Thursday 16 April 2015

EASY FULL SLEEVED BOLERO

free crochet bolero patternfree crochet bolero pattern
EASY FULL SLEEVED BOLERO

This is a really easy pattern.. We basically make a long rectangle, and then fold it for sleeves, and the rest of it comprises the back ... sound annoyingly easy? Well, it is.

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This has been requested by a friend who has a red sleeveless polo necked top, and needed something “just for her arms” – and this pattern gives you just that.. arms!

The original pattern has a really cute set of embroidered lines around the sleeves, and I’d initially thought I’d do that here in red (to match her top), but then thought that this would mean she can only wear it with that one top, or any other that matched red.. so have decided against that.  
There is a charm and sexiness to just black – so …

Now this is a free pattern and all written up – but I’ve done a little tweak, and I’m just writing out my notes.. in case someone else too wants to similarly tweak.


Materials used : Today I’ve used about 120 gm of the lovely Vardhaman Millenium DK-ply acrylic yarn,  with a 4  mm crochet hook ; fabric glue to seal ends 

This yarn is not specific for this project.
You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros ; Red rose metallic or  unbranded  knitting cotton as well as Oswal acrylic yarns

International yarns :  Among the international yarns I have used, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.

Abbreviations used : Using U.S terminology
dc : Double crochet
ch : chain                     ch-sp : chain space
sp : space                     rep : Repeat
sc : Single crochet
hdc : Half double crochet                                       
fdc : Foundation double crochet  


Stitches used : Using U.S terminology
Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps.  One sc made.  Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

Half Double Crochet : Hdc :  yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;
yo, draw through all 3 lps.  One hdc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);
[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.  One dc made. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Foundation double crochet (fdc) : This is a unique way of starting a project directly with a row of double crochet stitches.  Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/hjNUYVvyU9k

Single crochet 2-together : sc 2-tog :  
Insert hk into st, yo and pull up a lp (2 lps on hk) ; insert hk into next sc, yo and pull up a lp (3 lps on hk); yo and draw through all 3 lps.  One sc 2-tog complete.  Visit this video tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whlsMemDHLc

Half double crochet 2-tog : hdc 2-tog : [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp] (3 lps on hk) ; insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp (4 lps on hk) ; yo, draw through all 4 lps on hk.  One hdc 2-tog made.
Check the video tutorial at https://youtu.be/jdaXTr7Lcig

Double crochet 2-tog : dc 2-tog :  [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp ; yo and draw through 2 lps] 2 times (3 lps on hk) ;
{yo, draw through 2 lps on hk} 2 times.  One dc 2-tog made.
This video tutorial at https://youtu.be/1_oPlUfN5eg shows you how to use the dc 2-tog to decrease. 
Sometimes we work the dc 2-tog in the same stitch, to use as a decorative stitch.
Visit this video tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCQOBc83Vxo

Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI


Instructions Using U.S terminology
As mentioned earlier, I've been inspired by the pattern at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hook-and-weave-shrug.  
As I tweaked this pattern a bit, these are my notes.  

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.
Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

Quick analysis of what we’re going to do here today.   
So we’re going to make one large rectangle, that equals the length from one wrist to the other, measuring across the back – i.e you measure from wrist to armhole, then across back, and armhole to the other wrist.   

So this means that the round upper arm looseness will decide the length of the back.  This is because we are working just one large rectangle - got it?

Now I found that if I wanted a back that was long(ish), I’d end up with really loose sleeves, and I did want a longish back.  So here’s what I tweaked with the pattern.

First off, I started with fdc instead of ch, as I really prefer the evenness of this start.  
Then though the pattern says sc, dc and trc rows, I did only sc, hdc and dc rows (not trc rows as I found it too open with the yarn I was using) and followed the  pattern till I had a rectangle that fit loosely and comfortably around the upper arm (remember that the wrist and lower arms are usually a smaller size than the elbow and upper arm) , and at that point I inserted a marker (for both sides of garment.. marking off both arm bits).  I am then left with this space between markers that denotes the back part of my bolero.  

Starting with a 2-tog st in that 1st set of sts (after marker) and ending with a 2-tog at the end to get a neat and soft curve, I worked on the centre portion for a few rows till I was happy with the length for back.

Joining was the  same as suggested – join the two halves of rectangle to make sleeves and we’re done with our lovely bolero.  

free crochet bolero patternfree crochet bolero pattern
 So this is what it looks almost done, and then with the sleeve bit stitched up

Just for a difference, I did a lovely picot edging stitch around the top and bottom of the bolero (neckline edge and then the base edges, I mean)

How to work a picot stitch : Traditionally for a ch-3 picot, you work (ch 3, sl-st in 3rd ch from hook).  For a ch-5 picot, you will do (ch 5, sl-st in 5th ch from hook). 

In case this video doesn't come on, visit  https://youtu.be/8s3zVaBcn4s

See, just in reading through this blog, you too will be compelled to try this one out.  So go on to that pattern link and create something a wee bit different too.  
Have a lovely day. 

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Have a great day and see you soon. 

Here are some of my other creations.  









































and here are some tops.. that a bolero would look swell over..



















































































and a doll’s top..


I have a few girls dresses, and just in case you want a dekho at those free patterns … here you go  


























































For cute hair embellishments and motifs check the links below.







 























































..and some belts..







and here are a few skirt patterns that you can use your belt for..







.. and some neckwear
















































































https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kaju-katli-scarf