Does anything say 1950s more than a knitted bolero? And the Lavenda Droplet Bolero pattern is the perfect example of one such garment. It features deeply curved front sections designed to sit above a deep waistband, elegant front bands to create a tailored finish and a fascination zig-zag yoke featuring an unusual droplet stitch pattern on a reverse stocking stitch background. Long sleeves with the droplet stitch pattern running down their length finish the look.

The Lavenda Droplet Bolero is knitted in separate pieces which are then sewn together and was designed to be worn with the Lavenda Droplet Jumper. The two look equally great worn as separates and the bolero looks particularly fetching worn over a full-skirted 1950s dress.

Lavenda Droplet Bolero is knitted using Excelana North fingering weight a soft, fingering weight 100% British wool, spun for us in nearby Yorkshire and dyed in-house by Susan and her team. Shown here in shade Icelandic Moss.

Our model Julia is shown wearing the fourth size 92-97cm (36-38in).

The pattern includes instructions for twelve sizes to fit chest measurements between 71cm (28in) and 152cm (60in) and contains both clear written pattern directions, together with charted instructions for stitch placement detail plus a comprehensive schematic diagram and sizing chart.

Yarn kits are available at Susan Crawford Vintage.

Yarn
Susan Crawford Excelana North fingering weight
100% British wool, 75% Cheviot, 25% Bluefaced Leicester (159m / 174yds per 50g skein approx)
6 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) skeins, shade Icelandic Moss

Gauge
28.5 sts and 34 rows = 10cm (4in) over stocking stitch, knitted flat and after blocking. We obtained this gauge using 3.25mm needles.
1 droplet pattern repeat = 3 × 3 cm (1.25 × 1.25 in). We obtained this gauge using 3.25mm needles.

Suggested needles
Small Needles: 1 pair 2.75mm (US 2) needles
Large Needles: 1 pair 3.25mm (US 3) needles

Techniques
Sewing up a garment