V Neck Cardigan in Bergere de France Cabourg - 27 - Downloadable PDF

V Neck Cardigan in Bergere de France Cabourg – Children's Knitting Pattern (Sizes 4–10 Years)

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Bergere de France provides instructions for a classic V neck cardigan designed for children aged 4 to 10 years. Rated as a beginner level project, it is an excellent choice for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to tackle a simple shaped garment with a few thoughtful details. The finished cardigan features a neat ribbed hem and cuffs, a V-shaped neckline, a practical patch pocket, and four decorative brown buttons, making it a versatile and timeless wardrobe staple for young children.

Sizes and Construction Overview

The pattern covers four sizes: 4 years, 6 years, 8 years, and 10 years. Instructions are presented with stitch counts and measurements given for each size in sequence, allowing knitters to follow the relevant figures for their chosen size throughout. The cardigan is worked in separate pieces — a back, a left front, a right front, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. A separately knitted back of pocket piece is also worked and integrated into the left front at a specified point in the construction, creating a tidy inset pocket effect.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern uses Bergere de France Cabourg, a DK weight yarn, in two colours:

• Nature (shade 245.641) – the main colour, used for the body, sleeves, and pocket lining, requiring 4 balls for size 4 years, 4 balls for size 6 years, 5 balls for size 8 years, and 6 balls for size 10 years.
• Fenouil (shade 290.081) – a contrast colour used for the ribbed welts and borders, requiring 1 ball for sizes 4, 6, and 8 years, and 2 balls for size 10 years.

In addition to yarn, the pattern calls for 3.0 mm and 3.5 mm knitting needles, a stitch holder for the pocket back, and four brown buttons 18 mm in diameter (reference 308.281, sold in packs of seven by Bergere de France).

Stitches and Techniques Used

The pattern employs two primary stitch patterns, each worked on a specific needle size to achieve the correct fabric texture and drape:

• 1/1 Rib – worked on 3.0 mm needles in Fenouil. This is a simple alternating knit one, purl one rib, with subsequent rows worked by knitting over knit stitches and purling over purl stitches. It is used for the welts, cuffs, and button bands, providing a neat, slightly elasticated edge that frames the garment cleanly.
• Stocking Stitch (St-St) – worked on 3.5 mm needles in Nature. This is the classic smooth fabric formed by knitting every right-side row and purling every wrong-side row. It forms the main body of the cardigan and gives the finished fabric its characteristic smooth face and slightly textured reverse.

Beyond these two stitch patterns, the pattern introduces several important knitting techniques that make it a well-rounded learning project for beginner knitters:

• Casting on and casting off – standard techniques used throughout for starting pieces, shaping armholes, and completing shoulder seams.
• Stepped shoulder shaping – the shoulders are shaped by casting off stitches in stages at the beginning of right-side rows, creating a stepped edge that is then seamed. The number of stitches cast off at each step varies by size, for example casting off 3 stitches once then 4 stitches three times for the 4-year size.
• V-neck shaping with internal decreases – the V-neck is formed by decreasing one stitch two stitches in from the neck edge on every following right-side row. The specific method described is a slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, k1, psso) decrease worked when 4 stitches remain before the edge, creating a neat, slanted decrease line that follows the V-neck angle cleanly.