Lady's Bolero in Sirdar Soukie DK - 7358 - Downloadable PDF

Lady's Bolero in Sirdar Soukie DK – Pattern 7358

This knitting pattern from Sirdar provides full instructions for a classic Lady's Bolero, a short, open-fronted jacket that sits at or just above the waist and leaves the front of the body largely uncovered. The bolero silhouette is a timeless wardrobe staple that pairs beautifully with dresses, blouses, and eveningwear, adding a layer of warmth and style without the bulk of a full cardigan. Pattern 7358 is designed to be knitted in Sirdar Soukie DK yarn and includes a generous range of sizes to suit a wide variety of figures.

Sizes and Fit

The pattern covers six sizes, making it accessible to a broad range of knitters and wearers:

• To fit bust: 81/86 cm (32/34 in) through to 132/137 cm (52/54 in)
• Actual measurement: 90 cm (35½ in) to 141 cm (55½ in)
• Full length: 48 cm (19 in) to 61 cm (24 in), depending on size
• Sleeve length: approximately 46–48 cm (18–19 in), noted as adjustable to suit individual preference

The pattern explicitly includes larger sizes, making it a particularly inclusive design. Knitters are encouraged to circle their chosen size before beginning to avoid confusion when working through the instructions.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a lady's bolero — a short-sleeved or long-sleeved cropped jacket with an open front, shaped shoulders, and a neat, fitted silhouette. The construction includes a back section, two front sections, and set-in or shaped sleeves. Shoulder shaping is worked by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows in stages, creating a clean, structured shoulder line. Front edges are shaped with incremental increases to achieve the characteristic curved or angled bolero front.

Techniques Used

This is a pattern suited to knitters with some experience, as it incorporates several shaping techniques alongside straightforward flat knitting:

• Thumb method cast on — used to begin the back section, this technique creates a neat, elastic edge well suited to garment construction
• Casting off in stages — shoulder shaping is achieved by casting off groups of stitches at the beginning of successive rows, a standard method for creating sloped shoulders
• Increasing at front edges — stitches are increased every row and then every alternate row to shape the bolero fronts, requiring attention to row counts and stitch counts
• Decreasing — used throughout for shaping armholes, sleeves, and other structural elements
• Working on right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) rows — the pattern distinguishes between RS and WS rows, which is essential for maintaining the correct fabric appearance in stocking stitch
• Tension checking — the pattern strongly emphasises the importance of achieving the stated tension before beginning, with guidance on adjusting needle size accordingly

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch — the primary stitch used throughout the body and sleeves, formed by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic fabric
• Knit (k) and purl (p) — the two fundamental stitches from which the fabric is constructed

The tension specification confirms that 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch on 4 mm needles is required. Achieving this tension is described as essential to ensure the finished garment matches the stated measurements.

Materials Required

The pattern is designed for Sirdar Soukie DK yarn, specifically shade F009 / colour 183. The quantity required ranges from 9 to 14 balls of 50g depending on the size being knitted. The yarn amounts are based on average requirements when the specified tension and yarn are used, so individual knitters may find their usage varies slightly