Makena Newborn Bolero

Morning all!!

I'm so excited about today's pattern! I have to say, I am having an absolute BLAST working on some larger items! It's a huge contrast to the teeny little clothing items I usually make.

Today I'd like to share with you all the pattern for a simple but pretty bolero. I just love these little shrugs, so sweet and dainty and perfect for when the temperature cools off that little bit in the evenings, or when the wind picks up. They look especially sweet over dresses. I loved putting these on my girls when they were smaller.

This one, made as instructed, will fit a baby of 0-3 months, and you should have no problems whipping it up in an afternoon. Oh I love a quick project, don't you?

Makena Bolero

You Will Need:
4.5mm hook
8ply/DK Yarn in main and contrasting colours ( a 100g ball will be PLENTY!)
A button for closing

Sized To Fit:
0-3 months

BLO - Back Loop Only
hdc2tg - half double crochet 2 together

Starting on the back panel (top down)

1: Ch32 loosely, hdc in the 3rd chain from hook and each across. -30

2: Ch2, turn, hdc in each stitch across. -30

3: Ch2, turn, hdc in each stitch across, BLO. -30

4-9: Repeat rounds 2 and 3, a total of 3 times. -30

10: Ch2, turn, hdc in each stitch across. -30

11: Ch3, turn, skip the first 2 stitches, *(2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the next stitch, ch2, skip the next 4 stitches*, repeat across until you have 2 stitches left, skip the next stitch and dc in the last stitch. End off.

Adding the front panels

1: With the right side of the piece facing up join your yarn to the right hand side (using the chains from the first row), ch2, hdc in the same stitch, hdc in the next 4 stitches. -5

2: Ch2, turn, hdc in each stitch across. -5

3: Ch2, turn, in BLO, hdc in the first 4 stitches, 2hdc in the last stitch. -6

4: Ch2, turn, 2hdc in the first stitch, hdc in the last 5 stitches. -7

5: Ch2, turn, in BLO, hdc in the first 5 stitches, 2hdc in each of the last 2 stitch. -9

6: Ch2, turn, 2hdc in the first stitch, hdc in the last 8 stitches. -10

7: Ch2, turn, in BLO, hdc in the first 8 stitches, 2hdc in each of the last 2 stitches. -12

8: Ch2, turn, 2hdc in the first stitch, hdc in the last 11 stitches. -13

9: Ch2, turn, in BLO, hdc in the first 11 stitches, 2hdc in each of the last 2 stitches. -15

10: Ch2, turn, hdc in each stitch across. -15

11: Ch3, turn, skip the first 2 stitches, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the next stitch, ch2, skip[ the next 4 stitches, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the next stitch, skip 4, ch2, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the next stitch, skip 1 stitch and dc in the last stitch. End off.

Adding the remaining panel

1: With the top facing up, count back 5 stitches from the unworked side of the bolero and join your yarn, ch2, hdc in the same stitch and the next 4 stitches. -5

2: Ch2, turn, hdc in each stitch across. -5

3: Ch2, turn, in BLO, 2hdc in the first stitch, hdc in the last 4 stitches. -6

4: Ch2, turn, hdc in the first 5 stitches, 2hdc in the last stitch. -7

5: Ch2, turn, in BLO, 2hdc in each of the first 2 stitches, hdc in the last 5 stitches. -9

6: Ch2, turn, hdc in the first 8 stitches, 2hdc in the last stitch. -10

7: Ch2, turn, in BLO, 2hdc in the first 2 stitches, hdc in the last 8 stitches. -12

8: Ch2, turn, hdc in the first 11 stitches, 2hd in the last stitch. -13

9: Ch2, turn, in BLO, 2hdc in the first 2 stitches, hdc in the last 11 stitches. -15

10: Ch2, turn, hdc in each stitch across. -15

11. Ch3, turn, skip the first 2 stitches, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the next stitch, ch2, skip the next 4 stitches, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the next stitch, ch2, skip the next 4 stitches, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the next stitch, dc in the last stitch.

End off, leaving a long tail.

Stitch the side seams together from rows 9 to 11 on both sides.

Sleeves
Sleeves are continual but turned rounds, so that our blo texture is the same as the body of the bolero up until round 12, where we stop turning.

1: Join yarn to the rear of the armhole, and ch2, hdc evenly for 30 stitches around, join to the first hdc.

2: Ch2, turn, *hdc in the first 13 stitches, hdc2tg*, repeat once, join. -28

3: Ch2, turn, in BLO, *hdc in the next 5 stitches, hdc2tg*, repeat 3 times, join. -24

4: Ch2, turn, *hdc in the next 4 stitches, hdc2tg*, repeat 4 times, join. -20

5: Ch2, turn, in BLO, hdc in each stitch around, join. -20

6: Ch2, turn, hdc in each stitch around, join. -20

7: Ch2, turn, in BLO, hdc in each stitch around. -20

8-11: Repeat rounds 6 and 7

12-13: Ch2, hdc in each stitch around, join. -20

Change to your contrasting colour

14: ch1, sc in each stitch around, join. -20

Change to main colour

15: Ch3, skip the first 2 stitches, (hdc, ch2, hdc) in the next stitch, *ch2, skip the next 4 stitches, (2hdc, ch2, 2hdc) in the next stitch*, repeat 3 times, join to the second chain in the starting ch3.

Change to contrasting colour.

16: Ch3, (2hdc, ch2, 2hdc) in the next ch2 space, ch2, *skip the next ch2 space, (2hdc, ch2, 2hdc) in the next ch2 space, ch2*, repeat twice, join to the second chain in the starting ch3.

End off and weave in tails.

Repeat all sleeve instructions for the second sleeve.

Trim and Finishing.

With main colour, join the yarn to the left hand corner of the bolero and ch1, sc evenly around the front opening and neckline for 70 stitches, until you reach the other corner. End off.

With contrasting colour

Join your yarn to the same left hand corner, ch3, skip the first 2 stitches, (hdc, ch2, hdc) in the next stitch, *ch2, skip the next 4 stitches, (hdc, ch2, hdc) in the next stitch*, repeat 12 more times, which will bring you to the next corner, hdc in the corner stitch and ch2, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the next ch2 space, *ch2, skip the next ch2 space, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the next ch2 space*, repeat across, when you reach the end, ch2 and join to the 2nd chain in the starting ch3.

End off and weave in all tails.

Position and attach button to the desired area.