Sweater/ Bolero Pattern

The first sweater that I ever crocheted- and I even designed it myself! I'm pretty proud of it...


This pattern is for a size medium misses (or a large in juniors). Unstretched it is 17.5" across the chest and 15" tall.

It takes just over one skein of Caron "Simply Soft", which can be found at wal-mart for just under $2 each. The sweater is soft and stretchy, and open enough to be worn when it is still warm outside. It is the first pattern I have ever written, so bear with me. It could probably have been made more simply, but as I made it up as I went along, it got complicated.

Ch- chain
st- stitches
sc- single crochet
dc- double crochet
exdhc- extended double half crochet (dc if you don't know this stitch)
sk- skip
dec- decrease
inc- increase

Sleeves (make 2)

Ch 40. exdhc in each stitch across 2 rows.
rows 3-5: Switch to H hook. Ch 3, sk 2 st and sc. Repeat across the row. (on subsequent rows the sc is done into the space between stitches)
rows 6-9, 11-15, 17-20 : Ch 3, sk 2 st and dc into the space. Repeat across the row.
row3 10, 16: inc once space by dc , ch 3, and dc again into the same space.
rows 21-27: dec one space by dc into one space, then dc into the next space. One the next row, sk over this unchained space.

Back

Ch 53 using J hook. Switch to H hook
rows 1-11: Ch 3, sk 2 st and dc into the space. Repeat across the row.
rows 12-13: inc once space by dc , ch 3, and dc again into the same space.
rows 14-16: dec one space by dc into one space, then dc into the next space. One the next row, sk over this unchained space.
rows 17-21: inc once space by dc , ch 3, and dc again into the same space.
rows 21-23: Ch 3, sk 2 st and dc into the space. Repeat across the row.
Front Panel (make 2)

Ch 53 using J hook. Switch to H hook
rows 1-5: Ch 3, sk 2 st and dc into the space. Repeat across the row.
Rows 6-14: dec one space by sk the last space of the row (note that on every row, one of the end spaces will be smaller than the other spaces. Sk this space by dc into the dc in between it and the next space in the row, then ch 3 and turn)

Starting at the bottom of the back and one flat panel, sew the pieces together using a mattress seam. Sew up the side until you reach the 13th row, then switch to sewing the sleeve to the back. Do this by folding the sleeve in half lengthwise and lining up the top of the sleeve with the top of the back piece. At the top, turn and sew back down, joining the front panel and the sleeve, then continue down the bottom of the sleeve, sewing it into a tube. Repeat on the other side. Then whipstitch the front and back panels together at the shoulder for 3 inches. Weave in all ends.