Babies Hooded Jacket in Bergere de France Ideal - 71136-364 - Downloadable PDF

Babies Hooded Jacket in Bergere de France Idéal – Pattern 71136-364

This intermediate-level knitting pattern from Bergere de France produces a charming babies' hooded jacket worked in the brand's Idéal DK-weight yarn. Designed for little ones from 6 months through 24 months, the jacket features a colourful Fair Isle yoke, a cosy hood finished with a pompom, and a separating zip front opening — making it both practical and visually appealing for everyday baby wear.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a fully knitted hooded jacket for babies, sized to fit ages 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months. It is designed to be worn as an outer layer, closed at the front with a separating zipper in lengths ranging from 25 cm (10 in) for the smallest size up to 32 cm (12½ in) for the largest. The hood is topped with a decorative pompom, adding a playful finishing touch that is characteristic of classic European baby knitwear.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Bergere de France Idéal yarn used across three colourways:

• Vannerie (A) – shade 23316: the main colour, requiring 3 balls for size 6 months and 4 balls for sizes 12, 18, and 24 months.
• Citronnier (B) – shade 23040: a contrast colour used in the Fair Isle section, requiring 1 ball across all sizes.
• Everest (C) – shade 51220: a second contrast colour also used in the Fair Isle section, requiring 1 ball across all sizes.

Idéal is a DK-weight yarn from Bergere de France, well suited to baby garments thanks to its soft handle and reliable stitch definition. Its consistent tension makes it an excellent choice for colourwork patterns such as Fair Isle.

Needles and Accessories

• 3.0 mm needles — used for the ribbed sections.
• 3.5 mm needles — used for the main body in Stocking Stitch and for the Fair Isle colourwork sections.
• Pompom maker — Bergere de France reference 53861, used to create the hood's decorative pompom.
• Separating zipper — size-specific lengths and references: 25 cm ref. 32333 (6 months), 28 cm ref. 33793 (12 months), 30 cm ref. 32338 (18 months), and 32 cm ref. 33795 (24 months).

Stitches and Techniques Used

The pattern draws on three distinct stitch structures, each serving a specific purpose in the construction of the jacket:

• 1×1 Rib: worked on 3.0 mm needles, this alternating knit-one, purl-one rib is used for the cuffs and lower edges. Ribbing creates a naturally elastic fabric that hugs the wrists and hem, helping the garment retain its shape and fit snugly on a baby's body.
• Stocking Stitch (St st): worked on 3.5 mm needles, this classic knit-on-right-side, purl-on-wrong-side structure forms the smooth, flat fabric of the main body panels. The pattern specifies working 2 rows in Stocking Stitch with colour A (Vannerie) as part of the transition into the colourwork section.
• Fair Isle: worked on 3.5 mm needles and following a dedicated chart, this traditional stranded colourwork technique introduces colours B (Citronnier) and C (Everest) alongside the main colour to create a repeating decorative motif. The pattern specifies working 29 rows of Fair Isle following the chart according to the size being