Babies Cardigan and Hat in Bergere de France Ideal - 60508-473 - Downloadable PDF

Babies Cardigan and Hat in Bergere de France Idéal – Pattern 60508-473

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Bergere de France provides instructions for a sweet baby cardigan and matching hat, both worked in the brand's Idéal DK weight yarn. Rated as a beginner-friendly project, it is an ideal introduction to baby garment knitting, covering four sizes: Newborn, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The set makes a charming gift or wardrobe essential for a new arrival, combining a classic ribbed-trim cardigan with a coordinating hat worked in two complementary colourways.

About the Bergere de France Idéal Yarn

Both pieces are knitted using Bergere de France Idéal, a DK weight yarn well-suited to baby projects for its soft handle and stitch definition. The pattern calls for two colours:

• Danseuse (A) – shade 23026: the main colour, used for the body of both the cardigan and the hat
• Figue (B) – shade 23589: the contrast colour, used for the cast-on ribbed borders of the cardigan fronts

For the cardigan, you will need 2–3 balls of Danseuse (A) depending on size, plus 1 ball of Figue (B). For the hat, 1 ball of Danseuse (A) is required.

Needles, Hook, and Accessories

The pattern uses two needle sizes to create the characteristic contrast between neat ribbed edgings and a smooth stocking stitch body:

• 3.0 mm knitting needles – for all ribbed sections
• 3.5 mm knitting needles – for stocking stitch body sections
• 2.0 mm crochet hook – for finishing details and edging

Recommended accessories listed in the pattern include:

• Stitch markers – ref. 68395 (pack of 48), used to mark armhole shaping positions
• 2 see-through press studs, 10 mm diameter – ref. 60467 (pack of 59 matching ones), for the cardigan front closure
• 2 pink heart buttons, 12 mm – ref. 50130 (pack of 6), for decorative detail

The Baby Cardigan

Construction and Shaping

The cardigan is worked in separate flat pieces – a back, left front, and right front – which are then seamed together. Each piece begins with a cast-on in Figue (B) on 3.0 mm needles, establishing the contrast colour ribbed border before transitioning to the main colour and larger needles for the body.

Specific stitch counts at cast-on vary by size: the fronts each begin with 34, 40, 44, or 48 stitches depending on the chosen size. After the ribbed border, the work grows to a total length of 20, 22, 24, or 27 cm (approximately 8 to 10¾ inches) before shoulder and neck shaping begins.

Stitches Used in the Cardigan

• 1/1 Rib (one-by-one rib): worked on 3.0 mm needles for the lower borders. Row 1 alternates knit 1, purl 1; Row 2 knits over knit stitches and purls over purl stitches. This creates a stretchy, tidy edging in the contrast colour.
• 2/2 Rib (two-by-two rib): also worked using both 3.0 mm and 3.5 mm needles in certain sections, alternating knit 2, purl 2 for a slightly bolder ribbed texture.
• Stocking Stitch (St st): worked on 3.5 mm needles for the main body. Row 1 is knitted; Row 2 is