Blanket in Bergere de France Calinou - 60387-11 - Downloadable PDF

Beginner Knitted Baby Blanket in Bergère de France Calinou – Pattern 60387-11

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Bergère de France provides instructions for a soft, simple baby blanket measuring 60 cm x 80 cm (approximately 24 x 31 inches). Designed with the complete beginner in mind, it is an ideal first knitting project, requiring only one stitch type and straightforward construction from cast-on to cast-off. The pattern is written in both French and Dutch, making it accessible to a wide range of knitters across Europe.

What Is Being Made

The finished item is a rectangular baby blanket or throw, generously sized at 60 cm wide by 80 cm long. Its simple, flat construction and single-stitch design make it a practical and cosy piece suitable for a newborn or infant. The blanket is worked entirely as one piece with no shaping, seaming, or complex finishing required, making the process as straightforward as possible for a beginner knitter.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Bergère de France Calinou – a 4-ply weight yarn, used with three strands held together throughout the entire project. The pattern specifies 9 balls of Calinou in the colourway Comète 10029.
• Needles: 6.5 mm knitting needles are used for the entire blanket. Because three strands are held together, the 6.5 mm needle size compensates for the fine individual strand weight, producing a dense, warm fabric.
• Additional tools: One tapestry needle (wool needle) is required for weaving in the yarn ends at the finish.

Techniques Used

• Casting on: 84 stitches are cast on using three strands of yarn held together as one. The pattern advises preparing a combined ball in advance by winding all three strands together before beginning, which helps maintain even tension and prevents the individual balls from tangling during knitting.
• Knitting with multiple strands held together: Working with three strands of a 4-ply yarn simultaneously is a classic technique used to quickly build up fabric weight and warmth without switching to a heavier yarn. It also gives the finished blanket a pleasingly substantial, cushioned feel.
• Casting off: All stitches are cast off at the end of the final row. The yarn is then cut leaving a 10 cm tail.
• Weaving in ends: The tapestry needle is used to thread the cut yarn ends back through the fabric and trim the excess, giving the blanket a neat, finished appearance.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch (Point Mousse / Ribbelsteek): The entire blanket is worked in garter stitch, which is achieved by knitting every single row. Unlike stockinette stitch, garter stitch is knitted on both the right-side and wrong-side rows, producing a ridged, reversible fabric that lies flat without curling at the edges – a particularly useful quality for a blanket. This makes it the perfect stitch for a beginner, as only the knit stitch needs to be learned.

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 14 stitches and 26 rows to 10 cm square in garter stitch using 6.5 mm needles and three strands of Calinou held together. As with any knitting project, working a tension swatch before starting is strongly recommended to ensure the finished blanket reaches the correct dimensions. The pattern itself references the Bergère de France beginner's guide for detailed instructions on how to knit and measure a tension swatch.

Construction Overview

The blanket is worked in a single flat piece. With 6.5 mm needles and three strands of Calinou Comète 10029 held together, 84 stitches are cast on. Every row is then knitted in garter stitch until the work measures 80 cm in height (208 rows). All stitches are then cast off, the yarn is cut to 10 cm, and the ends are woven in with the tapestry needle. There is no