Crochet Cottage Bolero Cardigan Free Pattern

Crochet Cottage Bolero Cardigan Free Pattern

Hi everyone, today I am bringing to you this crochet cottage bolero cardigan (free pattern). This crochet project is perfect for all seasons. Crocheted with organic cotton yarn in a fingering weight yarn, this cardigan comes in many different sizes.

The video tutorial can be found here:

Crochet Cottage Bolero Cardigan Free Pattern: A Romantic Design

This crochet cardigan has been a labor of love for me. I had been wanting to crochet a cardigan inspired by the Cottagecore aesthetic. I love the Cottagecore aesthetic a lot, as you probably know if you have been following me for any length of time.

The Cottagecore aesthetic is characterized by rural and floral themes; it features lots of bucolic and countryside elements also. I love how feminine and cute these projects look! Demure and delicate, this new cardigan design is perfect for the Spring and Summer.

This puff flower cardigan design I crocheted a few months ago is also inspired by this aesthetic. Let me know in the comments which project you prefer. I was really inspired to add a granny square design to the sleeve cuffs of this cardigan, and I absolutely love how this detail looks. This granny square is lovely and delicate, perfect for this fine bolero cardigan.

Crochet Cottage Bolero Cardigan Free Pattern: A Delicate Yarn, A Delicate Design

I used a fingering weight yarn for this project. This yarn is perfect for this particular project. Called Krea Deluxe Organic Cotton, this yarn is of a fingering weight and it is made from 100% organic cotton yarn. This yarn is perfect for a light weight, Summer cropped cardigan.

Last year, I crocheted the Emmeline Vintage Shawl which also features a very light weight, cotton yarn. Both these projects are delicate and perfect for the warmer months. 

This new cardigan design features a lovely vintage V stitch throughout. Once the main part of the cardigan was created, I added pretty floral granny squares to the sleeve cuffs. This adds a lot of dimension and beauty to this bolero cardigan. After stitching these sleeve cuffs to the sleeves, I added a shell stitch border to the front opening to the project. Delicate ties are then added to the front opening at the very end.

Connecting with you

I would like to take a moment to thank every single one of you, for supporting me and my crochet journey. Please do follow me on Social Media so we can connect. You can find me across all social media accounts under the name Selina Veronique Crochet.

Crochet Cottage Bolero Cardigan: The Pattern

You can purchase the ad free, large print, PDF pattern from my Etsy store here: Crochet Cottage Bolero Cardigan PDF Pattern

You can purchase the ad free, large print, PDF pattern from my Ravelry store here: Crochet Cottage Bolero Cardigan PDF Pattern

Level: Intermediate

Notes

I will be using US terms (British terms in brackets).

Gauge (for the V stitch pattern)

4” (10 cm): 8 V stitches

4” (10 cm): 10 rows

Size of finished cardigan (including borders, excluding sleeves)

Sizes are measured from the top of the cardigan to the very bottom (including bottom border), and then from one edge of the shoulder to the other edge of the shoulder (where the sleeves are sewed onto project).

S: 15,5” (39,5 cm) x 23” (58,5 cm)

M: 17” (43,5 cm) x 25” (63,5 cm)

L: 18,5” (47 cm) x 27” (68,5 cm)

XL: 20” (51 cm) x 29” (74 cm)

Size XXL: 21,50” (55 cm) x 31” (78,5 cm)

XXXL: 23” (58,5 cm) x 32” (81 cm)

Materials

Krea Deluxe Organic Cotton yarn in shade 50, or your preferred 100% cotton in fingering weight.

• 400 grams for size S

• 450 grams for size M

• 500 grams for size L

• 550 grams for size XL

• 600 grams for size XXL

• 650 grams for size XXXL

4 mm crochet hook

Pair of scissors

Tapestry needle

Sewing pins (optional)

Abbreviations

Ch: Chain

Sl st: slip stitch

St: Stitch

Sk: skip

Sp: Space

SC: Single Crochet (UK Double Crochet)

DC: Double Crochet (UK Treble Crochet)

HDC: Half Double Crochet (UK Half Treble Crochet)

EOR: End of row/end of round

General Pattern Notes

We will be crocheting different parts of this project before sewing the cardigan together as explained in the pattern.

You will be making the back and the 2 front panels (together, there is no separation between the back and front panels), and 2 identical sleeves, the granny squares that will make the sleeve cuffs. Once all these parts are sewed together, we will be adding the shell stitch border on the front opening, then the bottom edging will be added. At the very end, we will be adding the granny square sleeve cuffs and cuff edgings.

Pattern written for size S, M written in ( ), L in [ ], XL in bold, XXL in cursive, XXXL in ().

Begin pattern here

Back and front panels

Chain 79 (87) [95] 103, 111 (119)

1: Place 2 DC into 5^th ch from hook (first chain 4 counts as DC+ch 1), sk 1 ch, 2 DC into next stitch until last 2 chains. Sk 1 chain and place 1 DC into last chain.

2: Ch 3 (=DC), turn your work, place 2 DC into V stitch from previous row until you reach the last stitch, where you will be placing 1 DC.

3–34 (37) [40] 43, 46 (49): Repeat row 2.

Front panels (make 2)

Continue the rows as follows:

Row 1: Ch 3 (=DC), turn your work, place 2 DC into V stitch from previous row until you have 15 V stitches; now place a DC on it’s own inside the next DC to finish off this row.

Rows 2-34 (37) [40] 43, 46 (49): Repeat row 1.

Fasten off.

Repeat this process as follows: attach yarn to the second corner at the top corner of the project, to crochet the second panel symmetrically to the first panel.

Row 1: Ch 3 (=DC), turn your work, place 2 DC into V stitch from previous row until you have 15 V stitches; now place a DC on it’s own inside the next DC to finish off this row.

Rows 2-34 (37) [40] 43, 46 (49): Repeat row 1.

Fasten off.

Sleeves (make 2)

Chain 67 (75) [83] 91, 99 (107)

Row 1: Place 2 DC into 5^th ch from hook (first chain 4 counts as DC+ch 1), sk 1 ch, 2 DC into next stitch until last 2 chains. Sk 1 chain and place 1 DC into last chain.

Row 2: Ch 3 (=DC), turn your work, place 2 DC into V stitch from previous row until you reach the last stitch, where you will be placing 1 DC.

Rows 3-33: Repeat row 2.

Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew project together.

Crochet Granny Squares Sleeve Cuffs

For this part, please make sure you check your gauge compared to what each granny square should measure. For certain sizes, each granny square will feature either one or two rows of filet crochet on one side of the square (see photograph below). This is all explained in detail further along. Please note that you can adjust this part depending on your gauge and tension.

For size S: Crochet 6 granny squares with two rows of filet crochet detail (3 granny squares for each sleeve cuff).

Size M: Crochet 8 granny squares with one row of filet crochet detail (4 granny squares for each sleeve cuff).

For size L: Crochet 8 granny squares with two rows of filet crochet detail (4 granny squares for each sleeve cuff).

Size XL: Crochet 10 granny squares with one row of filet crochet detail (5 granny squares for each sleeve cuff).

For size XXL: Crochet 10 granny squares with two rows of filet crochet detail (5 granny squares for each sleeve cuff).

Size XXXL: Crochet 12 granny squares with one row of filet crochet detail (6 granny squares for each sleeve cuff).

Size of granny square (with two filet crochet rows)

3,5” (9 cm) x 4,5” (10,5 cm)

Granny square pattern

Make a slip knot.

Ch 4, sl st to 1^st chain to create a circle into which we will be working.

Note: you can use the magic circle to begin if you prefer.

1: Ch 1 (=does not count as a stitch), place 8 SCs inside the circle you made. Slip stitch to the first ch 1 to close off round.

Note: Make sure you fasten in your loose end under your stitches, so that you can pull this loose end to tighten original circle made of 4 chains or magic circle.

2:

Ch 3 (=DC), place 2 DCs into the same st (= 3 DCs total in 1^st st), ch 1; * 3 DC into next st, ch1, repeat from * until eor. Make sure you finish with a ch 1, sl st to first ch 1 to finish off round.

Row 3:

Note: We will be placing this round’s stitches in between the clusters of 3 DCs from previous round (=the petals from previous round).

The term “space” I will be using for this round refers to the chain 1 space between the clusters of 3 DCs from previous round.

Ch 3 (=DC), turn your work, place 2 DC, ch 2, 3 DC into space from previous round (=1st corner); [skip next petal from previous round (=3 DC cluster) and go directly into next space with 3 DC together]

*Sk next petal from previous round, go directly into next space with 3 DC, ch 2, 3 DC (=corner); [sk next petal from previous round and go directly into next space with 3 DC]*; repeat from * to * another two times.

Sl st to first ch 3 to close off round.

4: Ch 3 (=DC), turn your work, place 2 DC into next space; place 3 DC into next space; * [3 DC, ch 2, 3DC] into next space, 3 DC into next space twice * 3 times; place [3 DC, ch 2, 3 DC] into next space, slip stitch to finish off round.

Fasten off, tidy up all loose ends.

Now add your filet crochet rows to one side of the square. Attach your yarn to one corner of the project.

1: Ch 4 (=DC + ch 1), [sk 1 stitch, ch 1, DC into next stitch] until eor.

2 (if applicable): Repeat row 1.

Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Sewing your granny squares together to create sleeve cuff

On a flat surface, place all your squares side by side as seen in photo below. Using your tapestry needle and mattress stitch, sew the squares together to create a long line. Sew both sides together by folding over the sleeve cuff to form a ring, ready to sew onto sleeve once the rest of the project has been assembled.

To sew your cardigan together

With wrong side facing, place your sleeves flat and fold in half (make sure you fold them so that the V stitches are facing the side, see photo).

Sew the seam in using a tapestry needle and using the mattress stitch. Fasten off, sewing in your loose ends.

Place your back and front panels as seen in photo below:

Once this is done, sew your sleeves onto each side of the cardigan. To do this, place your sleeve at the top of the cardigan on each side, so that the top of each sleeve joins the top of the body of the cardigan. Make sure the seams of your sleeves are facing down.

Now attach a piece of yarn to the top of the cardigan, where the top front panel is touching the sleeve; start sewing the sleeve and front panel together. Once you reach the bottom side of the sleeve, just carry on sewing the front and back panels together, without stopping. When you reach the bottom of the cardigan, fasten off.

Now turn your project around so as to sew in the back part of your sleeve to the back panel. Attach yarn at the top of shoulder, and sew both parts together. Once you reach the bottom of the sleeve, fasten off.

Repeat this process on the other side of the cardigan.

Add sleeve cuffs and edging (repeat process on both sleeve cuffs)

Using sewing pins, attach the 1^st granny square sleeve cuff to the 1^st sleeve. Sew in your sleeve cuffs delicately; there will be a slight “tightening” of the sleeve cuff which is normal and gives a more finished look to the sleeve. Once you have stitched the sleeve cuff all the way around, make a knot, fasten off and tidy up your loose ends.

Repeat the process on the other side with the second sleeve.

Crochet the edging onto each sleeve cuff

Attach yarn to first sleeve end (attach yarn to any stitch on the sleeve end).

Round 1: Ch 1 (counts as a SC),SC into each stitch across until eor.

Fasten off and tidy up all loose ends.

Repeat process on both sleeves.

Add edging to the front opening of the cardigan

Attach yarn to the front opening of the cardigan; attach yarn to the first stitch at the bottom of either side of the front opening.

Row 1: Ch 1 (=SC), place a SC into next stitch until eor all the way around the front of cardigan, until you reach the other side of the front opening.

The number of SC you place is not important, however the total number of SC you crochet has to be a multiple of 5.

Row 2: Ch 3 (=DC), turn your work, place a 2 DC the first stitch (=3 DC together and half shell stitch); sk 2 stitches, place a SC into next stitch, *sk 2 stitches, place 5 DC into next stitch, sk 2 stitches, place a SC into next stitch *. Repeat from * until you reach the last 3 stitches. Skip 2 stitches, place 3 DC into last stitch to finish off row.

Do not fasten off as we will be crocheting directly onto the bottom of the cardigan.

Add border to the bottom of the cardigan

Turn your work so as to work across the bottom edging of the cardigan.

1: Ch 1 (=SC), SC into next stitch until eor all the way around the bottom of cardigan.

2: Ch 2 (=HDC), turn your work, HDC into next stitch until eor.

3: Repeat row 2.

Fasten off and tidy up all loose ends.

Add ties to each side of the cardigan

Measure 8” from the bottom of the front opening, and attach yarn to the first panel.

Please note you can adjust this to your preference, these measurements are general guidelines.

Attach yarn into the center of a shell stitch for extra neatness.

Chain 45, slip stitch through second and each chain from hook until you reach the end of the chain. Once you reach the end of the chain, slip stitch to the project so as to secure the tie.

Create a knot, fasten off and tidy up your loose ends.

Repeat this process on the other side.