For me, inspiration comes from literally everything I touch. This bolero is all emotions.  See, my best friend recently moved to Phoenix and since I live in the east coast, I definitely had mixed emotions. On one hand I was jumping for joy, because it was their dream move, and really, a perfect city for them. But on the other hand, what on earth can you crochet for your biggest supporter when she moves to the hottest city in the US? So Crystal’s lace was born. It all started with the notion of hot weather crocheting.  You want something that is small and very portable… Hmm, obviously it must be a granny square. Now for fiber, yes cotton is great, but where’s the elastic in it? And Phoenix does have cool nights… Ah, a light wool/nylon blend. And presto!, the bolero was born. So watch out, you never know when your emotions are going to challenge you to crochet!

Ed. note: Robyn has written a blog post to address common questions about the bolero.

• Softwist by Berroco, #9467 Amethyst, (41% wool, 59% nylon), 100 yds (91m): 5 (7, 9) hanks
• 5.50mm (US size I/9) hook
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Yarn for this project was generously supplied (and wound beautifully) by Dream Weaver Yarns.

Small, (Medium, Large)

To fit bust sizes 28”-32”, (33”-36”, 38”-44”) and upper arm circumference 9” (12”, 15”).

4” x 4” (10cm x 10cm) = 1 granny square

Special Stitches:

Cluster (CL): Yo, *insert hook into ring, yo, draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops on hook,* repeat from * to * twice more, yo, draw through remaining 4 loops on hook.  

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• Please watch size as you join granny squares. Softwist is very elastic and will stretch, so if you plan on using a different yarn, check fit often. Fit is intended to be relaxed.
• Keep in mind that you can easily alter the garment by changing the layout of the granny squares. For example, if you would prefer cap sleeves, leave off the grannies at the arm. Or if you want a shrug; leave off the grannies at the front panels. The options are yours, enjoy exploring.
• Written instructions are provided along with diagrams. Click diagram thumbnails to enlarge.

Granny Square: Make 10, (22, 36)

See stitch diagram for assistance (click to enlarge).

Ch 6, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 2.

Round 1: Dc2tog into ring, [ch 3, CL] into ring 7 times, ch 1, hdc in top of dc2tog.

Round 2: *Ch 5, sc into ch-3 sp,* rep from * to * 6 more times, ch 2, dc in top of hdc of previous round.

Round 3: *Ch 5, [CL, ch 3, CL] into next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc into next ch-5 sp,* rep from * to * two more times, ch 5, [CL, ch 3, CL] into next ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc into dc of previous round.

Round 4: *Ch 5, sc into next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc into next ch-3 sp, ch 5, sc into same ch-3 sp, ch 5, sc into next ch-5 sp,* rep from * to * 3 more times ending with sc into last ch sp. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Half Granny Square: Make 0, (2, 0).  

Ch 6, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 2.

Round 1: Dc2tog into ring, [ch 3, CL] into ring 7 times, ch 1, hdc into top of dc2tog.

Round 2: *Ch 5, sc into ch-3 sp,* rep from * to * 3 more times, ch 2, dc into next ch-3 sp, turn.

Round 3: Ch 5, [CL, ch 3, CL] into next ch-5 sp, ch-5, sc into next ch-5 sp, ch 5, [CL, ch 3, CL] into next ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc into next ch-5 sp, turn.

Round 4: Ch 5, sc into next ch-3 sp, ch 5, sc into same ch-3 sp, ch 5, sc into next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc into next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc into next ch-3 sp, ch 5, sc into same ch-3 sp, ch 5, sc into next ch-5 sp. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

3/4 Granny Square: Make 4, (2, 4)

Ch 6, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 2.

Round 1: Dc2tog into ring, [ch 3, CL] into ring 7 times, ch 1, hdc into top of dc2tog.

Round 2: *Ch 5, sc into ch-3 sp,* rep from * to * 5 more times, ch 2, dc into ch-3 sp, turn.

Round 3: *Ch 5, [CL, ch 3, CL] into next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp*, repeat from * to * 1 more time, ch 5, [CL, ch 3, CL] into next ch-5 sp, ch 2, dc into next ch-5 sp, turn.

Round 4: Ch 5, sc into next ch-3 sp, ch 5, sc into same ch-3 sp, ch 5, sc into next ch-5 sp, *ch 5, sc into next ch-5 sp, ch 5, sc into next ch-3 sp, ch 5, sc into same ch-3 sp, ch 5, sc into next ch-5 sp,* repeat from * to * 1 more time. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Joining

Use Small Layout, Medium Layout, Large Layout, and Legend for placement of grannies. Join all grannies as shown in the layout, then join arm and side seams in the same manner.

1. Joining four grannies (see diagram):  Ch 6, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 2, dc2tog in ring, *ch 1, sc into ch-5 sp at corner of granny, ch 1, CL into ring, ch 3, CL in ring,* repeat from * to * 2 more times, ch1, sc in ch-5 sp of corner of granny, ch 1, CL in ring, ch 1, hdc into top of dc2tog, (center made) dc into next ch-5 sp of first granny, ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of second granny, ch 3, sc into same ch-5 sp of first granny (see picture), *ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of second granny, ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of first granny,* repeat from * to * 1 more time, ch 5, sc into last ch-5 sp of second granny. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

2. Joining between centers (see diagram): Join yarn to a ch-3 sp of first center, dc into next ch-5 sp of first granny, ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of second granny, ch 3, sc into same ch-5 sp of first granny, *ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of second granny, ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of first granny,* repeat from * to * 1 more time, ch 3, sc into ch-3 sp of next center, ch 3, sc into last ch-5 sp of second granny. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

3. Joining Continues (see diagram): ch 6, sl st into first ch to form ring, ch 2, dc2tog into ring, *ch 1, sc into ch-5 sp at corner of granny, ch 1, CL into circle, ch 1, sc into ch-5 sp of next joining, ch 1, CL into circle,* repeat from * to * 2 more times, ch 1, sc into ch-5 sp at corner of granny, ch 1, CL into circle, ch 1, hdc into top of dc2tog (center made), dc into next ch-5 sp of first granny, ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of second granny, ch 3, sc into same ch-5 sp of first granny, **ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of second granny, ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of first granny,** repeat from ** to ** 1 more time, ch 5, sc into last ch-5 sp of second granny.  Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

4. Joining at Cuff Edge (see diagram): Join yarn to a ch-3 sp of first center, dc into next ch-5 sp of first granny, ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of second granny, ch 3, sc into same ch-5 sp of first granny, *ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of second granny, ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of first granny,* repeat from * to * 1 more time, ch 3, sc into ch-5 sp at the corner of the first granny, ch 2, sc into ch-5 sp at the corner of the second granny, ch 3, sl st into previous ch-5 sp of second granny. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

5. Edging at Neck and Front Panel (see diagram): Join yarn to ch-3 sp of center, ch 3, sc into next ch-5 sp of granny, {if at neck edge, [ch 5, sc into next ch-5 sp] twice, ch 3, sc into next ch-3 sp of center}. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Arm Cuff

Join yarn to underarm with a sl st into any ch-5 sp, ch 6, turn.

Row 1: Sc into second ch from hook and into each ch across, work 2 sl st into ch sp of granny (first sl st joins row to bolero, second sl st counts as turning ch), turn.  (5 sts)

Row 2: Sc into back-loop of each sc across, ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc into back-loop of each sc across, sl st into ch sp twice, turn.

Continue working rows 2-3 evenly around arm cuff.  To create a gather, work 4 rows of ribbing in each ch-5 sp and every SC.  Whip stitch cuff together along seam. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Collar

Join yarn to back with a sl st into any ch-5 sp, ch 13, turn.

Row 1: Sc into second ch from hook and into each ch across, sl st into ch sp of granny twice (first sl st joins row to bolero, second sl st counts as turning ch), turn.  (12 sts)

Row 2: Sc into back-loop of each sc across, ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc into back-loop of each sc across, sl st into ch sp twice, turn.

Continue working rows 2-3 evenly around collar. To create a gather, work 4 rows of ribbing in each ch-5 sp. Whip stitch collar together along seam. Fasten off. Weave in ends.