Jacket with Pockets in Bergere de France Pur Coton - M1343 - Downloadable PDF

Jacket with Pockets in Bergere de France Pur Coton – M1343

This free downloadable knitting pattern (M1343) from the renowned French yarn brand Bergère de France presents a stylish knitted jacket with pockets, known in French as the Gilet à Poches. Designed for advanced knitters, this project showcases a sophisticated two-colour construction worked in Bergère de France Pur Coton yarn, a 100% cotton aran-weight yarn produced at the brand's historic spinning mill in Lorraine, France — a facility that has been crafting quality yarns since 1946.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a fully fashioned jacket featuring integrated pockets, knitted in a colourblock style using two carefully chosen shades of Pur Coton. The garment is constructed in separate pieces — a back, two fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. Neckline and armhole edges are finished with a neat bias trim, lending the jacket a polished, structured silhouette. The design is available in five sizes: S, M, L, XL, and XXL, with finished measurements carefully graded across the size range to ensure a flattering fit.

Design Details and Colourwork

The jacket is worked in two colours of Bergère de France Pur Coton:

• Ecru (shade 10501) — used as the primary body colour
• Citrine (shade 10510) — used as a contrasting accent colour

The colour transition is a key design feature. The back and fronts begin with a section worked in Citrine, and after approximately 20 cm (64 rows), the work continues in Ecru. This creates a bold, clean colourblock effect across the lower body of the jacket. The bias neckline and armhole trims are also worked in Citrine, tying the two colour zones together with a refined finishing detail.

Techniques Used

This is an advanced-level knitting pattern, requiring familiarity with a range of shaping and finishing techniques. Key techniques include:

• Fancy stitch (point fantaisie) — the main body fabric is worked in a decorative stitch pattern rather than plain stockinette, adding visual texture and interest to the finished fabric
• Colourwork with yarn changes — a clean colour transition is worked at a specific row count, requiring confident handling of two yarns
• Fully fashioned decreases — shaping is achieved through carefully placed decreases worked at set intervals; for example, neckline shaping involves decreasing 1 stitch at 11 stitches from the edge at regular row intervals, with the rate varying by size (e.g., for size S: 3 times every 8 rows, then 9 times every 6 rows)
• Bias trim knitting — the neckline and armhole edges are finished with a knitted bias band, a technique that requires working on the diagonal to create a smooth, angled edging
• Seaming and garment construction — the back, fronts, and sleeves are worked flat and then assembled, requiring neat mattress stitch or similar seaming skills
• Pocket construction — integrated pockets are a named feature of the design, adding both practical function and structural detail

Stitches Used

• Point fantaisie (fancy/decorative stitch) — the primary stitch pattern used throughout the main body sections
• Decreases — used for armhole, neckline, and sleeve shaping, worked at measured intervals from the edge
• Cast-on — the back begins with a cast-on of 101–109–117–125–135 stitches depending on size, worked in Citrine
• Bias stitch construction — used for the finishing trim around the neckline and armholes

Materials Required

The pattern calls for Bergère de France Pur Coton, an aran