Loch Tay by DROPS Design

Crochet gauge: 17 tr x 6 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4'' x 4''

Crochet info: At the beginning of each row replace 1 tr with ch 4, and finish each row with 1 tr in 4th ch from beginning of previous row. Crochet in each st and not in between.

Decreasing tips (applies to armhole and neck):
Dec as follows at beginning of row: replace 1 tr with a sl st.
Dec as follows at end of row: Turn the piece when number of tr to be dec are left on row and crochet next row.

Increasing tips (applies to slope at front):
Increase new sts towards mid front by crocheting ch's in last st from previous row. Crochet the same number of ch's as the number of tr's to be increased, but as the first tr on next row is to be replaced by ch 4, replace the last ch with ch 4, i.e. if you are to increase 5 tr crochet 8 ch, turn the piece, crochet 1 tr in 5th ch from the hook and then 1 tr in each of the remaining ch's, continue on row with 1 tr in each tr from previous row.

Back piece:
Loosely ch 80-88-99-112-123-136 using hook size 4 mm/US 6 and Cotton Viscose or Safran.
Crochet the 1st row as follows: 1 tr in the 5th ch from the hook, *skip ch 1, 1 tr in each of the next 3 ch* repeat from *-* but for size XS + S + L + XXL finish with 1 tr in the last 2 ch’s (instead of the last 3 ch) and for size M + XL finish with 1 tr in the last ch (instead of the last 3 ch’s) = 58-64-72-82-90-100 tr.
Now crochet 1 tr in each tr from previous row – see Crochet info.
At the same time after 2-2-3-3-3-3 rows inc 1 tr each side by crocheting 1 extra tr in the next-to-last tr each side as follows:
Size XS + S + M: on every other row
Size L + XL + XXL: on every 3rd row
- a total of 5-5-5-4-4-4 times = 68-74-82-90-98-108 tr.
When piece measures approx 20-21-22-23-24-25 cm / 8''-8¼''-8¾''-9''-9½''-9¾'' dec for armholes each side on every other row – see Decreasing tips: 3-3-4-6-7-9 tr’s 1 time, 2 tr’s 0-0-1-1-2-3 times and 1 tr 1-2-3-4-4-4 times = 60-64-64-66-68-70 tr.
When piece measures approx 35-37-39-41-43-45 cm / 13¾''-14½''-15¼''-16 1/8''-17''-17¾'' (only 1 row left until finished measurements) crochet 1 row over only the outermost 20-21-21-21-21-22 tr’s each side (i.e. do not crochet over the middle 20-22-22-24-26-26 tr’s = neck).
Cut the yarn, piece measures approx 37-39-41-43-45-47 cm / 14½''-15¼''-16 1/8''-17''-17¾''-18½''.

Left front piece:
Loosely ch 28-29-32-35-37-40 using crochet hook size 4 mm/US 6 and Cotton Viscose or Safran.
Crochet the 1st row as follows: 1 tr in the 5th ch from the hook, *skip ch 1, 1 tr in each of the next 3 ch* repeat from *-* but for size XS + M + XXL finish with 1 tr in the last 2 ch’s (instead of the last 3 ch ) and for size L finish with 1 tr in the last ch (instead of the last 3 ch’s) = 19-20-22-24-26-28 tr.
Now crochet 1 tr in each tr from previous row as for back piece, at the same time inc towards mid front on every other row (i.e. on every row towards mid front) – see Increasing tips: 5 tr’s 1-1-2-2-2-2 times, 4 tr’s 1-1-0-0-0-0 times, 3 tr’s 0-0-0-1-1-2 times, 2 tr’s 1-2-2-2-3-3 times and 1 tr 1-1-2-2-2-2 times.
At the same time inc at side as for back piece.
At the same time when piece measures 20-21-22-23-24-25 cm / 8''-8¼''-8¾''-9''-9½''-9¾'' – compare to back piece – dec for armhole as described for back piece.
At the same time when piece measures 26-26-26-28-28-30 cm / 10 1/4"-10 1/4"-10 1/4"-11"-11"-11 3/4" dec for neckline towards mid front on every row – see Decreasing tips: 7-8-8-9-10-10 tr’s 1 time, 2 tr’s 1 time and 1 tr 3 times = 20-21-21-21-21-22 tr left on shoulder.
When piece measures approx 37-39-41-43-45-47 cm/ 14½''-15¼''-16 1/8''-17''-17¾''-18½'' – compare to back piece – cut the yarn.

Right front piece:
As left front piece but mirrored.

Sleeve:
Loosely ch 66-70-74-78-82-86 using crochet hook size 4 mm/US 6 and Cotton Viscose or Safran.
Crochet the 1st row as follows: 1 tr in the 5th ch from the hook, 1 tr in next ch, *skip ch 1, 1 tr in each of the next 3 ch* repeat from *-* = 48-51-54-57-60-63 tr.
Crochet 1-1-2-3-3-4 rows of tr as before, at the same time inc 1 tr each side on every other row by crocheting 1 extra tr in the second but last tr each side = 50-53-58-63-66-71 tr.
On next row dec for sleeve cap each side on every row – see Decreasing tips: 4 tr’s 1 time, 3 tr’s 1 time, and then 2 tr’s each side until piece measures approx 10-11-13-17-19-21 cm / 4"-4½"-5"-6 3/4"-7½"-8 1/4". Fasten off.

Assembly:
Sew shoulder seams. Crochet sleeves to body using crochet hook size 4 mm/US 6 and Cotton Viscose or Safran as follows: 1 sc in first st on sleeve, ch 2, 1 sc in first st on back/front piece, ch 2, 1 sc in tr on sleeve, ch 2, 1 sc in tr on back/front piece etc.
Crochet sleeve and side seams together in the same way.

Crochet border: Crochet a border round the opening of the bolero (i.e. up along both front pieces, round neck and along lower edge) using crochet hook size 6 mm/US J and Vienna or Melody as follows: 1 sc in first st, *3 ch, skip approx 2.5 cm / 1'', 1 sc in next st*, repeat from *-* and finish with 3 ch and 1 sl st in first sc from beginning of round. Note! The border should be nice and even and not wavy.

Close the jacket with a brooch or button.