Girls Dress and Headband in Bergere de France Calinou - 60387-08 - Downloadable PDF

Girls Dress and Headband Knitting Pattern – Bergere de France Calinou (Pattern 60387-08)

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Bergere de France provides instructions for a charming girls' dress and matching headband, worked in the brand's soft Calinou yarn. The pattern is rated facile (easy/beginner level), making it an ideal project for knitters who are building their skills while still wanting to create a beautifully finished, wearable garment for a young child. The set is available in five sizes, covering ages from 6 months through 4 years, making it a versatile pattern to return to as a child grows.

What Is Being Made

The pattern covers two coordinating pieces:

• A girls' dress – a shaped, knitted garment with decorative stitch detailing, sized for babies and toddlers from 6 months to 4 years old.
• A matching headband – a simple accessory to complete the outfit, worked in the same yarn and stitch pattern.

Together, the dress and headband form a cohesive set that is well-suited for gifting, special occasions, or everyday wear for young children.

Sizes Available

• 6 months
• 12 months
• 18 months
• 2 years
• 4 years

Shaping instructions vary by size, with specific decrease sequences given for each. For example, the 18-month size works 6 decreases of 1 stitch every 10 rows, followed by 2 decreases of 1 stitch every 8 rows, while the 4-year size works 4 decreases every 10 rows followed by 7 decreases every 8 rows. Decreases are worked at 1 stitch from the edge for a neat, professional finish.

Techniques Used

• Shaping and decreasing – the dress is shaped through a series of evenly spaced decreases worked at set row intervals, varying by size. Decreases are consistently placed 1 or 2 stitches from the edge to maintain clean selvedges.
• Casting off – stitches are bound off on the left side at regular intervals as part of the armhole or neckline shaping.
• Working in pattern – the decorative point fantaisie (fancy stitch pattern) is maintained throughout the shaping, requiring the knitter to keep track of the stitch repeat while simultaneously working increases or decreases.
• Accessory attachment – the finished dress is completed with the addition of transparent press studs (snaps) for the fastening, and felt stars as decorative embellishments, both of which are sewn on after knitting is complete.

Stitches Used

• Point Fantaisie (Fancy Stitch Pattern) – this is the primary decorative stitch used throughout the dress and headband. It is worked over a multiple of 3 stitches plus 1, on needles 2.5 mm and 3 mm. The pattern is a two-row repeat:
  • Row 1 (right side): * 1 purl stitch, 2 knit stitches *, repeat from * to *, ending with 1 purl stitch.
  • Row 2: * 1 knit stitch, 2 purl stitches *, repeat from * to *.
• Knit stitches (endroit) and purl stitches (envers) are combined within the fancy stitch repeat to create a textured, ribbed-style fabric with visual interest.

The stitch pattern produces a fabric with a subtle, structured texture that is both decorative and practical for a child's garment, adding visual appeal without requiring advanced lace or cable techniques.

Materials Required

Yarn