Baby Set in King Cole DK - 4556 - Downloadable PDF

Baby Set Knitted in King Cole DK – Pattern 4556 Summary

This King Cole pattern 4556 is a beautifully coordinated baby set knitted in King Cole DK weight yarn, designed to fit newborns and infants from 0 to 12 months, covering chest sizes of 36–51 cm (14–20 inches). The set is rated as advanced difficulty and is available as a downloadable PDF, making it instantly accessible for experienced knitters looking to create a complete, matching wardrobe for a new baby. A notable feature of purchasing this pattern is that King Cole makes a donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every pattern sold.

What Is Being Made

Pattern 4556 is a multi-piece baby set that includes a range of coordinating garments and accessories. The collection covers:

• Cardigans – classic baby cardigans with a neat, fitted finish
• Dresses – sweet knitted dresses suitable for everyday or special occasions
• Hats – snug-fitting baby hats to complete the set
• Sweaters and Jumpers – warm, comfortable pullovers for everyday wear
• Trousers and Leggings – coordinating bottoms to pair with the tops and cardigans

Together, these pieces form a complete, coordinated baby layette or gift set, ideal for baby showers, newborn gifts, or building a handmade wardrobe for a young child through their first year of life.

Construction Technique – Raglan Sleeves

A key construction feature highlighted in this pattern is the use of raglan sleeve shaping. Raglan sleeves are a classic knitting technique in which the sleeve and body are joined by a diagonal seam running from the underarm to the neckline, rather than a traditional set-in sleeve. This method creates a smooth, comfortable fit that is particularly well-suited to baby garments, as it allows for ease of movement and a neat silhouette without bulky shoulder seams. Raglan construction is often worked either flat in pieces and seamed, or in the round, and requires careful attention to paired decreases to maintain the characteristic diagonal line.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The pattern makes use of several fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches and techniques. Knitters working through this set will encounter:

• Stocking stitch (st-st) – knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side; the most classic and smooth knitted fabric, used throughout many of the garment bodies
• Reversed stocking stitch (rev st-st) – purl on the right side, knit on the wrong side; this creates a textured, bumpy surface often used as a contrast or decorative element in baby knits
• Garter stitch (gst) – every row knitted, producing a ridged, stretchy fabric that lies flat and is commonly used for borders, hems, and edgings
• Pattern stitch (patt) – a defined stitch pattern used across sections of the garments, contributing texture and visual interest
• Increasing (inc) – adding stitches to shape garment pieces such as sleeves and body panels
• Decreasing (dec) – reducing stitches, particularly important in raglan shaping and neckline construction
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso) – a decrease technique used to shape edges neatly
• Raglan sleeve shaping – the primary construction method for the upper body and sleeve joins

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over pattern stitch and stocking stitch using 4mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is especially important when knitting for babies, as even small variations in gauge can significantly affect the finished size of each garment. King Cole strongly recommends knitting a tension square before beginning any piece and adjusting needle size accordingly — moving to a smaller needle if too few stitches are achieved, or a larger needle if too many stitches appear over the 10 cm measurement.