Blue Sky Fibers Royalton Bolero Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Blue Sky Fibers Royalton Bolero: Elegant Lace Knit Cardigan

What is Being Made

The Royalton Bolero is a sophisticated short cardigan designed to add elegance to casual attire. This garment is constructed as a rectangle that is knit flat and then seamed together under the arms, creating a simple yet refined silhouette. Available in five women's sizes ranging from XS to XL, with finished widths from 21 to 24 inches and lengths from 37 to 43 inches, this bolero offers versatility for various body types.

Techniques Used

This design employs lace knitting as its primary decorative technique, creating a textural and modern fabric through strategic yarn overs. The garment is worked flat using circular needles worked back and forth in rows, rather than in the round, which allows for easier construction and modification. The finished piece is seamed together at the underarms to complete the bolero shape. The construction begins with a ribbed cuff section, transitions into the lace body, and concludes with another ribbed section for a polished finish.

Stitches Used

• Knit and Purl Ribbing: The pattern features a k4, p2 rib (knit 4 stitches, purl 2 stitches) worked in repeats, creating the structured cuff and finishing sections
• Yarn Overs: The core lace pattern is built on yarn overs (yo) spaced every 4 knit stitches, which create the openwork texture characteristic of lace knitting
• Knit-Purl Combinations: The lace rows incorporate (k1, p1) into yarn overs, creating dimensional texture within the openwork
• Decreases: P2tog (purl 2 together) decreases are strategically placed to maintain stitch count and shape the lace pattern

Materials and Tools

The Royalton Bolero is designed for use with Organic Cotton Worsted yarn, a 100% organic cotton fiber available in 100-gram hanks yielding 150 yards each. The project requires 4 to 5 hanks depending on size selection. The yarn is worked on two sizes of 30-inch circular needles: a size 7 (4.5mm) needle for the ribbed sections to achieve a gauge of 16 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches, and a size 9 (5.5mm) needle for the lace body to achieve a gauge of 12 stitches and 18 rows over 4 inches. A tapestry needle is required for seaming the finished pieces together. The pattern shown is worked in Royalton Bolero No. 635 Sleet colorway.

Pattern Difficulty and Construction Overview

Rated for advanced beginner knitters, this pattern combines fundamental techniques in an accessible way. The construction method is straightforward: cast on stitches for the wrap rib, work the ribbed cuff for 2 inches, transition to the larger needle and lace pattern, repeat the four-row lace sequence until the body reaches the desired length (17 to 20 inches depending on size), then return to the smaller needle and ribbing for the finishing edge. The rectangular construction and seaming approach make this an ideal project for knitters developing their skills in lace work and garment assembly.