Crochet Cardigan/Bolero

So I've decided to blog. I started this blog up years ago, and at the time I thought I had nothing creative or interesting to blog about. Since having my little girl and being a stay at home Mum, I have been more creatively inclined so I feel like I have something to share!

I have been crocheting since I was a teenager. My Grandmother 'Ma' taught me how to chain and treble and I started off making simple scarves. When I fell pregnant I started getting back into it, and challenging myself to make hats, cardigans, rugs etc. I've even made an Amish puzzle ball (but that's a whole other blog post!).

So, cardigans: My little girl is 1 now and I have found it hard to find nice simple cardigan patterns. There seem to be a lot of lovely knitted cardigan patterns but not many crochet patterns. I therefore decided to come up with my own pattern.

I wanted to make something that could be easily amended to fit smaller or larger children (see notes at end for some ideas).

So here is the finished product:

And my beautiful girl modelling the cardigan:

For the cardigan above I used 2 balls of 4ply cotton. It is big on my smallish 1 year old so should fit an average 1 year old.

The pattern:
Start with 74 chains
Row 1: 1 treble (tr) in the 4th chain from the hook (first 3 chains make the first tr), 1tr in each of the next 9 chains. 2tr in the each of the next 2 chains, 1tr in the next 12 chains, 2tr in each of the next 2 chains. 1tr in each of the next 20 chains, 2tr in each of the next 2 chains, 1tr in each of the next 12 chains, 2tr in each of the next 2 chains, 1tr in the next 10 chains, Turn.
Row 2: 3ch, 1tr in the next 10 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 14 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 22 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 14 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the last 11 stitches, turn.

.. so we are increasing at the corner points on each row, putting 2 tr in two of increasing trebles from the last round...

Row 3: 3ch, 1tr in the next 11 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 16 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 24 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 16 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the last 12 stitches, turn.
Row 4: 3ch, 1tr in the next 12 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 18 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 26 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 18 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the last 13 stitches, turn.
Row 5: 3ch, 1tr in the next 13 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 20 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 28 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 20 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the last 14 stitches, turn.
Row 6: 3ch, 1tr in the next 14 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 22 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 30 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 22 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the last 15 stitches, turn.
Row 7: 3ch, 1tr in the next 15 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 24 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 32 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 24 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the last 16 stitches, turn.
Row 8: 3ch, 1tr in the next 16 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 26 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 34 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the next 26 stitches, 2tr in the next 2 stitches, 1tr in the last 17 stitches, turn.

.. ok I'm going to simplify the pattern down so it is less long-winded..

Row 9: 3ch, 17*1tr, 2*2tr, 28*1tr, 2*2tr, 36*1tr, 2*2tr, 28*1tr, 2*2tr, 18*1tr, turn
Row 10: 3ch, 18*1tr, 2*2tr, 30*1tr, 2*2tr, 38*1tr, 2*2tr, 30*1tr, 2*2tr, 19*1tr, turn
Row 11: 3ch, 19*1tr, 2*2tr, 32*1tr, 2*2tr, 40*1tr, 2*2tr, 32*1tr, 2*2tr, 20*1tr, turn
Row 12: 3ch, 20*1tr, 2*2tr, 34*1tr, 2*2tr, 42*1tr, 2*2tr, 34*1tr, 2*2tr, 21*1tr, turn
Row 13: 3ch, 21*1tr, 2*2tr, 36*1tr, 2*2tr, 44*1tr, 2*2tr, 36*1tr, 2*2tr, 22*1tr, turn
Row 14: 3ch, 22*1tr, 2*2tr, 38*1tr, 2*2tr, 46*1tr, 2*2tr, 38*1tr, 2*2tr, 23*1tr, turn

..the next row is where we skip some stitches to make/join the arm holes:

Row 15: 3ch, 23*1tr, 1*2tr, skip 42tr, 1*2tr, 48*1tr, 1*2tr, skip 42tr, 1*2tr, 24*1tr, turn
Row 16: 3ch, 24*1tr, 2*2tr, 50*1tr, 2*2tr, 25*1tr, turn
Row 17: 3ch, 25*1tr, 2*2tr, 52*1tr, 2*2tr, 26*1tr, turn
Row 18: 3ch, 26*1tr, 2*2tr, 54*1tr, 2*2tr, 27*1tr, turn
Row 19: 3ch, 27*1tr, 2*2tr, 56*1tr, 2*2tr, 28*1tr, turn
Row 20: 3ch, 28*1tr, 2*2tr, 58*1tr, 2*2tr, 29*1tr, turn
Row 21: 3ch, 1tr in each stitch

To finish: I did a row of double crochet (dc) all the way around, so along the bottom, up the front and along the neckline. 

If you want to add buttons you can add some chain loops at this stage. 

I just did a string of chains and threaded it through, but you could use ribbon or even sew on press studs!

I finished mine with this crochet flower that I found on Pinterest.

To make this larger:
Of course you could change the wool to 8ply which would automatically make this larger.,
If the neck size doesn't need to change, then simply keep on increasing before joining the arm holes, as this will increase the chest size. You will then need to add more rows at the bottom.
If the neck does need to be bigger, you could start on a later row, i.e. row 3, which would require you to start with 90 chains.

To make this smaller:
To make this a little smaller, for say a 6 month old, I would join the arm holes up higher. say on row 11 rather than row 15.

Happy crocheting!