Top Down Baby Bolero Knitting Pattern

Knit one of our most popular baby knitting patterns—a beautiful top-down baby bolero with very little sewing required.

Worked from the neckline down, this versatile baby bolero can be knitted in either one or two colours, making it an excellent stash-busting project. The plain pink sample shown only used 37g of DK yarn for the 0–3 month size, while using two colours requires even less of each shade.

Customers have knitted this design in hundreds of different colour combinations, giving every finished bolero its own unique look. We’ve even created a video showcasing many of the wonderful customer makes we’ve received over the years.

Suitable for babies and reborn dolls from premature through to 0–3 months.

Pattern Includes

• Top-down baby bolero

• One-colour instructions

• Two-colour instructions

• Minimal sewing construction

• Instructions for multiple baby and reborn doll sizes

Sizes Included

15–16” reborn (Approx 2.5–4lb Prem baby)

16–17” reborn (Approx 3–5lb Prem baby)

18–19” reborn (Approx 5–7lb Newborn baby)

20–21” reborn (Approx 8–10lb Newborn baby)

22” reborn (0–3 months baby)

Skills Required

• Knit

• Purl

• Yarn forward

• Yarn over needle

• Knit 2 stitches together

• Purl 3 stitches together

• Pick up stitches

Sizes, Yarn & Needles

15–16” or 37.5–40cm Height (Approx 2.5–4lb Prem baby)

• 20g 4ply yarn in main colour A

• 20g 4ply yarn in contrast colour B

• 1 button

• 1 stitch holder

• 1 pair 2.75mm needles

• Tension: 30 stitches and 38 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch

16–17” or 40–42.5cm Height (Approx 3–5lb Prem baby)

• 20g 4ply yarn in main colour A

• 20g 4ply yarn in contrast colour B

• 1 button

• 1 stitch holder

• 1 pair 3.25mm needles

• Tension: 28 stitches and 36 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch

18–19” or 45–47.5cm Height (Approx 5–7lb Newborn baby)

• 20g 4ply yarn in main colour A

• 20g 4ply yarn in contrast colour B

• 1 button

• 1 stitch holder

• 1 pair 3.75mm needles

• OR DK yarn with 3.25mm needles

• Tension: 26 stitches and 34 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch

20–21” or 50–52.5cm Height (Approx 8–10lb Newborn baby)

• 25g DK yarn in main colour A

• 25g DK yarn in contrast colour B

• 1 button

• 1 stitch holder

• 1 pair 3.75mm needles

• Tension: 24 stitches and 30 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch

22” or 55cm Height (0–3 Months)

• 25g DK yarn in main colour A

• 25g DK yarn in contrast colour B

• 1 button

• 1 stitch holder

• 1 pair 4mm needles

• Tension: 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch