Sleeveless Tunic in Bergere de France Unic - Downloadable PDF

Sleeveless Tunic in Bergère de France Unic – Knitting Pattern Summary

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Bergère de France provides instructions for a sleeveless tunic worked in the brand's Unic yarn. The design is rated facile (easy to intermediate) and is available in four sizes: XS, S, M, and L, making it a versatile wardrobe staple suitable for a range of knitters looking to build their skills with textured stitch combinations.

About the Design

The tunic is a sleeveless, pullover-style top featuring a combination of smooth and twisted stitch textures that create visual interest across the body of the garment. The silhouette is shaped through carefully placed increases and decreases worked at regular row intervals, giving the piece a tailored fit through the body without the complexity of set-in sleeves. The neckline, shoulders, and upper section are worked as an integrated continuation of the body, keeping construction relatively straightforward.

The pattern is written in multiple languages including French, English, Dutch, and German, broadening its accessibility to knitters across Europe and beyond.

Sizes and Construction

The tunic is offered in four sizes:

• XS
• S
• M
• L

Cast-on stitch counts vary by size, beginning at 118–144 stitches and expanding to 156–182 stitches after initial shaping rows. The total length of the garment reaches approximately 69–75 cm (measured over 186–204 rows depending on size), ensuring a true tunic-length finish that sits comfortably over the hips.

Shaping is achieved through a series of increases worked at staggered row intervals that differ by size:

• XS: Increases begin from row 5, then every 4 rows, repeated 10 times
• S: Increases begin from row 5, then every 4 rows, repeated 10 times, with additional shaping
• M: Increases begin from row 5, then every 6 rows 2 times, then every 4 rows 8 times
• L: Increases begin from row 5, then every 6 rows 5 times, then every 4 rows 5 times

This graduated shaping approach allows the tunic to fit smoothly through the waist and hip without abrupt changes in fabric width.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a combination of classic and twisted stitch techniques that give the fabric a rich, structured texture:

• Jersey Endroit (Stockinette Stitch) – worked on size 4 mm needles; the smooth, classic knit fabric forms the primary ground of the garment
• Jersey Envers Torse (Twisted Reverse Stockinette) – a distinctive stitch in which purl stitches are worked through the back loop, creating a tighter, more defined fabric with a subtly twisted appearance
• Mailles Endroit Torse (Twisted Knit Stitches) – knit stitches worked through the back loop, adding crispness and definition to ribbed or panel sections
• Mailles Envers (Purl Stitches) – standard purl stitches used in combination with twisted stitches to build textural contrast

The stitch pattern repeat across the body combines these elements in a structured sequence, for example: 3 stitches stockinette, 2 stitches twisted reverse stockinette, 2 stitches twisted knit, 2 stitches purl, 2 stitches twisted knit, 3 stitches purl, and so on. This interplay of smooth and twisted stitches gives the tunic a handcrafted, artisan quality that elevates it beyond a simple stockinette project.

Working stitches through the back loop — the defining feature of torse techniques — is a traditional European knitting method that produces a slightly denser, more elastic fabric. It is particularly effective in garments where structure and drape need to be balanced,