Women's crocheted bolero Novita Cotton Soft

The back

Chain 106(118)134(146)162(178) sts.

1st row (see diagram I): Work the 1st long branching treble (lb tr) [= wrap the yarn twice around the hook, insert the hook into the 6th chain from the hook, wrap the yarn around the hook and pull it through (4 sts on the hook, the yarn overs included), pick up the yarn and pull it through 2 sts, pick up the yarn, skip 2 ch sts and put the hook through the next chain st, wrap the yarn around the hook and pull it through (5 sts on the hook, the yarn overs included), pull the yarn through 2 sts, pick up the yarn, pull it through 2 sts, pick up the yarn, pull it through 2 sts, pick up the yarn and pull it through the remaining 2 sts], *ch 2, 1 lb tr*. Repeat from * to * another 23(27)30(33)37(41) times, ch 1, 1 double treble (d tr) into the last ch st. 25(28)32(35)39(43) lb tr in total. Turn work.

2nd row: Ch 5, 1 lb tr [= wrap the yarn twice around the hook, move hook under the ch st from the previous row to the other side of the work, wrap the yarn around the hook, bring the yarn to the right side of the work (4 sts on the hook, including the yarn overs), pick up the yarn and pull it through 2 sts, pick up the yarn, move hook to the other side of the work under the next chain sts, wrap the yarn around the hook, bring the yarn to the right side of the work (5 sts on the hook, including the yarn overs), pull the yarn through 2 sts, pick up the yarn, pull it through 2 sts, pick up the yarn, pull it through 2 sts, pick up the yarn and pull through the remaining 2 sts], *ch 2, 1 lb tr*. Repeat from * to *, ch 1, 1 d tr.

Continue crocheting from row 3 of diagram I, and then keep repeating rows 2-3.

Note: When you have worked 3(3)3(4)5(6) rows in total, begin the increases on the next row on both sides of the piece from row 1 of diagram II. On the next 5 rows you'll add 2 lb tr to both ends of the piece. 29(32)36(39)43(47) lb tr in total.

When you have completed the increases and the piece measures approx. 15(15)16(17)19(20) cm, place a marker to both sides to mark the underarm.

When the armhole measures 4(5)6(7)7(8) cm, begin the increases on the next row on both ends of the piece from row 1 of diagram III. 1 lb tr added to both ends over the next 2 rows. Add 4 lb trs in total to both sides. 37(40)44(47)51(55) lb tr in total.

When you have completed the increases [the armhole measures approx. 19(20)21(22)22(23) cm], leave off at both ends 2x4(4)5(5)6(6) lb tr and 1x3(4)4(6)5(7) lb tr following diagram IV (note: 3 lb tr on each row have been omitted from the diagram). 15(16)16(15)17(17) lb tr on the neckline remain. Break the yarn.

The right front

Chain 67(71)79(83)91(99) (starting chain).

1st row (see diagram V, right end): Work 1 d tr into the 6th ch from the hook, *ch 2, 1 lb tr*, repeat from * to * another 14(15)17(18)20(22) times and crochet 1 d tr into the last ch on the starting chain. 15(16)18(19)21(23) lb tr in total. Turn work.

Repeat rows 2-3 from diagram I. 16(17)19(20)22(24) lb tr in total after row 2.

When you have completed 3(3)3(4)5(6) rows, begin the increases on the next row at the left end following diagram II. Increase 2 lb tr to left end during 5 rows. 18(19)21(22)24(26) lb tr in the work.

When you have finished the increases and the piece measures approx. 15(15)16(17)19(20) cm, place a piece of scrap yarn at the left end to mark the lower edge of the armhole.

Work 1 row and on the next row begin the decreases for the neckline at the right end following diagram VI. Decrease 1 lb tr on every row for 11(11)11(10)11(11) in total.

When the armhole measures approx. 4(5)6(7)7(8) cm, on the next row begin the increases at the left end following diagram III. You'll add 1 lb tr per 2 rows. Increase 4 lb tr in total.

When you have completed the increases at the left end [armhole measures approx. 19(20)21(22)22(23) cm] and the decreases at the right end, there are 11(12)14(16)17(19) lb tr in the work (shoulder).

Begin the shoulder decreases on the next row. Leave off on every row at the left end 2x4(4)5(5)6(6) lb tr and 1x3(4)4(6)5(7) lb tr following chart IV (note: 3 lb tr on every row have been omitted in the diagram). Break the yarn.

The left front

Crochet as the mirror image of the right front.

Sew the shoulder seams and crochet the sleeves starting from the armholes, see direction of knitting from the pattern.

Left sleeve

Join the yarn with 1 dc into the right side of the work, into the lower edge of the left armhole marked earlier. Crochet 83(86)92(98)98(104) dc into the arches of the armhole. Turn work.

Begin working the branching trebles from row 1 of diagram VII: ch 5, 1 lb tr, *ch 2, 1 lb tr*, repeat from * to * 25(26)28(30)30(32) more times and into the last dc ch 1, 1 d tr. Keep repeating rows 2-3 of diagram VII. 27(28)30(32)32(34) lb tr in total.

Note: Decrease on both ends of the piece on 5x1 lb tr every 4th row (5x1 lb tr every 4th row) 3x1 lb tr every 3rd row and 3x1 lb tr every 4th row (3x1 lb tr every 3rd row and 3x1 lb tr every 4th row) 3x1 lb tr every 3rd row and 3x1 lb tr every 4th row (7x1 lb tr every 3rd row). Work the decreases following rows 2 and 3 of diagram VI.

After the decreases, 17(18)18(20)20(20) lb tr in the work.

When the sleeve measures 45(46)47(48)48(49) cm, break the yarn.

Right sleeve

Work as you did the left sleeve.

Finishing

Lay the piece to measurements wrong side up, mist with a spray bottle and allow to dry.

Sew the side seams and the sleeve seams.

Crocheted edging: Join the yarn with 1 dc onto the hem at one of the side seams, on the right side of the work

1st row: on the hem, crochet 3 dc into each arch of chain sts, 5 dc into the arch on the lower corner of the front edge, 4 dc into each arch on the straight part of the front edge, 5 dc into the arches on the slanted part of the front edge and 3 dc into the arches on the back. Close the row with 1 slip stitch (sl st) into the 1st dc on the row.

2nd row: crochet 1 dc into each dc on the previous row and, if necessary, make the neckline smaller by skipping some of the sts as you go along. Close the row with 1 sl st.

3rd row: Ch 3 ( = 1st tr), *ch 1, skip 1 dc and make 1 tr into the next dc*, repeat from * to * throughout the row and end with ch 1. Close the row with 1 sl st.

4th row: ch 4 and work 1 dc into the 3rd chain from the hook. *Skip 1 tr, work 1 dc into the next tr, work the picot (= ch 3, 1 dc into the 3rd chain from the hook)*, repeat from * to * and close the row with 1 sl st.

Edgings for the cuffs: Join the yarn with 1 dc into the right side of the work, at the seam on the cuff.

1st round: work 4 dc into each arch and close the round with 1 sl st into the 1st dc on the round.

2nd and 3rd rounds: work 1 dc into each dc on the previous round, close the round with 1 sl st.

4th round: ch 3 ( =1st tr), *ch 1, skip 1 dc and make 1 tr into the next dc*, repeat from * to * throughout the round, end with ch 1 and close the round with 1 sl st.

5th row: ch 4 and work 1 dc into the 3rd chain from the hook. *Skip 1 tr, work 1 dc into the next tr, work the picot (= ch 3 and 1 dc into the 3rd chain from the hook)*, repeat from * to * and close the round with 1 sl st.

Crochet the edging of the other sleeve to match.

String: Chain 132. Work 1 dc into 3rd ch from the hook, *work the picot (= ch 3, work 1 dc into 3rd ch from the hook), skip 2 ch st, work 1 sl st into next ch st*, repeat from * to * to end of starting chain. Break the yarn.

Slip the string through the edging on the right front, onto the lower edge of the slanted part of the neckline.