Free Knitting Pattern – Country Gal Bolero

If you’re after a quick and stylish knit, this little bolero is just the ticket. Worked mostly in simple stockinette stitch, it’s perfect for showing off a pretty color-changing yarn. I like to think of this piece as the crafty cousin of a cardigan—it’s light, versatile, and adds just the right touch over a dress or tee.
This is an easy knitting pattern for women and comes in four sizes, from Small to XL.

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What you need

Yarn: 8 ply / DK weight yarn (light worsted)
Or substitute with any soft 8 ply / DK wool or wool blend (approx. 128 yds / 118 m per 50 g ball)

Needles:

Size US 8 (5 mm) straight needles

Size US 8 (5 mm) 35″ circular needle (or size needed to get gauge)

Crochet Hook: Size F-5 (3.75 mm) for edging

Gauge: 19 stitches and 24 rows = 4″ in stockinette stitch

Instructions

Back

Cast on 85 (95, 105, 114) sts.

Work in stockinette stitch for 5″.

Bind off 6 sts at the start of the next 2 rows. (73, 83, 93, 102 sts remain)

Decrease 1 st at each end every other row, 5 (6, 8, 10) times.
→ 63 (71, 77, 82) sts remain.

Continue until armhole measures 9½ (9½, 10, 10½)”.

Bind off 8 (9, 10, 11) sts at the start of the next 2 rows, then 8 (10, 11, 11) sts at the start of the following 2 rows.

Place the remaining 31 (33, 35, 38) sts on a holder for the back of neck.

Right Front

Cast on 17 (22, 27, 31) sts.

Work 2 rows in stockinette.

At neck edge, increase 1 st next row, then every other row 13 more times, as follows:
K1, knit into front and back of next st, knit across.
→ 31 (36, 41, 45) sts.

Work even until piece measures 5″.

At armhole edge: bind off 6 sts once, then decrease 1 st every other row 5 (6, 8, 10) times.

At the same time, shape neckline: decrease 1 st on next row, then every 12th (12th, 8th, 8th) row, 4 (4, 6, 7) more times.

Work until armhole matches Back.

Bind off shoulders to match Back.

Left Front

Work as for Right Front, reversing shaping.

Armhole Bands

Sew shoulder and side seams.
Work 1 round of single crochet around each armhole.

Neck, Front & Bottom Bands

With RS facing and circular needles, start at Right bottom edge.

Pick up and knit:

15 (20, 25, 29) sts across Right bottom edge

71 (71, 73, 75) sts up Right front

Knit 31 (33, 35, 38) sts from Back neck holder

Pick up 71 (71, 73, 75) sts down Left front

15 (20, 25, 29) sts across Left bottom edge

82 (90, 99, 109) sts across Back bottom edge
→ Total 285 (305, 330, 355) sts.

Mark beginning of round and join.

Work k3, p2 ribbing for 4 rounds.

Bind off in pattern, making 1 increase (M1) at the lower point on both Right and Left fronts.

Finishing

Weave in ends neatly on the wrong side.

Lightly block to measurements if needed.

 That’s it! A simple little bolero vest knitting pattern that will quickly become a wardrobe favorite. It looks charming in long-striping yarns but works just as well in a solid shade if you want something classic.