Boys Shawl Collar Sweater in Bergere de France Coton Fifty - 67531-18 - Downloadable PDF

Boys Shawl Collar Sweater in Bergere de France Coton Fifty – Pattern Summary

This pattern from Bergere de France produces a classic boys' shawl collar sweater knitted in the brand's own Coton Fifty yarn. Rated as a beginner level project, it is an excellent choice for knitters who are building confidence beyond basic scarves and want to tackle their first shaped garment. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and covers five sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 years, making it a versatile addition to any family knitter's collection.

What Is Being Made

The finished garment is a boys' pullover sweater featuring a shawl collar. The design combines a relaxed, sporty aesthetic with a smart collar detail, making it suitable for everyday wear. The sweater is worked in a two-colour stripe sequence, giving it a fresh, contemporary look that is easy to customise by swapping the two chosen shades of Coton Fifty.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Bergere de France Coton Fifty, a 4-ply weight yarn, worked in two colourways:

• Pétrolier (shade 23956) – the main colour (A), requiring between 5 and 8 balls depending on the size being knitted.
• Ficelle (shade 23906) – the contrast colour (B), requiring 1 to 2 balls across all sizes.

Two needle sizes are used throughout the pattern: 2.5 mm needles for the ribbed sections and 3.0 mm needles for the main body fabric. No crochet hook is required for this project.

Tension and Gauge

As with all knitting patterns, achieving the correct tension or gauge before beginning is essential, particularly when knitting a fitted garment for a child. Working a tension swatch in the main stitch pattern and adjusting needle size if necessary will ensure the finished sweater matches the intended measurements across the five available sizes.

Stitches and Techniques Used

2/2 Rib

The ribbed sections, including the welts and collar, are worked on 2.5 mm needles in 2/2 rib. This is a classic elastic stitch pattern formed by alternating two knit stitches with two purl stitches across the row:

• Row 1 (RS): *k2, p2*, repeat to end, finishing with k2.
• Row 2: *p2, k2*, repeat to end, finishing with p2.

2/2 rib creates a firm, stretchy fabric that hugs the body at the cuffs and lower edge, and gives structure to the shawl collar. It is one of the most commonly used rib patterns in garment knitting and is straightforward for beginner knitters to learn.

Reverse Stocking Stitch (Rev St st)

The main body of the sweater is worked in Reverse Stocking Stitch on 3.0 mm needles. Unlike standard stocking stitch where the smooth knit side faces outward, reverse stocking stitch presents the purl side as the right side of the fabric, giving the garment a subtly textured, matte surface:

• Row 1 (RS): Purl.
• Row 2: Knit.

This stitch choice adds visual interest and a tactile quality to the finished sweater without requiring complex stitch patterns, keeping the project well within beginner reach.

Stripe Sequence

A simple two-colour stripe pattern runs throughout the main body fabric. The sequence is:

• 4 rows in colour B (Ficelle)
• 4 rows in colour A (Pétrolier)

These 8 rows are repeated continuously. Carrying yarn up the side of