Fairisle Cardigan with Fringes in Bergere de France Sonora - 24 - Downloadable PDF

Fairisle Cardigan with Fringes – Children's Knitting Pattern in Bergère de France Sonora

This free, downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Bergère de France guides knitters through creating a beautifully detailed Fair Isle cardigan with decorative fringes for children. Rated intermediate in difficulty, it is sized to fit children aged 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 years, making it a versatile wardrobe staple that can be revisited as children grow. The colourwork design, textured stitch combinations, and fringe detailing give this cardigan a distinctive, handcrafted character that stands out from plain knitwear.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a children's Fair Isle cardigan featuring multicolour stranded colourwork panels worked from a chart, combined with classic stocking stitch and reverse stocking stitch sections. The cardigan is completed with decorative fringes and fastened with two metal hook and eye fasteners (Bergère de France ref 177.171, sold in packs of 10). The pattern includes instructions for the left and right fronts, the back, and the left sleeve (with mirrored shaping for the right), as well as ribbed welts and cuffs and embroidery details worked from a diagram included in the pattern.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Bergère de France Sonora, an aran weight yarn, used in a palette of five colours to achieve the Fair Isle colourwork effect. The colours and approximate ball quantities required across the size range are as follows:

• Caverne 244.141 (Colour A) – the main colour, requiring 4 to 7 balls depending on size
• Balsamine 255.031 (Colour B) – 1 ball across all sizes
• Ecume 220.321 (Colour C) – 1 ball across all sizes
• Gardénia 246.671 (Colour D) – 1 ball across all sizes
• Melon 220.521 (Colour E) – 1 ball across all sizes

In addition to yarn, knitters will need 3.5 mm and 4.0 mm knitting needles and two metal hook and eye fasteners (ref 177.171) for the front closure.

Techniques Used

This pattern brings together several knitting techniques, making it an excellent project for an intermediate knitter looking to develop their colourwork and shaping skills:

• Fair Isle (stranded colourwork) – worked from a chart, carrying multiple yarn colours across the row to create repeating geometric or traditional motifs. Knitters work the Fair Isle sections on 4.0 mm needles, following the chart according to the size being made.
• Stocking stitch and reverse stocking stitch – also worked on 4.0 mm needles, providing smooth and textured contrast sections within the garment.
• 1/1 rib – worked on the smaller 3.5 mm needles for the welts and cuffs, creating neat, elasticated edges that frame the garment cleanly.
• Graduated decreasing and shaping – the pattern includes detailed, size-specific shaping instructions. For example, for the 10-year size, decreases are worked as 1 stitch once every 2nd row and 1 stitch once every 4th row, repeated 4 times, followed by further decreases every 2nd row; the 12-year size follows a similar but slightly adjusted sequence. These instructions ensure a well-fitted armhole and sleeve cap across all sizes.
• Embroidery – additional surface embroidery details are worked following a diagram provided within the pattern, adding decorative accents to the finished cardigan.
• Fringe making – decorative fringes are attached to the finished garment, adding a playful, bohemian finishing touch.

Stitches Used