Count this baby bolero among this season’s essentials as you say goodbye to the warmer weather. The design features three-quarter raglan sleeves and a daisy chain trim, and it will be a must-have on those cooler days when your little one needs just a little extra coverage.
Skill Level: Easy
Size: 3 (4, 5, 6, 8, 10) years to fit bust 23 (23½, 24½, 25, 26, 26¾)” / [58 (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) cm].
Shown in size 5.
Gauge: 24 sts and 38 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn:
Heimatwolle Heidi (75% Merino Superwash, 25% Polyamid; 459 yards [420 meters]/ 100 grams): 18-108 Sauerkirsch (sour cherry), 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2) balls
Needles: US size 2.5 (3 mm): 32” circular and DPNs
Notions: Markers (5); tapestry needle; scrap yarn to set sts aside
Abbreviations
Skp: Slip 1 st as if to knit, k1, pass slipped st over knitted st
K2tog: Knit 2 sts together
Kfb: Knit into front and back of st to make 2 sts out of 1 st
S2kp: Slip 2 sts as if to k2tog, k1, pass slipped sts over knitted st
Special Stitches
Daisy Chain
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Purl.
Row 3: K2 (2, 2, 2, 1, 1), *k1, skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1 (2, 1, 1, 2, 2); rep from * to last 1 (2, 2, 1, 1, 1) sts, k1 (2, 2, 1, 1, 1).
Row 5: K2 (2, 2, 2, 1, 1), *skp, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k0 (1, 0, 0, 1, 1); rep from * to last 1 (2, 2, 1, 1, 1) sts, k1 (2, 2, 1, 1, 1).
Row 7: K2 (2, 2, 2, 1, 1), *k2, yo, s2kp, yo, k2 (3, 2, 2, 3, 3); rep from * to last 1 (2, 2, 1, 1, 1) sts, k1 (2, 2, 1, 1, 1).
Row 8: Purl.
Rep Rows 1-8 for patt.
Daisy Chain (Sleeves)
Rnd 1: *K1, skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1; rep from * to end.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *Skp, yo, k3, yo, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: *K2, yo, s2kp, yo, k2; rep from * to end.
Rnd 6: Knit.
Rep Rnds 1-6 for patt.
Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked bottom up in rows. The sleeves are worked in rounds and joined to work yoke in rows.
Pattern
Body
With circular needles, CO 136 (140, 144, 150, 154, 162) sts.
Bottom Cuff
Row 1 (WS): Knit.
Row 2 (RS): *K2tog, yo; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 3: Knit.
Begin working Daisy Chain patt, work Rows 1-8 once.
In Row 8 (WS), place markers as follows: P8 (10, 9, 8, 9, 9) sts, PM, p to 9 (10, 9, 9, 9, 9) sts before end, PM, p to end.
Next Row (Inc): Work in Daisy Chain patt over first 9 sts, sm, working in St st inc 11 (11, 11, 11, 11, 9) sts by working kfb evenly to next m, work in Daisy Chain patt over last – 147 (151, 155, 161, 165, 171) sts
Cont in Daisy Chain patt over first and last sts of each row, making sure to keep the daisies in line, and working in St st between the markers (knit all sts on RS and purl all sts on WS).
Cont in est patt until piece meas 4 (4½, 4¾, 5, 5½, 6¼)” / [10 (11, 12, 13, 14, 16) cm] from CO, ending after a RS row.
Next Row (WS): P36 (38, 39, 40, 41, 43) sts, PM, p75 (75, 77, 81, 83, 85) sts, PM, p to end.
Set Body aside, don’t break yarn. Make note of last row worked in Daisy Chain patt.
Sleeves (make 2)
With DPNs, CO 34 (34, 42, 42, 48, 48) sts, join to working in the rnd, PM to indicate beg of rnd.
Rnd 1: Purl.
Rnd 2: *K2tog, yo; rep from * around.
Rnd 3: Purl.
Rnd 4: K to end, increasing 1 (1, 0, 0, 1, 1) sts evenly across, using the kfb increase method – 35 (35, 42, 42, 49, 49) sts.
Rnd 5: Knit.
Begin working Daisy Chain patt, working Rnds 1-6 once.
Next Rnd (Inc): K to end, increasing 7 (9, 6, 8, 3, 5) sts evenly around, using the kfb increase method – 42 (44, 48, 50, 52, 54) sts.
Begin working in St st, increasing as follows:
Knit 5 rnds.
Next Rnd: Kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1.
Rep last 6 rnds twice more – 6 sts inc’d; 48 (50, 54, 56, 58, 60) sts.
Knit 8 rnds.
Next Rnd: Kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1.
Rep last 9 rnds once more – 4 sts inc’d; 52 (54, 58, 60, 62, 64) sts.
Cont in St st until Sleeve meas 6¼ (6½, 7, 8¼, 9, 10½) / [16 (17, 18, 21, 23, 27) cm] from CO. On last rnd, stop 3 sts before m, place next 6 sts for underarm on scrap yarn, remove m as you go, place rem 46 (48, 52, 54, 56, 58) sts on another piece of scrap yarn. Break yarn, leaving tail long enough for 3-needle-bind-off to close the underarm later.
Assembly
Row 1: Beg with RS row of Right Front of Body and cont in Daisy Chain patt over first sts as est, *work to 3 sts before M, place next 6 sts of underarm on scrap yarn, remove M as you go, PM, k46 (48, 52, 54, 56, 58) Sleeve sts, PM*; rep from * once more, work to end, cont in est Daisy Chain patt over last sts – 227 (235, 247, 257, 265, 275) sts.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3 (RS): Cont in Daisy Chain patt over first sts, *k to 3 sts before M, skp, k1, SM, k1, k2tog*; rep from * once more, k to end, cont in Daisy Chain patt over last sts – 4 sts dec’d; 223 (231, 243, 253, 261, 271) sts.
Row 4 (WS): Purl.
Rep Rows 3-4 until piece meas 6¼ (6½, 7, 7½, 8, 8½) / [16 (17, 18, 19, 20, 22) cm] from CO. Make sure to finish the Daisy Chain patt, ending after a WS row.
Next Row (RS): BO 8 (8, 10, 10, 10,10) sts, work decreases following Row 3 to end of row, work St st over last sts, remove M for Daisy Chain patt as you go – 211 (219, 229, 239, 247, 257) sts.
Next Row (WS): BO 8 (8, 10, 10, 10, 10) sts, p to end – 203 (211, 219, 229, 237, 247) sts.
Next Row (RS): BO 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, work decreases following Row 3 to end of row.
Next Row: BO 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2) sts, p to end – 197 (205, 211, 221, 229, 239) sts.
Rep last 2 rows once more – 191 (199, 203, 213, 221, 231) sts; 12 (12, 14, 14, 14, 14) sts BO at each side; 2 sts dec’d each side.
Next Row (RS): *K to 3 sts before M, skp, k1, SM, k1, k2tog*; rep from * once more, k to end – 4 sts dec’d; 187 (195, 199, 209, 217, 227) sts.
Next Row (WS): Purl.
Rep last 2 rows until only 47 (55, 59, 69, 77, 87) sts rem on needles.
Next Row (WS): BO all sts. Break yarn.
Right Front Band
With new yarn and RS of Right Front facing, start from CO edge and pick up and knit 2 sts out of 4 rows along the selvedge edge until you reach the BO end (end of Daisy Chain patt). Make sure to end with an even number of sts.
Next Row (WS): Knit.
Next Row (RS): *K2tog, yo; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
BO all sts kwise with looser tension.
Break yarn and pull through last loop.
Left Front Band
With new yarn and RS of Left Front facing, start from BO edge (end of Daisy Chain patt) and pick up and knit 2 sts out of 4 rows along the selvedge edge until you reach the CO edge. Make sure to end with an even number of sts.
Next Row (WS): Knit.
Next Row (RS): K1, *k2tog, yo; rep from * to last st, k1.
BO all sts kwise with looser tension.
Break yarn and pull through last loop.
Neckband
With new yarn and RS facing, start from BO edge of Right Front Band and pick up and knit 2 sts out of 4 sts/rows around to BO edge of Left Front. Make sure to end with an even number of sts.
Next Row (WS): Knit.
Next Row (RS): K1, *k2tog, yo; rep from * to last st, k1.
Next row (WS): BO all sts kwise with looser tension.
Break yarn and pull through last loop.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Close the gaps of the underarms using the 3-needle Bind Off method. Soak in warm water, press dry between towels, block and let dry completely.
Bow
The bolero is closed by a bow. For this you need 2 twisted straps.
Cut 2 strands of yarn 47½” / [120 cm] long.
First Strap: Fold one strand in half. Twist the strands until they start twisting around themselves (you may need someone or something to hold it while you twist it). Folding in half again, allow the strap to twist. Secure the end with a knot.
With next strand of yarn, work second strap accordingly.
Sew straps to upper fronts. 