Shawl Collar Sweater in Bergere de France Cabourg - 12 - Downloadable PDF

Shawl Collar Sweater in Bergère de France Cabourg – Children's Knitting Pattern (Sizes 4–12 Years)

This intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a classic shawl collar sweater designed for children, available in five sizes covering ages 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 years. The pattern is published by Bergère de France and is offered as a free downloadable PDF. It is a beautifully structured children's garment that combines textured stitch patterns with a smart ribbed collar and a single decorative fastener, making it both practical and stylish for everyday wear.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a children's pullover-style sweater featuring a shawl collar. The shawl collar is a distinctive design element — a wide, softly folded collar that wraps around the neckline and overlaps at the front, secured with a single mahogany fastener (ref. 339.051) from a pack of two. This type of collar adds warmth and a refined, traditional aesthetic to an otherwise straightforward children's jumper. The sweater is worked in pieces — including a back section — and constructed using standard seaming techniques.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Bergère de France Cabourg in the colourway Marmotte (ref. 251.811), a DK weight yarn. The number of balls required ranges from 4 balls (size 4 years) up to 8 balls (size 12 years), increasing by one ball per size.
• Needles: Two needle sizes are used — 3.0 mm needles for the ribbing and collar sections, and 3.5 mm needles for the main body fabric.
• Fastener: One mahogany fastener (ref. 339.051), sold in a pack of two, is used to close the shawl collar at the front.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The pattern employs a combination of stitch patterns, each serving a specific structural or decorative purpose across the garment:

• 2x2 Rib (Pattern Stitch B): Worked on 3.0 mm needles, this classic ribbing stitch alternates two knit stitches with two purl stitches across the row (*k2, p2* repeat). It is used at the cast-on edges and collar areas to create a neat, elasticated finish that sits close to the body. The ribbing section continues for approximately 3 cm (1¼ inches), after which stitches are decreased evenly before transitioning to the larger needles.
• Stocking Stitch / Stockinette Stitch (St st): Worked on 3.5 mm needles, this is the foundation stitch of the main body panels. It is formed by knitting all right-side rows and purling all wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, flat fabric on the right side. The back of the sweater is worked entirely in 20 rows of stocking stitch.
• Pattern Stitch A (Textured Block Pattern): This is a more complex 16-stitch repeat panel (worked over a number of stitches divisible by 16, plus 10 edge stitches). It creates a bold, geometric raised texture by combining knit and purl blocks in a structured sequence. The pattern is worked over a 12-row repeat as follows:
  • Rows 1–2: Establish the knit/purl block arrangement — Row 1 (RS): k9, *p8, k8*, ending with k9; Row 2: knit over knit, purl over purl (maintaining the established pattern).
  • Rows 3–8: Worked in stocking stitch, allowing the textured blocks to stand out against the smooth background.
  • Rows 9–10: The block pattern shifts — Row 9 (RS): k1, p8, *k8, p8*, ending with k1; Row 10: knit over knit, purl over purl.
  • Rows 11–12: Continue the repeat as