Boleros in Sirdar Ophelia - 7316 - Downloadable PDF

Boleros in Sirdar Ophelia – Pattern 7316: Complete Summary

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Sirdar presents two stylish bolero designs worked in the luxuriously textured Sirdar Ophelia chunky-weight yarn. The pattern covers a Long Sleeved Bolero and a Short Sleeved Bolero, offering knitters a choice of silhouette while sharing the same core construction approach. Both garments are sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, from 61/66 cm (24/26 in) through to 112/117 cm (44/46 in), making this pattern genuinely inclusive across six size options.

About the Designs

Long Sleeved Bolero

The long sleeved version is a classic bolero shape that sits cropped at the body while featuring full-length sleeves, creating an elegant contrast in proportion. The full length ranges from 35 cm (13¾ in) at the smallest size up to 61 cm (24 in) at the largest, while the sleeve length ranges from 33 cm (13 in) to 48 cm (19 in) and is noted as adjustable, giving knitters flexibility to personalise the fit. The actual finished chest measurement runs generously, from 70 cm (27½ in) to 121 cm (47¾ in), providing comfortable ease across all sizes.

This design is worked in Sirdar Ophelia shade 100, and requires between 5 and 11 balls of 50g Sirdar Ophelia depending on the size being knitted. A single button is used as a fastening detail.

Short Sleeved Bolero

The short sleeved bolero offers a lighter, more summery alternative, retaining the same cropped bolero silhouette but with minimal cap or short sleeves measuring just 4–5 cm (1½–2 in) in length. This makes it an ideal layering piece for warmer weather or as an elegant cover-up. The body length and sizing dimensions mirror those of the long sleeved version, ensuring a consistent and flattering fit across the size range.

This version is worked in Sirdar Ophelia shade 106 and requires a more modest yarn quantity of 3 to 8 balls of 50g Sirdar Ophelia, reflecting the reduced sleeve length. A single button is also used as a fastening on this design.

Yarn and Materials

Both boleros are designed for Sirdar Ophelia, a chunky weight yarn sold in 50g balls. The pattern also notes that the designs are suitable for Sirdar Click Chunky, offering an alternative yarn option for knitters who may already have that in their stash or prefer its properties. Sirdar Ophelia is known for its soft, tactile quality and subtle texture, which lends both boleros a rich, cosy appearance even in simple stitch patterns.

The following needles are required for both garments:

• 1 pair of 6½mm knitting needles (UK 3 – USA 10.5) – used for the main fabric
• 1 pair of 5½mm knitting needles (UK 5 – USA 9) – used for ribbing or edging sections
• 1 button per garment for the front fastening

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 14 stitches and 19 rows to 10 cm, measured over the main stitch pattern using the larger 6½mm needles and Sirdar Ophelia. Achieving the correct tension is essential in garment knitting, as even a small deviation can significantly alter the finished dimensions. Knitters are always advised to work a tension swatch before beginning and to adjust needle size if necessary — going up a needle size if the swatch is too tight, or down a size if it is too loose.

Techniques and Stitches

As a knitting pattern, both boleros are constructed using standard knitting techniques appropriate for the chunky weight yarn and relatively large needle sizes. The use of two different needle sizes within the same pattern is a classic approach in garment knitting, where the smaller 5½mm needles create a firmer, neater fabric for ribbed welts, cuf