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What you need
Main Yarn (A): 7 (8, 8) balls of bulky weight (12-ply) yarn, approx. 55 yards (50 g) per ball. Choose a soft blend such as nylon/polyester or acrylic/wool mix.
Optional Trim Yarn (B): 1 ball of eyelash or novelty yarn, approx. 120 yards (50 g).
US Size 11 (8 mm) straight needles, or size needed to match gauge
US Size 11 (8 mm) 36″ circular needles for finishing edges
Stitch holder
Tapestry needle for seaming
Instructions
Sizes
Small (Medium, Large)
Finished chest: 36″ (39″, 42″)
Note: This is designed as a snug, fitted garment.
Gauge
11 sts and 16 rows = 4″ in stockinette stitch with yarn A
Instructions
Right Front
With A + B held together, cast on 9 (11, 13) sts.
Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 1″.
Switch to A only and work in stockinette stitch.
Neck shaping:
Increase 1 st at neck edge every 3rd row 6 (6, 5) times:
RS: K1, kfb, knit to end.
WS: Purl to last 2 sts, pfb, p1.
Work even until you have 15 (17, 18) sts and piece measures 5½ (6, 6)” from cast-on, ending on a RS row.
Armhole shaping:
Bind off 3 sts at armhole edge once.
Decrease 1 st at armhole edge every other row 2 times.
Work even on 10 (12, 13) sts until armhole measures 8½ (9, 9½)”, ending with a RS row.
Bind off 5 (6, 6) sts, purl rem sts, knit 1 row, then bind off remaining sts.
Left Front
Work as for Right Front, reversing shaping.
Back
With A + B held together, cast on 51 (55, 59) sts.
Work in garter stitch for 1″.
Switch to A only and work in stockinette stitch until piece measures 5½ (6, 6)”, ending with a WS row.
Armhole shaping:
Bind off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Dec 1 st at each end every other row 2 times.
→ 41 (45, 49) sts rem.
Work even until armhole matches fronts.
Shoulder shaping:
Bind off 5 (6) sts at beg of next 4 rows.
For size L: bind off 6 sts beg next 2 rows, then 7 sts beg next 2 rows.
Place rem 21 (21, 23) sts on holder for back neck.
Sleeves
With A + B held together, cast on 30 (32, 34) sts.
Work in garter stitch for 1″.
Switch to A only and continue in stockinette.
Increase 1 st each side every 6th row 2 times → 34 (36, 38) sts.
Work even until sleeve measures 7″ from cast-on, ending with WS row.
Cap shaping:
Bind off 3 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Dec 1 st each side every other row 3 (2, 1) times.
Then dec 1 st each side every 4th row 5 (6, 7) times.
Bind off remaining sts.
Finishing
Sew front shoulders to back.
With RS facing and A + B held together, use circular needle to pick up 49 (50, 52) sts along right front, knit across 21 (21, 23) back neck sts from holder, then pick up 49 (50, 52) sts along left front.
Work in garter stitch for 1″. Bind off loosely.
Set in sleeves. Sew sleeve seams and side seams.
Weave in all ends neatly on WS.
And there you have it—a snug, simple bolero that’s perfect for layering over dresses or tanks. The eyelash yarn adds a fun, textured trim, but it looks just as stylish without.
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