Short Sleeve Cardigan in Bergere de France Cabourg - 28 - Downloadable PDF

Short Sleeve Cardigan Knitting Pattern in Bergere de France Cabourg – Sizes S, M, L, XL

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Bergere de France provides instructions for a short sleeve cardigan available in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large. Rated as an intermediate difficulty project, this design combines elegant shaping with a charming decorative detail, making it a rewarding knit for those who have moved beyond the basics and are comfortable with garment construction techniques.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a short sleeve cardigan — a classic open-front knitted garment with sleeves that sit above the elbow or at the upper arm. Cardigans of this style are versatile wardrobe staples, suitable for layering over lightweight tops in warmer seasons. The short sleeve design keeps the garment feeling fresh and contemporary while retaining the structured elegance of a traditional cardigan silhouette. A press stud fastening (ref 604.671, pack of 59) is used as the closure, giving the front a neat, minimal finish.

A distinctive decorative feature of this pattern is the incorporation of 6 mm diameter wooden beads (ref 322.711, sachet of 200 beads). Beaded knitting adds a tactile, artisanal quality to the finished garment, and working beads into knitted fabric is a technique that elevates a straightforward cardigan into something with real visual interest. Beads are typically pre-strung onto the yarn before knitting begins and are then pushed into position between stitches at designated points in the pattern.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed specifically for Bergere de France Cabourg yarn in the colourway Floral 206.401. Cabourg is a DK weight yarn, which sits in the lightweight-to-medium category and is well suited to garments intended for three-season wear. The number of balls required varies by size:

• Size S: 4 balls
• Size M: 5 balls
• Size L: 5 balls
• Size XL: 6 balls

In addition to the yarn, knitters will need one press stud from ref 604.671 and one sachet of 200 wooden beads, 6 mm diameter, ref 322.711 — both specific Bergere de France notions referenced directly in the pattern.

Needles Used

Two needle sizes are called for in this pattern:

• 3.0 mm needles — typically used for ribbing, borders, or any tighter-tension sections that require a firmer fabric
• 4.0 mm needles — used for the main body fabric, appropriate for DK weight yarn at standard tension

Switching between needle sizes within a single garment is a common intermediate technique that helps knitters achieve neat, professional edges alongside a well-draping main fabric.

Techniques and Shaping

This pattern involves several shaping techniques that place it firmly in the intermediate skill level category. Knitters will work through:

• Armhole shaping — decreases are worked at the beginning of right-side rows, with the rate of decrease varying by size. For example, Size S decreases on every following 8th row three times then every 6th row twice, while sizes M and L decrease on every following 8th row five times, and Size XL decreases on a 10th row followed by every following 8th row four times.
• Shoulder and neck shaping — once the armhole reaches the required depth (ranging from 9 cm for Size S to 13 cm for Size XL), stitches are cast off at the beginning of a wrong-side row, followed by further decreases at the neck edge on every right-side row, worked 3 stitches in from the edge for a clean, internal decrease line.
• Stitch counts by size — the pattern tracks precise stitch counts throughout, for example maintaining 87 (95–103–113) stitches across the main body sections and reducing to 34 (37–40–42) stitches after armhole shaping is complete.
• Bead knitting