Turn some yarn into an amazing Summer garment with this crochet Glitzy Bolero free pattern!
The fine elegance of this lace Glitzy Bolero will add a touch of glamour to the most simple of your outfits! Crocheted in Worsted-weight yarn, this crochet shrug works up quickly and comes in 4 sizes.
Crochet Bolero
A bolero is essentially a tight shrug or a sort of short jacket. You may also call them arm warmers or sweater sleeves.
Whatever you may call them, boleros are perfect for chill Spring and Summer nights but they can also complete your outfit for Winter events.
For example, I made two samples of my Glitzy Bolero. For the first one, I used some soft, Pima cotton by Katia, which is perfect for Summer and Spring.
For the second sample I made, I used a glitzy wool/acrylic blend, and my bolero turned out to be the perfect, shiny accessory for a New Year’s Eve party!
How to Crochet The Glitzy Bolero
The Glitzy Bolero is crocheted as one piece, starting from the back panel, which is crocheted bottom-up using a beautiful lacy shell stitch.
Then, the sleeves are crocheted on the sides of the back panel working in rows.
Once the sleeves are complete, they are seamed, and the lapel is crocheted working in rows along the sleeves and top side of the back panel.
Finally, the border is added all around the bolero.
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Printable PDF Pattern
The printable PDF pattern of the Glitzy Bolero (with pattern charts and step-by-step photos) is available in all my shops! Get your copy on Ravelry, LoveCrafts, or Etsy!
Materials
- 6.0-mm (J/10 USA, 4 UK) Crochet Hook
- Worsted (4, Medium) Weight Yarn
- Tapestry Needle
Yarn
I used the following yarns:
- Katia Concept Pure (100% Pima Cotton, 109 yds/100 m per 50 g), color 80;
- Ice Yarns Alpaca Glitz (29% Alpaca, 35% Wool, 33% Acrylic, 2% Polyamide, 1% Lurex, 114 yds/105 m per 50 g), color Grey Silver.
Feel free to use any comparable yarn that meets gauge.
Yarn Substitutions
Here are alternatives to the suggested yarns:
- Lang Yarns Amira (93% Mako Cotton, 7% Nylon, 109 yds/100 m per 50 g);
- Katia Concept Multicolour Pure Degradé (100% Pima Cotton, 118 yds/200 m per 100 g);
- Juniper Moon Farm Cumulus (94% Cotton, 6% Nylon / Polyamide, 248 yds/227 m per 100 g);
- Lion Brand Mako Cotton (94% Mako Cotton, 6% Nylon, 125 yds/115 m per 50 g).
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- BLO – Back Loop Only
- Ch – Chain
- Ch-less Dc – Chainless Starting Double Crochet
- Dc – Double Crochet
- Dec – Decrease
- FDC – Foundation Double Crochet
- FLO – Front Loop Only
- Hdc – Half Double Crochet
- NA – Not Applicable
- RS – Right Side
- Sc – Single Crochet
- Sk – Skip
- Sl St – Slip Stitch
- Sp(s) – Space(s)
- St – Stitch
- Tr – Treble Crochet
- WS – Wrong Side
- Yo – Yarn Over
Special Stitches
Back Loop Only (BLO) & Front Loop Only (FLO)
Learn how to crochet in the back and front loop only HERE.
Chainless Starting Double Crochet (Ch-less Dc)
See how to make a ch-less dc HERE.
Decrease (Dec)
One decrease consists of 2 sts worked together. The pattern specifies if you need to crochet a hdc dec or a sc dec.
Foundation Double Crochet (FDC)
Learn how to crochet the foundation double crochet HERE.
Mattress Stitch
Learn how to seam using the mattress stitch HERE.
Size
The pattern is written for sizes S/XS (M/L, XL/2XL, 3-5XL).
| SIZE | BUST | BACK PANEL SIZE | LENGTH (Sleeve to Sleeve) | YARDAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS-S | 28”-34” 71-86 cm | 13.4” by 12.5” 34 cm by 32 cm | 37.4” 95 cm | 290 yds 270 m |
| M-L | 36”-42” 91-107 cm | 15” by 14” 38 cm by 36 cm | 17.4” 99 cm | 327 yds 300 m |
| XL-2XL | 44”-50” 111-127 cm | 16.5” by 15.7” 42 cm by 40 cm | 40.5” 103 cm | 436 yds 400 m |
| 3XL-5XL | 52”-62” 132-157 cm | 18.1” by 17.3” 46 cm by 44 cm | 44” 112 cm | 545 yds 500 m |
Gauge
14 Sts for 8.5 rows worked in BLO hdc in 4″ (10 cm).
Pattern Notes
- (…) – Repeat the instructions within brackets for the indicated number of times.
- * – Repeat the instructions from the * for the indicated number of times.
- […] – Crochet the instructions within brackets all in the same indicated st.
- If the pattern says “dc 5”, it means that you have to make 1 dc in each of the next 5 sts.
- The pattern charts for the back panel are available in the PDF pattern.
Crochet Glitzy Bolero – Free Pattern
Back Panel
SIZES M-L (3XL-5XL) ONLY
Row 1. FDC 46 (56). (46 (56) sts)
Row 2 (RS). Ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), turn. Sc 1 in first st, *ch 1, sk 4, [(tr 1, ch 2) 4 times, tr 1] in next st, ch 1, sk 4, sc 1 in next st. Repeat from * 4 (5) times. Ch 1, sk 4, [(tr 1, ch 2) twice, tr 1] in last st. (4 (5) shells, 1 half shell)
Row 3 (WS). Ch 1, turn. Sc 1 in first tr, *ch 3, sk next ch-2 sp and tr, dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, sk next 2 ch-1 sps, dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sk next tr and ch-2 sp, sc 1 in next tr (middle tr of shell). Repeat from * 4 (5) times. Ch 3, sk next ch-2 sp, dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp, tr 1 in last sc. (9 (11) ch-3 sps, 4 (5) ch-2 sps, 1 ch-1 sp, 5 (6) sc, 9 (11) dc, 1 tr)
Row 4. Ch 6 (counts as a tr and a ch-2 sp), turn. [Tr 1, ch 2, tr 1] in first tr, *ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, sc 1 in next sc, ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, [(tr 1, ch 2) 4 times, tr 1] in next ch-2 sp. Repeat from * 4 (5) times. Ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, sc 1 in last sc. (4 (5) shells, 1 half shell)
Row 5. Ch 5 (counts as a tr and a ch-1 sp), turn. Sk next ch-1 sp, *dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sk next tr and ch-2 sp, sc 1 in next tr (middle tr of shell), ch 3, sk next ch-2 sp and tr, dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, sk next 2 ch-1 sps. Repeat from * 4 (5) times. Dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sc 1 in 4ᵗʰ ch of turning ch-6. (9 (11) ch-3 sps, 4 (5) ch-2 sps, 1 ch-1 sp, 5 (6) sc, 9 (11) dc, 1 tr)
Row 6. Ch 1, turn. Sc 1 in first st, *ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, [(tr 1, ch 2) 4 times, tr 1] in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, sc 1 in next sc. Repeat from * 4 (5) times. Ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, [(tr 1, ch 2) twice, tr 1] in 4ᵗʰ ch of turning ch-5. (4 (5) shells, 1 half shell)
Repeat rows 3-6 2 (3) times more, then rows 3-5 once more.
Row 18 (22). Ch 2 (does not count as a st), turn. Dc 1 (alternatively, ch-less dc 1) in first st, *dc 3 in next ch-3 sp, dc 1 in next dc, dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, dc 1 in next dc, dc 3 in next ch-3 sp, dc 1 in next sc. Repeat from * 4 (5) times. Dc 3 in next ch-3 sp, dc 1 in next dc, dc 1 in 4ᵗʰ ch of turning ch-5. (46 (56) sts)
Rows 19-20 (23-24). Ch 1, turn. Hdc across. (46 (56) sts)
Do not fasten off but move to the left sleeve.
SIZES XS-S (XL-2XL) ONLY
Row 1. FDC 41 (51). (41 (51) sts)
Row 2 (RS). Ch 6 (counts as a tr and a ch-2 sp), turn. [Tr 1, ch 2, tr 1] in very first st, ch 1, sk 4, sc 1 in next st, *ch 1, sk 4, [(tr 1, ch 2) 4 times, tr 1] in next st, ch 1, sk 4, sc 1 in next st. Repeat from * 3 (4) times. Ch 1, sk 4, [(tr 1, ch 2) twice, tr 1] in last st. (3 (4) shells, 2 half shells)
Row 3 (WS). Ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), turn. Sc 1 in first tr, *ch 3, sk next ch-2 sp and tr, dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, ch 2, sk next 2 ch-1 sps, dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sk next tr and ch-2 sp, sc 1 in next tr (middle tr of shell). Repeat from * 4 (5) times working the last sc of the last repeat in the 4ᵗʰ ch of turning ch-6. (8 (10) ch-3 sps, 4 (5) ch-2 sps, 1 ch-1 sp, 6 (7) sc, 8 (10) dc)
Row 4. Ch 1, turn. Sc 1 in first st, *ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, [(tr 1, ch 2) 4 times, tr 1] in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, sc 1 in next sc. Repeat from * 4 (5) times. (4 (5) shells)
Row 5. Ch 5 (counts as a tr and a ch-1 sp), turn. Sk next ch-1 sp, *dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sk next tr and ch-2 sp, sc 1 in next tr (middle tr of shell), ch 3, sk next ch-2 sp and tr, dc 1 in next ch-2 sp**, ch 2, sk next 2 ch-1 sps. Repeat from * 4 (5) times, ending the last repeat at **. Ch 1, tr 1 in last sc. (8 (10) ch-3 sps, 3 (4) ch-2 sps, 2 ch-1 sps, 4 (5) sc, 8 (10) dc, 2 tr)
Row 6. Ch 6 (counts as a tr and a ch-2 sp), turn. [Tr 1, ch 2, tr 1] in first tr, ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, sc 1 in next sc, *ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, [(tr 1, ch 2) 4 times, tr 1] in next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, sc 1 in next sc. Repeat from * 3 (4) times. Ch 1, sk next ch-3 sp, [(tr 1, ch 2) twice, tr 1] in 4ᵗʰ ch of turning ch-5. (3 (4) shells, 2 half shells)
Repeat rows 3-6 2 (3) times more, then row 3 once more.
Row 16 (20). Ch 2 (does not count as a st), turn. Dc 1 (alternatively, ch-less dc 1) in first sc, *dc 3 in next ch-3 sp, dc 1 in next dc, dc 1 in next ch-2 sp, dc 1 in next dc, dc 3 in next ch-3 sp, dc 1 in next sc. Repeat from * 4 (5) times. (41 (51) sts)
Rows 17-18 (21-22). Ch 1, turn. Hdc across. (41 (51) sts)
Do not fasten off but move to the left sleeve.
Left Sleeve
ALL SIZES
Instructions are written as XS-S (M-L, XL-2XL, 3XL-5XL)
Continuing from the back panel,
Row 1 (RS). Ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), distribute 41 (46, 51, 56) hdc sts on the left side of back panel. As a rule of thumb, hdc 1 on the side of each sc or hdc, hdc 2 on the side of each dc, hdc 3 in each tr or ch-4 sp. (41 (46, 51, 56) sts)
Row 2. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc across. (41 (46, 51, 56) sts)
Row 3. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across. (41 (46, 51, 56) sts)
Row 4. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 37 (42, 47, 52), FLO hdc dec 1. (39 (44, 49, 54) sts)
Row 5. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across. (39 (44, 49, 54) sts)
Size 3XL-5XL Only
Row 5a. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc across. (na (na, na, 54) sts)
Row 5b. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across. (na (na, na, 54) sts)
Row 6. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 35 (40, 45, 50), FLO hdc dec 1. (37 (42, 47, 52) sts)
Row 7. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across. (37 (42, 47, 52) sts)
Row 8. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 33 (38, 43, 48), FLO hdc dec 1. (35 (40, 45, 50) sts)
Row 9. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across. (35 (40, 45, 50) sts)
Row 10. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc across.
Row 11. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across.
Row 12. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 31 (36, 41, 48), FLO hdc dec 1. (33 (38, 43, 48) sts)
Row 13. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across. (33 (38, 43, 48) sts)
Row 14. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc across.
Row 15. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across.
Row 16. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 29 (34, 39, 44), FLO hdc dec 1. (31 (36, 41, 46) sts)
Row 17. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across. (31 (36, 41, 46) sts)
Row 18. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc across.
Row 19. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across.
Row 20. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 27 (32, 37, 42), FLO hdc dec 1. (29 (34, 39, 44) sts)
Row 21. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across. (29 (34, 39, 44) sts)
Row 22. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc across.
Row 23. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across.
Row 24. Ch 1, turn. FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 25 (30, 35, 40), FLO hdc dec 1. (27 (32, 37, 42) sts)
Row 25. Ch 1, turn. BLO hdc across. (27 (32, 37, 42) sts)
Row 26. Ch 1, turn. FLO sc dec 1, FLO sc 23 (28, 33, 38), FLO sc dec 1. (25 (30, 35, 40) sts)
Fasten off leaving a long tail (approximately twice the length of the sleeve) for sewing.
Right Sleeve
RS facing, join yarn at the base of last dc of row 1 of the back panel.
Row 1 (RS). Ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), distribute 41 (46, 51, 56) hdc sts on the right side of back panel. As a rule of thumb, hdc 2 on the side of each dc, hdc 1 on the side of each sc or hdc, hdc 3 in each tr or ch-4 sp. (41 (46, 51, 56) sts)
Rows 2-26. Repeat rows 1-26 of left sleeve.
Seaming
Fold the bolero in half along the longest dimension.
Starting from the last row of each sleeve, seam the row edges leaving 6 (7, 8, 9) rows unjoined toward the body of the bolero. Use the mattress st or your favorite seaming method.
Lapel
Join yarn at the base of the hdc on the side of row 1 of the right sleeve.
Row 1 (RS). Ch 1 (does not count as a st), hdc 10 (12, 14, 16) on the side of rows 1 to 5 (6, 7, 8) of the right sleeve (placing 2 hdc on the side of each row).
Hdc dec 1 working the first hdc on the side of row 6 (7, 8, 9) and the second hdc on the other side of the same row.
Hdc 10 (12, 14, 16) on the side of rows 5 (6, 7, 8) to 1 of the right sleeve (placing 2 hdc on the side of each row).
BLO hdc 41 (46, 51, 56) working on the top side of the bolero.
Hdc 10 (12, 14, 16) on the side of rows 1 to 5 (6, 7, 8) of the left sleeve (placing 2 hdc on the side of each row).
Hdc dec 1 working the first hdc on the side of row 6 (7, 8, 9) and the second hdc on the other side of the same row.
Hdc 10 (12, 14, 16) on the side of rows 5 (6, 7, 8) to 1 of the left sleeve (placing 2 hdc on the side of each row). (83, 96, 109, 122 sts)
Row 2 (WS). Ch 1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), turn. FLO hdc 8 (10, 12, 14), FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 1, FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 57 (66, 75, 84), FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 1, FLO hdc dec 1, FLO hdc 8 (10, 12, 14). (79, 92, 105, 118 sts)
Do not fasten off but move to the border.
Border
Continuing from the lapel.
Round 1 (RS). Ch 1, turn. BLO sc 79 (92, 105, 118), ch 1, sc 3 on the side of the lapel, BLO sc 41 (46, 51, 56) on the bottom side of the bolero, sc 3 on the other side of the lapel, ch 1, join with a sl st in the first st. (126, 144, 162, 180 sts)
Fasten off and weave in all your ends.
Your Crochet Glitzy Bolero is ready!
I hope you enjoyed this free crochet pattern, and I’d love to see your boleros! Please, share a pic of your work on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #raffamusadesigns!
Find more crochet garments and accessories here on the blog…
So pretty!