Runway Bolero
Originally published: MetaPostModernKnitting.com, Spring/Summer 2008
by Robin Dodge
Difficulty: Advanced beginner. This pattern involves basic sweater construction and shaping, as well as picking up stitches and working a very easy eyelet edging.
This adorable little bolero is inspired by a similar creation in the Spring/Summer 2008 collection of H Fredriksson. The original is actually made from a woven fabric with bound edges, but it translated well into knitwear with a simple eyelet edging. The stripes give it visual interest, especially since the sleeves are simply an extension of the bodice, so the stripes go in different directions depending on what the wearer is doing with her arms (as an added benefit, stripes are in this season). Worked in luxurious Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight, it’s just perfect for taking the chill out of cool springtime days or offices with overzealous air-conditioning.
Photo credit [model: Robin Dodge/photographer: Anna Wilcoxon]
SIZE
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Lower edge (this falls between the waist and bust): 29 [33, 37, 41, 43, 49, 53] inches
Length: 14 [14.5, 15.5, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 17] inches
MATERIALS
[MC] Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight [100% baby alpaca; 110 yd per 50g skein]; color: Natural White, #500; 5 [5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9] skeins
[CC] Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight [100% baby alpaca; 110 yd per 50g skein]; color: Chartreuse, #527; 2 [2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4] skeins
Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight is a luxurious yarn that makes a very drapey fabric. It is ultra-soft, making it a pleasure to work with and to wear. Alpaca is a very warm and heavy fiber, but the sport weight of this yarn provides just the right amount of warmth while also remaining light.
1 set US Size 4/3.5mm straight needles
1 29-inch US Size 4/3.5mm circular needle
stitch holder, stitch marker, 1 button, 1 small snap (if desired)
GAUGE
20 sts x 28 rows = 4" in St st
PATTERN NOTES
Garment is worked in one piece, beginning at the back, then stitches are cast on for the sleeves. Stitches are bound off for the neck, then Left and Right Fronts and Sleeves are worked separately one at a time to lower Front edge.
If you don’t have size 4 straight needles, or don’t like working on straight needles, you don’t have to buy a set just for this pattern. You can work back and forth on circular needles throughout. Use whichever you prefer for the body. Circulars are required for picking up stitches for the edging.
When picking up stitches, the number of stitches given is a guide. A few stitches more or less is fine, as long as you pick up and odd number of stitches and the finished edge does not gather or stretch the body of the sweater.
On the test garment, the front corner below the buttonhole stuck out a little due to the shaping and the drapey hand of the knitted fabric. This can be fixed quickly and simply by sewing on a tiny snap under that corner.
PATTERN
Back & Front
With MC, CO 72 [83, 92, 103, 112, 123, 132] sts. Row 1 (RS): Knit. Work even in St st for 6 rows. Change to CC and work 2 rows St st. Rep this stripe pattern, working approx 1” of MC, followed by 2 rows of CC, until piece meas 3” from CO, ending on a WS row.
Cast on for Sleeves
Next row (RS): Work 72 [83, 92, 103, 112, 123, 132] sts in patt and CO 30 [30, 30, 35, 35, 35, 35] at end of Row. Purl 1 row and CO 30 [30, 30, 35, 35, 35, 35] at end of Row. {132 [143, 152, 173, 182, 193, 202] sts} Work even in patt until piece meas 13.5 [14, 15, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5]”, ending on a WS row.
Split for Left and Right Fronts
Next row (RS): K46 [49, 51, 59, 61, 64, 66] sts, join new ball of yarn and BO 40[45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70] for Back Neck, K46 [49, 51, 59, 61, 64, 66]. Working Left Front and Sleeve only, place sts for Right Front and sleeve onto stitch holder. Next row (WS): Purl 1 row.
Shape Neck
At beg of next row (RS), dec 1 st and work to end. Work 1 WS row. Rep these 2 rows, once. {44 [47, 49, 57, 59, 62, 64] sts rem}. Work even in patt until piece meas 16 [17, 18, 17.5, 17, 17.5, 18]” from CO, ending on a WS row. Inc row (RS): K1, M1R, knit to end. Purl 1 row. Work Inc Row. Purl 1 row. Work 2 rows even in patt. {2 sts inc’d}. Rep these 6 rows, 13 [14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19] more times. {72 [77, 81, 91, 95, 100, 104] sts}. AT THE SAME TIME, when meas 25 [26, 28, 28, 29, 30, 31]” from CO, at beg of next WS row, BO 30 [30, 30, 35, 35, 35, 35] sts and purl to end. Work even until piece meas 28 [29, 31, 31, 32, 33, 34]” ending on a WS row. BO rem 42 [47, 51, 56, 60, 65, 69] sts.
Right Front and Sleeve
Sl sts from stitch holder to ndls. With WS facing, join yarn and work 1 WS row. Work as for Left Front and sleeve until piece meas 27 [28, 30, 30, 31, 32, 33]”, ending on a WS row. Buttonhole row (RS): Knit to last 8 sts, BO 4 sts, K4. Next row (WS): P4, CO 4, purl to end. Work even until piece meas 28 [29, 31, 31, 32, 33, 34]” from CO, ending on a WS row. BO all sts.
FINISHING
Sew sleeve and side seams.
Sleeve Edging
With RS facing and beg at Left Sleeve seam, using circular ndl and CC, pick up and knit 127 [131, 147, 147, 153, 161, 167] sts around sleeve edge. Place marker and join for working in the round. Rnds 1-3: Knit. Rnd 4: Purl. Rnd 5: *P2tog, YO; rep from * to last st, end P1. Rnd 6: Purl. Rnd 7: Knit. BO all sts pwise. Rep for Right Sleeve.
Neck Edging
With RS facing and beg at Lower Right Front side edge, using circular ndl and CC, pick up and knit 203 [215, 227, 233, 243, 247, 263] st around neck edge. Working back and forth, work edging as foll: Row 1 (WS): Purl. Rows 2 & 3: Knit. Row 4:*P2tog, yo; rep from * to last st, P1. Rows 5 & 6: Knit. BO all sts kwise.
Hem Edging
With RS facing and beg at Lower Left Front bottom edge, using circular ndl and CC, pick up and knit 157 [177, 197, 219, 237, 259, 277] around hem edge. Work edging as for Neck.
Finish buttonhole. Weave in ends, and block. Sew on button, and if desired, small snap at bottom corner.
|
