Garden Flower

Garden Flower Bolero by knitforsweet

What Is Being Made

The Garden Flower is a children's bolero designed by Natalie Pelykh, a lightweight layering piece perfect for adding warmth and style to a child's wardrobe. This bolero is sized for children from 12 months through 10 years old, with chest measurements ranging from 20 inches (50 cm) to 27 inches (70 cm). The bolero is an ideal project for creating a delicate, decorative shrug that pairs beautifully with dresses, tank tops, and summer outfits.

Craft and Techniques

The Garden Flower bolero is created using the knitting craft, making it an excellent choice for beginner-level knitters. The pattern incorporates fundamental knitting techniques including stockinette stitch as the base fabric and decorative lace work. The lace pattern is worked from charts that show right-side rows only, with wrong-side rows worked according to the established pattern—yarn overs are paired with purl stitches on the reverse side. This combination of basic and decorative techniques allows newer knitters to build confidence while creating a visually striking finished piece.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St.st.): The primary fabric stitch, creating a smooth, classic knit texture that serves as the foundation for the bolero
• Lace Pattern Stitches: Decorative stitches worked from lace charts for the back and front pieces, incorporating yarn overs and decreases to create an openwork floral design
• Yarn Overs: Used throughout the lace pattern to create the delicate, airy qualities characteristic of garden-inspired lace work
• Purl Stitches: Worked on wrong-side rows in conjunction with yarn overs to maintain pattern integrity

Materials and Specifications

This pattern calls for sport-weight yarn, specifically Mondial Cometa (100% cotton, 50g per 125 meters). Cotton yarn is ideal for children's garments, offering breathability and comfort for delicate skin. Yarn requirements vary by size, ranging from 75 grams for the smallest 12-month size to 250 grams for the 9-10 year size.

The pattern requires two needle sizes: US 2½ to 3.0 mm needles for the main fabric and US 1 to 2.25 mm needles for ribbing or edging, or size as needed to obtain proper gauge. A tapestry needle is necessary for weaving in ends and finishing seams.

Gauge and Finishing

The recommended gauge is 24 stitches and 36 rows over 10 centimeters (4 inches) in stockinette stitch using US 2½ to 3.0 mm needles, measured after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for creating a bolero that fits correctly across the child's chest and maintains the intended drape of the lace pattern. Blocking the finished piece helps even out the stitches and allows the lace to open up beautifully, enhancing the garden flower motif throughout the design.