Sweater in Bergere de France Sonora - 14 - Downloadable PDF

Beginner Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern – Bergere de France Sonora (Sizes 3–24 Months)

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Bergere de France provides instructions for a charming, easy-to-knit baby sweater worked in Sonora yarn. Designed with absolute beginners in mind, the pattern covers four infant sizes: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months, making it a versatile addition to any handknitter's collection. The finished garment features a classic, cosy silhouette with a button opening at the neck for easy dressing, a front pocket, and a two-colour striped texture that gives it a stylish yet timeless look.

About the Design

The sweater is knitted in two shades of Bergere de France Sonora, an aran-weight yarn. The two colourways specified in the pattern are:

• Ecume (shade 220.321) – a soft écru tone used for the ribbed welts and initial body rows
• Caverne (shade 244.141) – a contrasting shade used for the main body in striped garter stitch

The combination of these two colours creates a neat, structured stripe sequence throughout the body of the sweater, giving visual interest without adding complexity to the knitting process. The yarn quantities required are modest – just two to three balls of each shade depending on the size being knitted – making this an economical project ideal for gift-making or stash-busting.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Bergere de France Sonora in Ecume (220.321) and Caverne (244.141) – aran weight
• Needles: 3.5 mm and 4.0 mm knitting needles
• Notions: 1 stitch holder, 4 écru buttons measuring ½ in (14 mm) in diameter – Ref 622.591 (package of 7)

Techniques and Construction

The sweater is constructed using straightforward, beginner-friendly techniques. The body is worked flat in separate pieces – back, front, and sleeves – which are then seamed together. This traditional construction method is ideal for newer knitters as it avoids the complexity of working in the round and allows each section to be completed and checked independently.

The pattern begins with a ribbed welt worked on the smaller 3.5 mm needles in Ecume, establishing a neat, elasticated edge at the cast-on. After the rib section, the knitter switches to the larger 4.0 mm needles and introduces Caverne to begin the main body fabric.

Stitches Used

• 1x1 Rib (1/1 Rib): Worked by alternating knit one stitch, purl one stitch across the row, then knitting knit stitches and purling purl stitches on subsequent rows. This stitch creates a stretchy, textured band used for the welts and cuffs.
• Garter Stitch (G-st): Worked by knitting every row. Garter stitch produces a squishy, ridged fabric that lies flat and is one of the simplest knitted textures, making it perfect for beginner projects.
• Striped Garter Stitch: The main body fabric is worked in garter stitch following a specific colour sequence – 14 rows in Caverne followed by 18 rows in Ecume – creating a bold, clean stripe pattern throughout the sweater body.

Shaping and Construction Details

The pattern includes straightforward shaping for the armholes, worked by casting off stitches at the appropriate height on both the back and front pieces. The neck opening is shaped by placing a set number of stitches onto a stitch holder – 9 (10-11-12) stitches depending on the size – and then working each shoulder section separately to create the neck edge. A second ball of yarn is introduced at this point to work both sides simultaneously, a common technique for achieving symmetrical shaping.

A front pocket is also included in