Baby Bolero (English pattern)

Here is the pattern for the Baby Bolero in English:

BABY SHORT-SLEEVED TORERO (9 months)

[Designed by: Ana Beatriz Contreras, blog Lanas& Hilos, www.arteenhilo.blogspot.com ]

Yarn: Medium

Knit Needles: 5 or 5.5 mm

Note: These are measures for a 9-month baby.  

The body of the bolero is knitted, but the neck and flower are in crochet.

First you make the front right part, and leave it suspended on an extra needle or a knitting safety pin, while you make the left part.  Then you will join the left with the right part to make the rest in one piece. 

FRONT RIGHT

Cast on 23 stitches.

1> (WS) all knit.
2-6> all knit.
7, 9, 11, 13, 15> 5 k, 18 purl
8, 10, 12, 14> knit
15> 5 k, 18 p + cast on 8 extra st for the sleeve [total: 31 st]
16>  knit
17, 19, 21, 23, 25>  5 k, 22 p, 4 k
18, 20, 22, 24, 26>  knit
27> cast off 5 st (this starts the decrease for the neck), 22 p, 4 k
28>  knit
29> 2 purl together, 21 p, 4 k
30>  knit
31> 2 purl together, 20 p, 4 k
32> knit
33> 2 purl together, 19 p, 4 k
34> knit
35> 2 purl together, 18 p, 4 k
36> knit

Cut the yarn, leaving some extra yarn (aprox. 10 cms / 4”) to join after with the front left part.

FRONT LEFT

Do the same as the front right, but “opposite”, as in a mirror.  Here are the instructions, step by step:

Cast on 23 stitches.

1> (WS) all knit
2-6> knit
7, 9, 11, 13> 18 p, 5 k
8, 10, 12, 14> knit
15> 18 p, 5 k
16>  23 k, + cast on 8 st for the sleeve [total: 31 st]
17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27>  4 k, 22 p, 5 k
18, 20, 22, 24, 26>  knit
28>  cast off 5 st (for neck) knit rest
29> 4 k, 22 p
30>  2 k together, knit rest
31> 4 k, 21 p
32> 2 k together, knit rest
33> 4 k, 20 p
34> 2 k together, knit rest
35>  4 der, 19 rev.
36>  2 k together, knit rest

**Join in with the front right part**

37> 4 k, 18 p + cast on 18 extra st (for the neck) + tie both yarn ends of the right and left fronts with a simple knot, and continue knitting the right side (28 p, 4k).

BACK PART

38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52> knit

39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 55> 4 k, [all purl, before the last 4 st] 4 k
56> cast off 8 st (to closet he sleeve), knit the rest [Now you must have 54 st]
57> cast off 8 st, purl the rest [46 st]
58, 60, 62, 64> knit
59, 61, 63, 65> purl
66-71> knit
72> cast off.

Finishing:
With a big sewing needle (or crochet) closet he sides of the bolero and the bottom part of the sleeves.  I prefer the mattress st, which make the seam invisible.

Fort he Neck: In crochet, make a row of simple crochet, and the last row use the “crab stitch” (sc but going backwards, which leaves a closed picot).  You can even make a shell edging or any other you prefer. 

Button: Se won the button on one side.  On the opposite side, crochet the loop for the button, using as many chains as needed depending on the size of the button.  Slip stitch right next to where you started, and then sl st thru all chains, to make the loop sturdier.

Flower:

Start with a magic circle (that you can tighten up).  Or make a circle with 4 chains + sl s ton beginning ch.
Then: *3 chains, 2 dc together, go down with 2 chains , sc* all in the magic circle.  Repeat 4 more times [total: 5 petals].  Slip st and cast off.
In the center, put a pearl bead, and then sew the flower unto the bolero.