ; Mod Podge to stiffen motif
Note : Mod Podge will not work / stiffen acrylic

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

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

Size made : 36” (L/XL)

Yarn quantity given is just for an approximation.

Difficulty level : Intermediate to Advanced Skill level.

Stitches used :

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

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

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

Magic circle : https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

Abbreviations used :

lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single crochet

dc : Double crochet sp : Space

sl-st : Slip stitch ch : Chain

st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : Hook

yo : Yarn Over

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 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.

Before we head off to the project, let’s get an idea of what we’re creating here today.

As always I request you to please go through all my detailed notes before you pick up your hook. There are ideas galore…. Enjoy!

This is a bottom up creation. For this pattern we will start at the base of the top and work our way to the shoulders. We will work one back and two fronts for this bolero.

In case you want to make this into a top, please make two rectangles that are the same for front and back. You may want to make a lower neckline for the front, so all you do is work the pattern as given here, but you just do not divide right at the start. You will work the front for the same width as back, till the neckline. At the neckline, you will work the pattern as given here for shaping.

We will finally work in the sleeves.

Now for sleeves, you do not need to make it a full length sleeve. You can decide to make just a small capped sleeve, or leave it sleeveless.

As we are working with the easy rectangle presentation, you will get a nice off-the-shoulder bit that works as a smallish sleeve. Finish that edge and you have a lovely top.

You can make this into a crop top as well. All you do is work the pattern to the length needed and you are done. Working a smaller set of rectangles, joining at the shoulders and not working any sleeves will give you an awesome off the shoulder loose crop top that will make you the envy of all your friends.

Come along.. so many ideas .. lets’ start.

Now we need calculations :

1. Keep your round bust / round chest / round waist measurements. Use the largest measure.

2. You need to decide the length for your top.

3. You also need a round arm measurement for the sleeves.

4. You need to decide how large a neck opening you want.

Now that you are armed with these basics, here’s what you need to keep in mind before you start.

You need to decide how wide a base spider stitch pattern you want. This width needs to be deducted from the full length you want for your finished top. You will need to work one pattern set to see how many inches you get (this is gauge calculation) before you decide how many repeats you’d like of this pattern.

You can make this to any size, just ensuring that you get the stitch count right.

The stitch count for our pattern is in multiples of 13 + 6 for the width you want for your garment.

For a front open jacket / bolero : make one rectangle for back and two for front.

Or you can follow the chart to make the raglan shoulder cut and sleeves as per chart.

For a top : make two rectangles one each for front and back.

BACK (Make one)

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

Start : with fsc in multiples of 13 + 6 for half your round bust/ waist measurement.

Remember #1 from notes above. Turn.

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

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 1 : dc in the 1^st 3 fsc ;

*ch 1, sk next fsc, dc in the next 3 fsc* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn

Row 2 : dc in the 1^st dc ; sk next 2 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp ;

*ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3dc in the next ch-1 sp* ;

rep *to* till the last 3 dc ;

ch 1, sk next 2 dc, dc in the last dc. Turn.

We will now start with our Spider stitch pattern.

Row 3 : dc in the 1^st dc , 2 dc in the 1^st ch-1 sp ;

*(ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp) ;

rep (to) 2 times ;

ch 7, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp ;

rep (to) once* ;

rep *to* till last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, 2 dc in the last ch-1 sp ; dc in the last dc. Turn.

Row 4 : dc in the 1^st dc ; ch 1, sk next 2 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp ;

*(ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp) ;

rep (to) once ;

[ch 5, 1 sc in the next ch-7 sp ; ch 5, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp]

rep (to) once* ;

rep *to* till last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, 3 dc in the last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, sk next 2 dc, dc in the last dc. Turn.

Row 5 : dc in the 1^st dc , 2 dc in the 1^st ch-1 sp ;

*(ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp) ;

rep (to) once ;

[ch 5, 1 sc in the next ch-5 sp ; sc in the next sc ;

1 sc in the next ch-5 sp ; ch 5, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp]* ;

rep *to* till last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, 3 dc in the last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, 2 dc in the last ch-1 sp, dc in the last dc. Turn.

Row 6 : dc in the 1^st dc ;

ch 1, sk next 2 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp ;

*(ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp) ;

[ch 5, 1 sc in the next ch-5 sp ; sc in the next 3 sc ;

sc in the next ch-5 sp ; ch 5, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp]* ;

rep *to* till last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, 3 dc in the last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, sk next 2 dc, dc in the last dc. Turn.

We’ll start on the next set of the Spider lattice pattern.

Row 7 : dc in the 1^st dc , 2 dc in the 1^st ch-1 sp ;

(ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp) ;

ch 1, sk next 2 dc, dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next ch-5 sp ;

*ch 5, sk next sc, sc in the next 3 sc ;

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

ch 7, sk next dc, dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next ch-5 sp* ;

rep *to* till 2^nd last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, 3 dc in the 2^nd last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, 2 dc in the last ch-1 sp, dc in the last dc. Turn.

See how we have shifted the pattern a bit.. now we will work the next lattice pattern in that ch-7 sp we just made, and still continue to complete the last of this first spider lattice pattern at the same time.

Row 8 : dc in the 1^st dc ;

ch 1, sk next 2 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp ;

[ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp] ;

(ch 1, sk next 2 dc, dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next ch-5 sp) ;

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

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

{ch 5, sk next 2 dc, 1 sc in the next ch-7 sp ;

ch 5, sk next 2 dc, dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next ch-5 sp}* ;

rep *to* till 2^nd last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, 3 dc in the last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, sk next 2 dc, dc in the last dc. Turn.

As we complete the first set of spider lattice patterns, we will continue with the next set.

Row 9 : dc in the 1^st dc , 2 dc in the 1^st ch-1 sp ;

(ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp) ;

rep (to) once ;

(ch 1, sk next 2 dc, dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next ch-5 sp) ;

*ch 1, sk next sc, 2 dc in the next ch-5 sp ; dc in the next dc ;

ch 5, sk next 2 dc, sc in the next ch-5 sp ,

sc in the next sc , sc in the next ch-5 sp ;

rep (to) once* ;

rep *to* till 2^nd last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, 3 dc in the 2^nd last ch-1 sp ;

ch 1, 2 dc in the last ch-1 sp, dc in the last dc. Turn.

Put your work down and admire what you have created.

We’ve completed one spider lattice pattern.

Rep Rows 7 – 9 for as many times as you’d like, ending with a Row 9.

There may be a small difference in the way you start and end each row, but the centre pattern for the lattice stays the same.. just to hold your hand a little longer, I’ll write the next row down for you too..

Row 10 : dc in the 1^st dc ;

ch 1, sk next 2 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp ;

[ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp] ;

rep [to] 2 times ;

*ch 5, sc in the next ch-5 sp ;

sc in the next 3 sc ; sc in the next ch-5 sp ;

ch 5, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

I’m sure you’ve figured the pattern out by now.. we’ve completed one and a half diamonds of the spider lattice stitch. The pattern shows a total of four diamonds and then a plain 3-dc set pattern all the way to the top.. so yaay you’re good to go on your own now. So you should now work the pattern from Row 8.

Remember what I just said about the starting and ending bits of each row.

When you have completed three full diamonds (if you are keeping with the pattern as per designer), then you will stop working the ch-7 for the fourth diamond in the middle and just work 3-dc sets all through. That way your last diamond will stand out against the 3-dc sets.

You can work as many pattern repeats as you’d like – working the full bolero in spider lattice stitch pattern too. However, if you decide to have a plain section, then you will do as instructed in the paragraph above.

Once you have completed the four sets of diamond spider stitch, you will continue working the 3-dc sets in each ch-1 sp all the way till the armholes.

Once you reach the armhole / neckline level, you will start working the spider / lattice pattern once again – starting with Row 2. Work the spider pattern all the way to the shoulders.

You will work the same way for the front. You will just work half of the number of stitches you worked for the back, for each front section.

Now once again, you can work the 3-dc set all the way to the shoulders too – and keep just this border base for the front and back, and for the lower parts of the sleeve.

When you are done, you will have one large rectangle for the back, two smaller rectangles for the front. You will then join the shoulder bits and add the sleeves.

For the two fronts you will use half the back measure = 1/4^th your round body measure (half waist or half bust.. whatever measure is largest .. remember #1)

SLEEVES :

For the sleeve, work as you have for the back – working as many pattern repeats as you have for the back. Then work plain dc all the way to the top and add in a few rows of the spider lattice pattern again at the top.

Join your sleeves into the armhole space and weave in all ends.

FINISHING :

For a neat finish, run a row of sc all around the open end of the front, across the back, down the other side of the front and then finally all along the bottom edge.

In case you want buttons, you will need to figure out what size they are and leave an opening along the left hand side placket.

Work in a final row of picot if desired.

How to work a picot stitch : Traditionally for a ch-3 picot, you work (ch 3, sl-st in 3rd ch from hook). For a ch-5 picot, you will do (ch 5, sl-st in 5th ch from hook).

Here’s a great video https://youtu.be/8s3zVaBcn4s

Work the finishing around the ends of the sleeve too.

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Here are some of my other top creations. Have fun with these free patterns too

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2022/03/all-diamonds-top.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2022/03/snazzy-chevron-top.html