Girl's Bolero

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Girl's Bolero

Size approx: 26”, 28” chest, 6, 10 yrs

Materials: Worsted Weight Cotton yarn, Needles Sizes 3.75 m (US 5) and 4.5mm (US 7) or size needed to obtain gauge.

GAUGE: 16sts/20rows = 4 ins with larger needles in st st.

Body: Do NOT join to work in the round this bolero will be worked flat.
Cast on 100/104 sts on size 5 needle. Mark the side 'seams' at 23 sts from each end, leaving 54/58 sts in the middle (back of bolero).
Shape Bottom: Work First and Last 7 sts as buttonband (place a marker)
Inc 1 st at Front edges on every 2nd row 11 times.
Work in Garter Stitch rib for 8 rows (1.4 ins).
Change to size 7 needle and Stockinette Stitch (Stocking Stitch) or Pattern of Choice and continue to “Shape Bottom”. Work straight until piece measures 4.8/5.2 ins from beginning.

Divide for Amhole

Transfer two front sections to holders, then join new yarn for the back. You can now change to straight needles if you wish. From this point on, work on back section only, with right side facing to start.

Armhole shaping

Cast off 2 sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
Dec 1 st at each end of every alternate row for 4/6 rows until 46/48 sts remaining.
Work even until armhole measures 6/6.4 ins (30/32 rows).

Shoulder shaping

Small Size: Cast off 6 sts at beginning of next 4 rows.
Large Size: Cast off 6 sts at beginning of next 2 rows then Cast off 7 sts at beginning of following 2 rows.
22 sts remaining for back of neck.
Bind (Cast) off loosely.

Right Front: worked first

With right side facing transfer right front stitches from holder to needle.
Dec for armhole (left end), as for back.
Continue until armhole measures 0.8 ins (4 rows), with 23/25 sts remaining.
Continue armhole shaping until 6/8 rows worked from beginning of armhole.

AT THE SAME TIME

Shape neck: Dec 1 st at neck edge (right end) of next row,
then every 2nd row 6/4 times,
then every 3rd row 4/6 times, until 12/13 sts remain.

Work straight until armhole measures 6.0 ins (30 rows).

Shoulder Shaping: Cast off as for back.

Left Front: Work as for Right Front, reversing shapings.

Sleeves:

Using size 5 needles, Cast on 36/38 sts.
Work in Garter Stitch rib for 0.8 ins.
Change to size 7 needles and Stockinette Stitch (Stocking Stitch) or pattern of choice.
Work straight until sleeve measures 2.8/3.3 ins (14/18 rows), excluding rib (hem).

Shape Cap: Cast off 2 sts at beg of next two rows (32/34 sts remain).
Dec 1 st at each end of every row once,
then dec 1 st at each end of every 2nd row 9 times,
Small Size: dec 1 st at each end of every row until 10 sts remain.
Large Size: dec 1 st at each end of every 2nd row until 12 sts remain.
Bind (Cast) off loosely.

Finishing: Sew fronts to back along shoulder seams. Sew sleeve top to armhole, easing to fit. Sew any remaining seams. Darn/weave/sew in all loose ends.

Have you tried Grafting your seams? It seems complex the first time but the end result is worth it.