Bergère de France Magazine 173: A Review

Let's have a look at Bergère de France Magazine 173, which features spring and summer knitting patterns for children.

Pattern 01, Shawl-Collar Cardigan. Not taken with this one. The exposed armhole seam and single knit collar make it look unfinished.

Pattern 02, Cap. Simple and classic newsboy cap.

Pattern 03, Embroidered Sweater & Pattern 04, Crochet Cap. Not a bad simple little sweater. There are better colour schemes for this design. The cap's kind of cute, if a little snood-like. And that open weave will catch on everything.

Pattern 05, Embroidered Sweater. I rather like this one, though I am not sure those random-looking lines add anything and would probably leave them off.

Pattern 06, Embroidered Sweater & Pattern 30, Short. Not a bad simple little outfit.

Pattern 07, Zip-Up Hooded Jacket. This one looks rather slapped together, the embroidery looks amateurish, and that hood looks like it's way too big.

Pattern 08, Top & Pattern 09, Shorts. This is cute but I'm uncomfortable with the idea of dressing a child this young in such a revealing look. I'd reshape the top to provide more coverage.

Pattern 10, Pinafore Dress. Enough with the wobbly embroidered decorative lines already, Bergère de France. These look just plain terrible. I'd touch up this dress, which does need a little something, by working the drawstring, sleeve, neckline and hem edgings in a contrast colour.

Pattern 11, Scarf Cardigan. The shrug/scarf isn't at all a bad idea, though it's perhaps more practicable when done in a less open stitch and for winter.

Pattern 12, Shawl Collar Sweater. Nice design overall, though I am not liking that mesh front pocket.

Pattern 13, Long Sleeved Sweater. Quite like this one, with its pleasing arrangement of textures.

Pattern 14, Playsuit. Not bad, but I'd do the mesh part of this in the contrast colour — and in another stitch for that matter, such as a slightly lacy pattern.

Pattern 15, Dress With Openwork Top & Pattern 16, Drawstring Bag. This is actually a great dress, but I would make the mesh part of it in stockinette. The mesh gives this dress too mature a look for such a young girl. The bag is super cute.

Pattern 17, Long-Sleeved Openwork Cardigan. Not a bad basic sweater.

Pattern 18, Dress With Openwork Back. Bergère de France tends to get hold of an idea or two and work them to death. In the two spring 2014 issues, one of les idées fixes is mesh. Mesh has its place, but this design isn't one of them. Though I do like the particular mesh stitch they've used here, it isn't working on this dress. I'd knit a plain back in the contrast colour and also nix the drawstring, which looks rather ratty.

Pattern 19, Short-Sleeved Dress. Very cute and smart little dress. I'd consider not including the drawstring.

Pattern 20, Criss-Cross Wrapper & Pattern 21, Shorts. Cute little summer outfit for a baby.

Pattern 22, Playsuit. Sweet little look. I like the cross-over effect.

Pattern 23, Sundress. This is a nice item over all, but I am not liking the bra-like cut for a toddler. I'd knit that neckline straight across, from strap to strap.

Pattern 24, Fringed Jacquard Cardigan & Pattern 25, Crocheted Hat. I'd reshape this cardigan and ditch that fringe. This looks poorly made as is. The hat is a bit on the shapeless side. I'm skeptical as to whether that brim would stay turned up as it is here.

Pattern 26, Halter Neck Top. Another bra-like top, this time on a young girl rather than a toddler, and I'm still not liking it. Again I'd shape it in a straight line across the top.

Pattern 27, Sleeveless Top. I think a better colourway would make this one.

Pattern 28, V-Neck Sweater. More random embroidery. This is a nicely finished sweater, and I'd go with either some embroidery that made some visual sense and added something, or else just add some stripes around the waist and wrists.

Pattern 29, Sleeveless Waistcoat. Very basic pattern you could probably just improvise yourself.