Boys Sweater in Bergere de France Calinou - 60387-2A - Downloadable PDF

Boys Sweater in Bergere de France Calinou – Pattern Summary

This downloadable PDF pattern from Bergere de France provides full instructions for knitting a charming boys' pullover sweater in the brand's Calinou yarn. Rated as a beginner level project, it is an excellent choice for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and want to create a practical, cosy garment for a young child. The pattern is written in French and covers five sizes: 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 4 years, making it a versatile pattern to return to as a child grows.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a classic boys' knitted pullover sweater worked in a three-colour combination using Calinou yarn. The sweater features a neat ribbed hem and cuffs, a stocking stitch body, set-in sleeves, and a ribbed neckline. It is decorated with a trendy dog badge (écusson chien branché, ref. 50149) and fastened at the shoulder with two turquoise shank buttons, 15 mm diameter (ref. 50020), giving it a playful and polished finish perfectly suited to young boys.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Bergere de France Calinou, a 4-ply weight yarn, used in three colourways:

• Bleu Nuit (ref. 10045) – the main colour, requiring 2 balls for 6 months and 1 year, and 3 balls for 2, 3, and 4 years
• Bleu Vert (ref. 10044) – a contrast colour, requiring 1 ball across all sizes
• Comète (ref. 10029) – a second contrast colour, requiring 1 ball across all sizes

Calinou is a soft, fine-weight yarn well suited to baby and toddler knitwear, offering a gentle handle against delicate skin. Its 4-ply weight produces a fine, neat fabric that is lightweight yet warm enough for everyday wear.

Needles

• 3.00 mm (no. 3) knitting needles – used for the main stocking stitch fabric
• 2.50 mm (no. 2.5) knitting needles – used for the ribbed sections and neckband

Stitches Used

The pattern employs two key stitch types, both fundamental to beginner and intermediate knitting:

• 2x2 Rib (Côtes 2/2) – worked on the smaller 2.5 mm needles, this stitch alternates two knit stitches with two purl stitches across the row. It creates a stretchy, structured fabric ideal for welts, cuffs, and neckbands, helping these edges hug the body neatly. The ribbed hem is worked over approximately 3 cm (12 rows) before transitioning to the main body.
• Stocking Stitch (Jersey Endroit) – worked on the larger 3.00 mm needles, this is the classic knitting stitch formed by knitting every right-side row and purling every wrong-side row. It produces a smooth, flat fabric on the right side and is used for the body, sleeves, and main panels of the sweater.

Techniques Used

Although rated as a beginner pattern, the sweater introduces several important construction techniques that build a knitter's skills:

• Casting on and casting off (monter and rabattre) – standard techniques used to begin and finish each piece
• Increasing (augmentations) – stitches are increased at regular intervals along both sides of the sleeve to shape the sleeve cap. The frequency of increases varies by size; for example, for the 6-month size, 7 increases of 1 stitch are made every 6 rows, while larger sizes use a combination of increases every 6 and every 8 rows
• Armhole shaping (emmanchures) – stitches are cast off at each side to create the armhole, and shaping continues on the remaining stitches