Knitting: time to sparkle with our sequinned bolero

Stand out from the crowd in a pretty bolero worked in a sequinned yarn.

MEASUREMENTS

To fit sizes: 76/81 cm (30/32 ins), 86/91 (34/36), 97/102 (38/40), 107/112 (42/44), 117/122 (46/48), 127/132 (50/52). Actual size: 76 cm (30 ins), 86 (34), 97 (38), 107 (42), 117 (46), 127 (50).

Length: 43 cm (17 ins), 44 (17½), 45 (17¾), 47 (18½), 49 (19½), 51 (20).

MATERIALS

3 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) 50-gram balls of King Cole Galaxy DK in Diamonds (1714). One pair each 3 mm (No. 11) and 4 mm (No. 8) knitting needles ( note – the 3rd to 6th sizes may require a circular needle or an extra needle to work the back yoke). 8 buttons from Duttons for Buttons tel: 01423 502092, e-mail: harrogate@ duttonsforbuttons.co.uk.

For yarn stockists write, enclosing an SAE, to: King Cole Ltd., Merrie Mills, Snaygill Ind. Estate, Keighley Rd, Skipton BD23 2QR. Tel: 01756 703670.

Website: www.kingcole.com.

TENSION

22 sts and 28 rows to 10 cm measured over rev st-st using 4 mm needles.

ABBREVIATIONS

inc – increase; K– knit; P– purl; rem – remain; rev st-st – reverse stocking-stitch (purl 1 row, knit 1 row); skpo – slip next st, K1, pass slipped st over; st(s) – stitches; tog – together.

Important Note

Directions are given for six sizes. Figures in brackets refer to the five larger sizes. Figures in square brackets [ ] refer to all sizes and are worked the number of times stated. When writing to us you must enclose an SAE if you would like a reply.

RIGHT FRONT

With 3 mm needles, cast on 45 (50, 56, 61, 67, 72) sts taking special care not to cast on tightly. Beginning with a purl row for right side, work 9 rows in rev st-st.

Next row – Purl, inc 3 sts across row – 48 (53, 59, 64, 70, 75) sts ★★ . Change to 4 mm needles . Next (right-side) row – K12, purl to end of row. Next row – Knit until 12 sts rem, P12.

These 2 rows set the pattern. Work 2 more rows. Buttonhole row – K6, cast off 2 sts, work to end.

Next row – Work across row casting on 2 sts neatly over those cast off.

Work 8 rows straight. Repeat the last 10 rows until 6 buttonholes in all have been worked.

Work 4 rows straight.

Shape sleeve – ★★★ Work 6 rows, inc 1 st at side edge on every row – 54 (59, 65, 70, 76, 81) sts.

Next row – Work across row, casting on 40 sts at sleeve edge – 94 (99, 105, 110, 116, 121) sts.

Next row – P12, knit until 12 sts rem, P12.

Next row – K12, purl until 12 sts rem, K12.

These 2 rows set the pattern for the remainder of front. Work one row ★★★ .

Shape front slope – K11, skpo, work to end. Repeat decrease row on every following 4th row until 87 (91, 97, 101, 106, 110) sts remain, then on every following 4th (6th, 4th, 6th, 4th, 6th) row until 84 (89, 93, 99, 103, 108) sts remain. Work straight until front measures 41 (42, 43, 45, 47, 49) cm from beg, allowing for lower edge to roll under, and ending at sleeve edge.

Shape shoulder – Cast off 40 (41, 41, 47, 47, 48) sts loosely at beg of next row – 44 (48, 52, 52, 56, 60) sts. Now cast off 8 (9, 10, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next 4 alt rows – 12 sts.

Work 17 (18, 19, 19, 21, 22) rows straight.

Cast off loosely.

LEFT FRONT

Work as given for right front to ★★ – 48 (53, 59, 64, 70, 75) sts.

Change to 4 mm needles. Next (right-side) row – Purl until 12 sts rem, K12.

Next row – P12, knit to end. These 2 rows set the pattern. Work 58 more rows.

Shape sleeve – Work as right front from ★★★ to ★★★ . Shape front slope – Work to last 13 sts, K2tog, K11. Complete to match right front.

BACK

With 3 mm needles cast on 76 (88, 98, 110, 120, 132) sts and work as given for right front to ★★ but increasing 6 sts on the purl increase row – 82 (94, 104, 116, 126, 138) sts. Change to 4 mm needles. Next (right-side) row – P35 (41, 46, 52, 57, 63), K12, P35 (41, 46, 52, 57, 63). Next row – K35 (41, 46, 52, 57, 63), P12, knit to end. These 2 rows set the pattern. Work 58 more rows.

Shape sleeves – Work 6 rows, inc 1 st at each end of every row – 94 (106, 116, 128, 138, 150) sts.

Next row – Work across row, casting on 40 sts at each end of row – 174 (186, 196, 208, 218, 230) sts.

Next (wrong-side) row – P12, [K69 (75, 80, 86, 91, 97), P12] twice.

Next row – K12, [P69 (75, 80, 86, 91, 97), K12] twice. These 2 rows set the pattern for remainder of back. Continue in pattern until back measures same as fronts to shoulder shaping, ending after a wrong-side row.

Shape shoulders – Cast off 40 (41, 41, 47, 47, 48) sts loosely at beg of next 2 rows – 94 (104, 114, 114, 124, 134) sts.

Cast off 8 (9, 10, 10, 11, 12) sts at beg of next 8 rows – 30 (32, 34, 34, 36, 38) sts. Cast off loosely.

TO COMPLETE

Sleeve tabs (make 2)

– With 3 mm needles, cast on 37 sts loosely and work 8 rows in garter-stitch (knit every row). Cast off loosely.

To Make Up – Join shoulders. Note: it is easier to use a matching plain yarn. Join cast-off edges of back neck border, then stitch inner edge to cast-off sts of back neck. Stitch one end of a sleeve tab to wrong side across shoulder seam approx 38 sts from edge of sleeve. Join side and sleeve seams. Bring sleeve tabs to right side and catch down tab ends using a button as in photograph.

Stitch remaining buttons to left front border to correspond with buttonholes. ■

Next issue: a sweater and gilet combination to knit