Boleros in Stylecraft Bambino DK - 9604 - Downloadable PDF\n

Boleros in Stylecraft Bambino DK – Pattern 9604: Detailed Summary

Pattern 9604 from Stylecraft is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering two charming bolero-style cardigans for babies and young children, sized from birth up to 7 years (to fit chest sizes 41/46 cm up to 61/66 cm). Both designs are worked in Stylecraft Bambino DK, a baby-appropriate double knitting weight yarn, and share the same elegant lace construction with the key difference being sleeve length. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with basic lace techniques and garment shaping.

The Two Designs

Short Sleeve Bolero Cardigan

The first design is a short sleeve bolero cardigan featuring brief sleeves of just 3–6 cm depending on size. This makes it a versatile layering piece suitable for warmer weather or as a decorative cover-up over baby outfits. The full length of the garment ranges from approximately 24 cm to 33 cm across the five sizes. The short sleeve version is shown in Soft Pink 7113 and requires 1 to 2 x 100g balls of Stylecraft Bambino DK.

Long Sleeve Bolero Cardigan

The second design is a long sleeve bolero cardigan, with sleeve lengths ranging from 17 cm to 33 cm depending on the size being made. This version provides more warmth and coverage while retaining the same delicate lace body construction. It is shown in Blue Mist 3945 and requires 1 to 3 x 100g balls of Stylecraft Bambino DK, with larger sizes naturally requiring more yarn.

Construction and Structure

Both cardigans are knitted flat in separate pieces — a back, left front, and right front — which are then seamed together. The back is cast on using the thumb method, a reliable cast-on technique that creates a neat, slightly stretchy edge well-suited to garment hems. The construction follows a classic cardigan format with armhole shaping worked by decreasing one stitch at each end on consecutive rows, followed by shoulder shaping achieved through a series of cast-off rows. The remaining back neck stitches are then cast off straight.

The pattern is sized across five options: 0–9 months, 9–18 months, 18–24 months, 3–4 years, and 5–7 years, with actual measurements ranging from 49 cm to 69 cm around the chest. Knitters are advised to circle their chosen size before beginning, as instructions are given in the format of multiple figures separated by brackets throughout.

Lace Pattern and Stitch Techniques

The defining feature of both boleros is the two easy lace designs that alternate to create an open, decorative fabric across the body and sleeves. These two lace rows are worked within a stocking stitch framework and repeat throughout the pattern:

• Lace Row 1 uses yarn forward (yfwd) combined with slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (s1, k1, psso) — a left-leaning decrease paired with a yarn-over eyelet, creating a subtle directional lace effect.
• Lace Row 2 uses yarn forward (yfwd) combined with knit 2 together (k2tog) — a right-leaning decrease with a yarn-over, producing a complementary lace motif that mirrors the first.
• Both lace rows are separated and framed by four rows of stocking stitch, keeping the lace light and easy to manage rather than dense or complex.
• Wrong-side rows throughout the lace pattern are worked as purl rows, maintaining the smooth stocking stitch reverse.

This alternating structure — four rows stocking stitch, one lace row, one purl row, repeated — forms the repeating pattern unit that runs from the lower edge up through the armholes and across the fronts. The technique is accessible for intermediate knitters and introduces lace in a gentle, structured way without requiring complex charting.

Stitches Used