This is a crocheted bolero made up of square motifs. I would recommend this pattern to Intermediate and Advanced Crocheters, or crocheters wishing to use and modify motifs to construct a garment. This pattern is written for small size (30”-32” Bust) and uses only a single skein of yarn (100 grams/about 400 meters). I have included crochet symbol charts for the pattern which may be useful for crocheters interested in modifying the pattern. “Pavel’s Tressiviolinger” is intended to encourage crocheters to make their own garments using some basic principles of using and modifying motifs. In fact, the motifs used in this pattern are from a crocheted stole. The name “Pavel’s Tressiviolinger” is a bit of a play on Ravel’s “Bolero” with the neologism “Tressiviolinger” lifted from a poem I wrote with the help of an n-gram generator.

“Pavel’s Tressiviolinger” is a crocheted bolero. I made it from a single skein of yarn, 100 grams or about 425 meters. The photo above shows the completed bolero and some yarn leftover. “Pavel’s Tressiviolinger” is made up of square motifs joined together. Half motifs are used underneath the sleeves, near the armpits. The finished bolero fits me, a small size about 32 inches bust. With some yarn leftover I believe it is possible to make a bolero of size medium, about 34 inches bust. To make a bigger bolero, you’ll need more motifs and/or use a larger hook. I don’t have the pattern instructions for a bolero of bigger size but if you are an experienced garment crocheter, you should be able to make the bolero in bigger sizes using the basic instructions for the motifs.

The challenge in writing this pattern is to come up with a garment using a single skein of yarn. I love how “Pavel’s Tressiviolinger” turned out. Using sock yarn was also a good idea because this yarn stretches quite a bit. This allowed me to make a bolero that fitted quite nicely on the body. If you’re substituting yarn for this pattern, try to get something that has a bit of ‘give’, something that stretches.

The other challenge in “Pavel’s Tressiviolonger” is to use square motifs in the construction of a bolero. A method of joining the motifs needs to be established. Then to achieve a good shaping, half versions of the motifs are needed. To shape the neckline and ends of sleeves, a crochet trim is necessary. With these basic principles, you can use almost any square motif to make a bolero of your own design.