Babies Sleeveless Cardigan and slippers in Bergere de France Merinos 2,5 - 60376-06 - Downloadable PDF

Babies Sleeveless Cardigan and Slippers Knitting Pattern – Bergère de France Mérinos 2,5 (Ref. 60376-06)

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Bergère de France presents two coordinating baby knits: a sleeveless cardigan (gilet sans manches) and a pair of baby slippers (chaussons). Designed for the youngest wearers, the pattern is offered in three sizes — 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months — making it a versatile choice for newborn gifts or a growing baby's wardrobe. Rated as an intermediate difficulty project, it suits knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping, buttonhole construction, and simple stitch patterns.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for Bergère de France Mérinos 2,5, a 4-ply weight yarn celebrated for its fine, soft handle — qualities that make it especially well-suited to delicate baby garments worn close to sensitive skin. The colourway specified is Mauve bébé 20040, a gentle, muted lilac tone ideal for infant clothing. The quantity required is 2 pelotes (balls) across all three sizes (1 month, 3 months, and 6 months), reflecting the compact scale of these baby pieces.

• Yarn: Bergère de France Mérinos 2,5, shade Mauve bébé 20040
• Quantity: 2 balls for sizes 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months
• Needles: 3 mm knitting needles (aiguilles n° 3)
• Accessories: 6 pearl-effect ball buttons, grey, 9 mm diameter (ref. 65526, sold in packs of 7)

What Is Being Made

The sleeveless cardigan is a classic baby gilet — an open-fronted, button-fastening vest without sleeves, designed to layer easily over bodysuits or long-sleeved tops. Its sleeveless construction makes it a practical year-round layering piece, particularly useful in warmer months or in heated indoor environments. The slippers (chaussons) are a matching accessory, providing a coordinated set that works beautifully as a handmade gift.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The primary stitch used throughout the pattern is garter stitch (point mousse), worked on 3 mm needles. Garter stitch — created by knitting every row — produces a squishy, reversible fabric with natural elasticity and a pleasingly textured ridged surface. It is a beginner-friendly stitch in isolation, but the overall pattern is classified as intermediate due to the shaping and construction techniques involved.

• Garter stitch (point mousse): The main fabric stitch, knitted on 3 mm needles throughout
• Slipped stitches (1 m. glissée): The pattern specifies a slipped stitch technique where the yarn is held to the wrong side of the work and the stitch is slipped as if to purl. This creates a neat, firm edge — commonly used along front bands and armhole borders in baby garments.
• Yarn-overs (jetés): Used in combination with decreases to form buttonholes. The construction is: 1 yarn-over, 2 stitches knitted together — a simple one-row buttonhole method that produces a small, neat eyelet opening suitable for the 9 mm buttons specified.
• Two stitches knitted together (2 m. ensemble endroit): A right-leaning decrease used both for buttonhole construction and for shaping throughout the garment.
• Short-row shaping / turning: The pattern instructs the knitter to turn the work mid-row at specific stitch counts (for example, knitting 11–13–14 stitches then turning), a technique used to shape the armhole or neckline areas of the sleeveless cardigan.
• Buttonhole band: Buttonholes are worked at regular intervals along the front band, with exact stitch counts varying by size. The spacing instructions reference precise stitch counts such as 6–7–8