Beamer Baby Bolero
Moonbeam? Sunbeam? Starbeam? All of those can apply to a baby - they radiate their emotions so honestly, even in their sleep.This bolero radiates, too, to form the rounded front that slightly overlaps in the middle. It is knit cuff-to-center and Kitchener stitched together at the center back.There are not too many total stitches; but pay attention and read ahead becausethechangeshappenquickly! ≥ yarn. Stockinette stitch at 5 st/in will fit a premie to smaller newborn; or at 4.5 st/in a newbor
Supplies
Light to heavy worsted weight yarn, about 120 yds -but get extra if you want matching booties or socks -of course you will use the softest washable natural fiber you can find 5 double point needles to get an appropriate gauge for the yarn -or needles for your favorite method of knitting in the round 16 to 29 in circular needle of the same size as the double points (lighter weight yarn requires shorter needle) 6 markers safety pin or locking stitch marker waste yarn for holding stitches yarn needle
Abbreviations
st stitch K knit P purl inc increase 1 stitch Best increase for this pattern: lifted "“make one increase" htp:/www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/FEATwin09TT.php K2tog knit 2 stitches together, decreasing one stitch leaning to the right SSK slip 2 stitches individually as if to knit, then slide both back to the left needle and knit them together through the back loops, decreasing one stitch leaning to the left P2tog purl 2 stiches together, decreasing one stitch k rnd knit the remaining stitches to complete the round sl slip the stitch or marker as if to purl M1, M2, Mf, Mb, Mn markers, named for their location w&t wrap & turn, instructions can be found here http://www.knitty.com/ksbbb.php#ksbbb You can switch to the circular needles whenever this seems to work for you. This may be when you start knitting back and forth at row 35, or not until the outer garter st edge. Begin at cuff for each sleeve Cast on 30 st, join for knitting in the round, making sure not to twist. I like a cable cast-on because it matches the bind offedge. Knit 3 rows in garter stitch beginning with a purl row. Place a marker (M1) at the beginning of the rounds. Row 1 Purl Row 2 Knit Row 3 Purl Begin stockinette st and place a 2nd marker (M2) after the 3rd st Note: there are always 3 st between the markers though row 24. Rows 4-6 Knit Row7 K to M1, inc (before the marker), sl M1, K3, sl M2, inc (after the marker), k rnd (32 st) Repeat rows 4 - 7 a total of 5 times. (40 st) Row 24 Knit, place a pin or locking stitch marker 10 st before M1 to designate the start of the rounds for the following directions Now the increases begin in earnest as the section between the markers expands rapidly and the “radial" section is added. There will be a third marker added at the neck. Because the right and left sides are mirror images, the markers are named according to their anatomical place to avoid confusion - see the diagram. The rows are listed in a table to help make it easier to follow. One table row is one worked row or round.
Beamer Baby Bolero
Right Sleeve Markers: M1 becomes Mb at back M2 becomes Mf at lower front Mn will be placed at front neck Slip the marker when it is listed. Now theknitting begins back and forth instead of in the round. Increases at markers continue in established pattern. Switchtothecircularneedlesif orwhenit seemsconvenient.
| Row | Marker | Section under right arm (Mb to Mf) | Marker | Front radial section (Mf to Mn) | Marker | #st Mb to | #st Mf to | Total t | ||
| 25 | K10, inc | Mb | K1, inc, K1, inc, K1 | Mf | Inc, K3, inc, place Mn | Mn | SSK, k rnd | Mf 5 | Mn 5 | 44 |
| 26 | Knit | |||||||||
| 27 | K11, inc | Mb | K1, inc, K3, inc, K1 | Mf | K2, inc, K1, inc, K2 | Mn | SSK, k rnd | 7 | 7 | 48 |
| 28 | Knit | |||||||||
| 29 | K12, inc | Mb | K1, inc, K5, inc, K1 | Mf | Inc, K7, inc | Mn | SSK, k rnd | 9 | 9 | 52 |
| 30 | Knit | |||||||||
| 31 | K13, inc | Mb | K1, inc, K7, inc, K1 | Mf | K2, inc, K5, inc, K2 | Mn | SSK, k rnd | 11 | 11 | 56 |
| 32 | Knit | |||||||||
| 33 | K14, inc | Mb | K1, inc, K9, inc, K1 | Mf | K4, inc, K3, inc, K4 | Mn | SSK, k rnd | 13 | 13 | 60 |
| 34 | Knit | Mf | Mn | 15 | ||||||
| 35 | K15, inc | Mb | K1, inc, K11, inc, K1 | K6, inc, K1, inc, K6 | SSK, k rnd | 15 | 64 | |||
| 36 | Knit to marker Mn, K2, K10 & place these 10 st on a holder, K rnd |
| 37 | K16, inc | Mb | K1, inc, K13, inc, K1 | Mf | K1, inc, K13, inc, K1, sl Mn, w&t (wrapSSKst,turnandslwrappedst andMnbacktorightneedle) | 17 | 17 | 69 |
| 38 | Purl toheld st,turn(Pinmarking start ofround may be removed,it is nolonger needed.) | |||||||
| 39 | K to Mb, inc beforemarker | Mb | K1, inc, K15, inc, K1 | Mf | K3,inc, K11,inc, K1,w&t (wrap2ndstbeforeMn) | 19 | 19 | 74 |
| 40 | Purl toheld st, turn | |||||||
| 41 | K to Mb, inc beforemarker | Mb | K1, inc, K17, inc, K1 | Mf | K5, inc, K9, inc, K1, w&t (wrap4thstbeforeMn) | 21 | 21 | 79 |
Now only the “radial"' section is worked, and a rounded corner is shaped at Mf.
| Row | Frontradialsection (MftoMn) | #st Mf to Mn 23 | Total |
| 42 | P16,w&t(wrapstbeforeMf) | ||
| 43 | K6,inc,K7,inc,K1,w&t(wrap6thstbeforeMn) 81 | ||
| 44 | P15,w&t(wrap2ndstbeforeMf) | ||
| 45 | K7,inc,K5,inc,K1,w&t (wrap8th stbeforeMn) 25 83 | ||
| 46 | P14,w&t (wrap3rdstbeforeMf) | ||
| 47 | K8,inc,K3,inc,K1,w&t (wrap 10th stbeforeMn) 27 85 | ||
| 48 Purl to held st, lifting the 3 wraps and knitting them with their wrapped st as you come to them |
Break yarn, leaving 36" length to be used for the Kitchener st later. Put the 25 st between the halting point and Mb on one holder or waste yarn. Remove Mb marker. Place the other 60 st (including 10 held st) on a separate holder or waste yarn.
Beamer Baby Bolero
LeftSleeve Begin at cuff as for right sleeve through row 24. Notice that the markers are in a different order for the left! Markers: Mn atfront neck M1 becomes Mf at lower front M2becomesMbatback
| Row | Marker | Frontradialsection (Mn to Mf) | Iarker | Section underleft arm (Mf to Mb) | Iarker | #st Mn to Mf | #st Mf to Mb | L Cotal | |||
| 25 | K5, K2tog, placeMn | Mn | Inc, K3, inc | Mf | K1, inc, K1, inc, K1 | Mb | Inc, k rnd | 5 | 5 | 44 | |
| 26 | Knit | ||||||||||
| 27 | K4, K2tog | Mn | K2, inc, K1, inc, K2 | Mf | K1, inc, K3, inc, K1 | Mb | Inc, k rnd | 7 | 7 | 48 | |
| 28 | Knit | ||||||||||
| 29 | K3,K2tog | Mn | Inc, K7, inc | Mf | K1, inc, K5, inc, K1 | Mb | Inc, k rnd | 9 | 9 | 52 | |
| 30 | Knit | ||||||||||
| 31 | K2, K2tog | Mn | K2, inc,K5,inc,K2 | Mf | K1, inc, K7, inc, K1 | Mb | Inc, k rnd | 11 | 11 | 56 | |
| 32 | Knit | Mn | K4, inc, K3, inc, K4 | Mf | Mb | 13 | |||||
| 33 | K1, K2tog K1, inc, K9, inc, K1 Inc, k rnd | 13 | 60 | ||||||||
| 34 | Knit. At end of rnd place 10 neck st on a holder as follows: turn, sl 1 st to right needle, then place next 10 st on a | ||||||||||
| holder, turn, sl 1 st back to right needle. (Two st remain on left needle before Mn marker.) | |||||||||||
| 35 | K2tog | Mn | K6, inc, K1, inc, K6 | Mf | K1, inc, K11, inc, K1 | Mb | Inc, knit to | 15 | 15 | 64 | |
| held st, turn |
36 Purl to Mn, sl Mn, w&t (wrap K2tog st, turn & slip Mn back to right needle)
| Row | Frontradialsection (Mn to Mf) | Marker | Sectionunderleftarm (MftoMb) | Marker | #st Mn to | #st Mf to | Total | |
| 37 | K1,inc, K13,inc, K1 | Mf | K1,inc,K13,inc,K1 | Mb | Inc, k to held st, turn | Mf 17 | Mb 17 | 69 |
| 38 | Purl to 2 st before Mn, w&t (wrap 2nd st before Mn) | 19 | ||||||
| 39 | K1, inc,K11,inc,K3 Mf K1, inc, K15, inc, Kl Mb Inc,k toheld st,turn | 19 | 74 | |||||
| 40 | Purl to 4 st before Mn, w&t (wrap 4th st before Mn) | |||||||
Now only the “"radial" section is worked, and a rounded corner is shaped at Mf.
| Row | Frontradialsection (Mn to Mf) | # st Mn to | #st Mf to | Total |
| 41 | K1, inc, K9, inc, K4, w&t (wrap st before Mf) | Mf 21 | Mb 19 | 76 |
| 42 | P14, w&t (wrap 6" st before Mn) | |||
| 43 | K1, inc, K7, inc, K5, w&t (wrap 2nd st before Mf) | 23 | - | 78 |
| 44 | P13, w&t (wrap 8"h st before Mn) | |||
| 45 | K1, inc, K5, inc, K6, w&t (wrap 3ra st before Mf) | 25 | - | 80 |
| 46 | P12,w&t(wrap10thstbeforeMn) |
Now work all sections.
| Row | Frontradialsection (Mn to Mf) | Marker | Sectionunderleft arm (MftoMb) | Marker | #st Mn to Mf | #st Mf to Mb | Total | |||
| 47 | K1, inc, K3, inc, K11, picking up and knitting 3wraps with their wrapped st | Mf | K1, inc, K17, inc, K1 | Mb | Inc, K to held st, turn | 27 | 21 | 85 | ||
| 48 | Purl, picking up and purling 6 wraps with their wrapped st. Purl 10 st from holder. Halt. Do not break yarn. | |||||||||
Place the 25 st between Mb and the held st on a double point needle. Remove Mb marker (60 st on circular needle). Alison Jarvis 2015. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Beamer Baby Bolero
Finishing
Attach sleeves together at center back in the following way: Join together the 25 st from the back left sleeve and 25 st of the back right sleeve with the Kitchener st using the 30” end of yarn from the right sleeve. After completing the Kitchener st do not break the yarn but use it to pick up and knit 4 st along bottom back, and place these 4 st on the circular needle. Place the 60 held st from the right sleeve onto the circular needle. (124 st on the needle) Use the yarn from the left sleeve neck to pick up and knit 14 st across back neck edge. It takes a bit of planning and patience to do this neatly because the Kitchener st results in a half row jog. Then slip the next neck st on right sleeve, wrap yarn from wrong side to right side and slip st back to right sleeve needle. Turn. Garter Stitch Edge Note:markers remainat Mn andMf onbothsleeves. Begin to work in the round on the knit side. Place a pin or marker to mark the beginning of the round. Purl around (138 st) picking up 6 wraps at the right sleeve radial section and purling them with their worked st. Next round (remove the markers as you come to them): SSK, K10, K2tog, K to 2 st before left sleeve Mn marker, K2tog, K to left sleeve Mf marker, inc, K to right sleeve Mf marker, inc, K to right sleeve Mn marker, SSK, K rnd. (136 st) Purl one round. Bind off. My favorite bind off: Sll, Kl, bring yarn fwd, sl both st back to left needle, P2tog \*K1, bring yarnfwd, sl both st back to left needle, P2tog\*, repeat between \* until 1 st remains. Cut yarn, pull end through last st. Weave in ends neatly. Block. Make your favorite baby bootie or socks to match. Give to deserving baby...and aren't they all?
If you enjoyed the construction of this bolero and want to knit for a growing baby, you may want to consider Babies and Bears Sweater by Carol Anderson and Kristi Williams It is a hooded cardigan knit cuff to center and sized for babies and toddlers. The Babies and Bears cardigan inspired this bolero. Thanks to CA and KW for permission to make this bolero pattern available! @Alison Jarvis 2015. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
