​Crochet Bolero Jacket

You’ll need:

Yarn: 4 Skeins Lion Brand Homespun (185 yd/169 m per skein);

Crochet Hook 15.75mm;

Marker;

Yarn Needle;

Scissors;

Large Button (optional).

Stitches control: 8 dc = 6 inches and 4 rows of dc = 4 inches.

Instructions

Entire bolero is worked up holding 2 strands of yarn together.

Sleeve 1

Ch 17, join r with sl st (16 sts)

Round 1: ch 2; dc 1 r; join r with sl st (16 sts)

Rounds 2-15: inc 1 dc; dc r (30 sts at r 15)

Rounds 16-20: inc 2 dc; dc r (40 sts at r 20)

Back

Row 1-10: ch 2; 19 dc, turn (20 sts)

In more detail: you chain two, work 19 dc in the next 19 spaces on the sleeve, then turn. Do this 9 more times. In other words, instead of working in the round like you were when you formed the arm, you are now turning your work to form the backside of the shrug, like you are making an afghan.

Sleeve 2

Loosely Chain 21; join r with sl st (40 sts)

In more detail: Once you have the back finished, you do this chain off one corner of the back, then attach the chain on the other corner of the back. This forms a round to start working the second sleeve off of.

Rounds 1-5: dec 2 dc; dc r (30 sts at r 5)

Rounds 6-20: dec 1 dc; dc r (16 sts at r 20)

sl st 1 r (to match cuff on sleeve 1)

Tie off and weave in ends.

Front

Join yarn on bottom of back; dc 5 rs.

In more detail: Tie onto the bottom of the back. Work dcs up the first sleeve, across the top/neck, down the second sleeve, and back to where you started at the bottom of the back. That’s one round. Do this 4 more times.

Tie off and weave in ends.

Button (optional)

Run 1 foot of yarn through button holes; tie onto the middle-left of the front 1 inch from seam.

Weave in ends.

Ideas to make this bolero smaller (XS-M)

Follow the pattern as written, but use a smaller hook and only one strand of yarn instead of two so the shrug isn’t super-bulky. Keep in mind that this might make the weave a little bit tighter.
OR
Use the same hook size and 2 strands of yarn, but start the pattern with 2 stitches less, then follow the pattern as it’s written as far as increasing/decreasing, but it will be 2 stitches less than shown all around. Also, remove the last 2-4 rows on the first sleeve and the first 2-4 rows on the second sleeve, and 2 rows across the back.

Ideas to make this shrug larger (1X-3X)

Follow the pattern as written, but use a larger hook. Keep in mind that it will make the weave a bit looser.
OR
Add 2-4 rows to the back, 2-4 more rounds to the front, and 2-4 more stitches to the sleeve rounds.

Starting the back off of sleeve 1: work in rows instead of rounds. In other words, once you finish the first sleeve, start the back by working back and forth and turning your work instead of working in the round and not turning your work as you did for the sleeve.

Once you finish the back, in order to form the loop for sleeve 2, chain off one edge of the back you just finished and attach that chain to the other edge of the back to form a loop. This forms the round for sleeve 2. Sleeve 2 is worked in the opposite direction of sleeve 1, which is what makes this bolero no seam.

Once you finish sleeve 2, cut and tie off your yarn, then attach it to the bottom of the back to start the front.

Work up one sleeve, across the top/neck, down the other sleeve and across the back for 5 rounds.