Cardigan, Hat and Snood Knitted in King Cole Ultra-Soft Chunky - 5688 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigan, Hat and Snood Knitted in King Cole Ultra-Soft Chunky – Pattern 5688

This King Cole pattern 5688 is a downloadable PDF offering instructions for three coordinating knitted accessories and garments: a cardigan, a hat, and a snood. All three pieces are worked in King Cole Ultra-Soft Chunky yarn, making this a satisfying project for knitters who enjoy working with chunky weight yarn on larger needles. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping, ribbing, and cable techniques but are ready to develop their skills further.

King Cole donates to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every pattern purchase, adding a charitable dimension to this project.

Materials and Tension

All three designs are worked in King Cole Ultra-Soft Chunky, a chunky weight yarn. The pattern specifies the use of 5 mm needles for ribbed sections and 6 mm needles for the main fabric. A cable needle is also required for the cable panel sections of the cardigan.

• Main needles: 6 mm (for stocking stitch and cable panels)
• Smaller needles: 5 mm (for ribbed edgings and cast-on sections)
• Cable needle: required for working the cable panel
• Tension: The cable panel of 25 stitches measures 12.5 cm (5 in); 14 stitches and 20 rows measure 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch on 6 mm needles

As with all knitted garments, checking tension before beginning is strongly recommended. If fewer stitches than stated are achieved, thinner needles should be used; if more stitches result, thicker needles are needed. Correct tension is essential to achieving the stated garment sizes.

The Cardigan

The cardigan is the most technically involved of the three pieces in this pattern. It is sized to fit chest measurements of 56–76 cm (22–30 in), offering five sizes within that range, making it suitable for children or smaller adults depending on the specific size selected.

Construction begins at the back, where stitches are cast on using the thumb method on 5 mm needles. The lower edge is worked in 1x1 rib (alternating knit one, purl one across the row), which creates a neat, stretchy border. After the ribbed section, stitches are adjusted and the work transitions to the main body fabric on 6 mm needles.

• Stocking stitch (st-st): The primary background fabric, formed by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface
• 1x1 rib: Used for the lower edges and borders, alternating knit and purl stitches to create a flexible, tidy finish
• Cable panel: A decorative panel of 25 stitches is incorporated into the cardigan body, worked using a cable needle to cross groups of stitches and create a raised, twisted rope-like design. The cable pattern is set over a 12-row repeat.

The cable panel is flanked by reverse stocking stitch sections (purl on the right side) which help the cable design stand out visually. The pattern provides detailed row-by-row instructions for setting up and maintaining the cable panel alongside the stocking stitch side sections.

Shaping is worked into the body of the cardigan through side decreases, with decreases occurring at each end of specified rows at intervals that vary by size. This creates a gently shaped silhouette. The pattern carefully coordinates the cable panel position with the side shaping throughout.

Stitches and Techniques Used in the Cardigan

• Thumb cast-on method
• 1x1 rib (k1, p1 ribbing)
• Stocking stitch
• Reverse stocking stitch (used within and around the cable panel)
• Cable panel worked over 25 stitches using a cable needle
• Decreasing: