Boleros in King Cole DK - 4406 - Downloadable PDF

Boleros in King Cole DK – Pattern 4406: A Detailed Knitting Guide

Pattern 4406 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern for a classic bolero — a short, open-fronted jacket that sits above the waist and is a perennially popular wardrobe addition for children and adults alike. This pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is knitted in King Cole DK (double knit) weight yarn, making it a versatile and widely accessible project. The pattern covers chest sizes 56–71 cm (22–28 inches), spanning four size options suitable for younger wearers.

A notable feature of this pattern is that King Cole donates to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every pattern purchase, adding a charitable dimension to your crafting.

What Is Being Made

The pattern includes a Bolero with Flowers design — a neat, fitted short jacket with shaped armholes, a right front edging, and decorative floral embellishments. The bolero is constructed in separate pieces — a Back, a Right Front, and corresponding left sections — which are then seamed together. The open front and neat edging give the finished garment a polished, classic look that works beautifully over dresses or blouses.

Construction and Shaping Techniques

The bolero is worked flat in separate pieces and seamed, which is typical of traditional knitting construction. Key shaping techniques used throughout the pattern include:

• Armhole shaping — worked by casting off and decreasing stitches to create a neat, fitted armhole opening
• Neck shaping — achieved through a combination of decreasing at the neck edge on consecutive rows and then on alternate rows, giving a smooth, gradual curve
• Casting off at the neck — groups of stitches are cast off to shape the neckline cleanly
• Increasing at front edges — the Right Front begins with increases at the beginning of the first row to shape the front panel correctly
• Picking up and knitting stitches for the Right Front Edging — stitches are picked up along the cast-on edge, up the right front, around the cast-off neck stitches, and along the neck, creating a tidy, integrated border

Stitches Used

The pattern makes use of several fundamental and decorative knitting stitches and techniques:

• Stocking stitch (st-st) — the primary fabric stitch, worked with knit stitches on the right side and purl stitches on the wrong side, creating a smooth, classic knitted fabric
• Garter stitch (gst) — every row knitted, producing a ridged, reversible fabric often used for borders and edgings
• Reversed stocking stitch (rev st-st) — the right side is purled and the wrong side is knitted, giving a textured, bumpy surface that contrasts with standard stocking stitch
• Yarn over needle (yon) and yarn forward (yfwd) — used to create decorative eyelets or increases, likely incorporated into the floral detailing
• Yarn round needle (yrn) — a similar yarn-over technique used in specific stitch contexts
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso) — a decrease technique worked in combination with slip stitches to shape or create decorative effects
• Through back of stitch (tbs) — a technique that twists the stitch, often used for neat decreases or textural detail
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) — the foundational stitches underpinning all fabric in the pattern

Tension and Needle Information

Achieving the correct tension is emphasised strongly in this pattern. The stated tension is 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch using 4mm knitting needles. Knitters are advised to work a tension square before beginning and to adjust needle size accordingly — moving to finer needles if the stitch count is too low, or to larger needles if the count is too high.

The Right Front Edging is worked using