I started work on this bolero in January 27 and finished just now. Although I have actually finished this three days ago and had it washed and “road-tested” yesterday, only now can I proclaim this bolero complete. I decided to add a few more finishing touches to it – in particular, some flowers along the neckline.
Bolero crocheted in silky cashmere fingering yarn.
I am very happy with the outcome of this project. As described in “Making a Paper Pattern,” I used a drawn pattern for this bolero based on my own body measurements with attention to the quality of the fabric made out of silk cashmere fingering yarn and the free form technique.
The back of the bolero showing the uneven hemline.
That experiment has proven to be very useful but I now also realise that some adjustments need to be made, in particular, how the garment drapes when it has an open neckline.
There is a tendency to drape towards the back given the weight of the fabric in that area, thus there being less coverage a the front. My typical “solution” to this “problem” is joining the front sections of the garment, as in this case, and in the case of the cotton cashmere bolero which I completed a few weeks ago, also with the aid of the paper pattern.
If I were to make a bolero that has an open front and with the front side sections just over the shoulders and the armpits, then I must consider the weight of the garment – more weight in the front section and less at the back will make sure that the bolero stays in place and not drape backwards.
Detail of the bolero's neckline.
Another way is the shape of the garment itself. Recently, I saw a construction shape that is rather fit around the armpits and shoulders, resembling a shrug more than a bolero. I am generally uncomfortable with tops that are tight at the armpits but there might be a way of using a similar construction that feels more comfortable.
The bolero's hemline in detail.
Perhaps that can be my next project.
In the meantime, I’ve started work on what I hope will be a pair of French knickers crocheted using silky camel lace yarn.
Crocheting with two strands of silky camel lace yarn.
I re-wound the yarn into two strands and hope to work with these strands held together. The result is a more manageable yarn weight yet still soft and light.
The pattern for the “French Knickers” is an old pair of shorts which I dismantled. I studied the four sections of the shorts and drew the pattern on paper.
Camel knickers - a work in progress.
Hopefully, this will result to a comfortable pair of camel knickers! 
Photographs showing the Silky Cashmere Bolero in progress may be found at:
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Exploring silky cashmere
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A new bolero in cotton-cashmere – and new works in progress
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Three WIPs on the table …
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Three WIPs at a time
