Boleros in King Cole DK - 4548 - Downloadable PDF

Boleros in King Cole DK – Pattern 4548: A Detailed Summary

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole (pattern number 4548) provides instructions for knitting charming children's boleros — a classic, short open-fronted jacket style that sits at or above the waist, leaving the front open rather than fastening with buttons or a zip. Boleros are a perennially popular choice for children's knitwear, working beautifully as a layering piece over dresses, tops, or party outfits. This pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to tackle shaping techniques.

Sizes and Fit

The pattern covers a range of children's sizes designed to fit chest measurements of 53.5 cm to 66 cm (21 to 26 inches), corresponding to ages 2 to 8 years. This generous size range makes the pattern a versatile choice for knitters looking to make a gift or wardrobe staple that can be worked up in multiple sizes as a child grows.

Construction and Design

A key design feature of these boleros is the raglan sleeve construction. In raglan shaping, the sleeves and body are joined by diagonal seam lines that run from the underarm up to the neckline, rather than a traditional set-in sleeve with a curved armhole. This creates a smooth, comfortable fit across the shoulders and upper body — particularly practical for children's garments, as it allows for ease of movement. Raglan construction also tends to be a satisfying knit, as the shaping is worked in a regular, rhythmic pattern that is easy to follow once established.

Yarn Options

One of the standout features of this pattern is that it offers instructions for two different yarn weights, giving knitters flexibility in their choice of materials:

• King Cole DK (Double Knitting) weight yarn — a popular, widely available weight that knits up at a medium pace and produces a fabric with good stitch definition.
• King Cole 4ply weight yarn — a finer yarn that produces a more delicate, lightweight fabric, ideal for a dressier or more refined finish.

Both options use King Cole branded yarn, a well-regarded UK yarn brand known for its broad colour ranges and consistent quality. The pattern is specifically written and tensioned for King Cole yarns, so using the recommended brand will help achieve the best results.

Needles Required

The needle size required depends on the yarn weight chosen:

• For the DK version: 4mm knitting needles
• For the 4ply version: 3.25mm knitting needles

As with all knitting patterns, knitters are strongly encouraged to knit a tension square before casting on for the garment itself. Checking tension ensures the finished bolero will match the intended measurements — if your tension differs from the stated gauge, adjusting needle size up or down accordingly will help correct this.

Tension (Gauge)

• DK tension: 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch on 4mm needles.
• 4ply tension: 28 stitches and 36 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch on 3.25mm needles.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The boleros are worked using a combination of classic knitting stitches and techniques that are well within reach of an intermediate knitter:

• Stocking stitch (st-st) — the primary fabric stitch, worked by knitting on the right side and purling on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic knitted fabric.
• Garter stitch (gst) — every row knitted, producing a ridged, reversible fabric often used for borders, cuffs, or edgings.
• Raglan shaping — involves regular decreasing on specified rows to create the characteristic diagonal raglan lines.
• Increasing (inc) — adding stitches to shape the garment pieces.
• Decreasing