Ladies Sweater and Tunic Knitted in King Cole Autumn Chunky - 5816 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole 5816 – Ladies Sweater and Tunic Knitted in King Cole Autumn Chunky

Pattern 5816 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering two classic women's designs in one leaflet: a ladies' sweater and a longer ladies' tunic. Both garments are worked in King Cole Autumn Chunky yarn, making them ideal weekend projects that knit up quickly thanks to the chunky weight. The pattern is graded as suitable for beginner knitters, making it a welcoming choice for those who are building confidence with garment construction while still producing a stylish, wearable result.

Sizes range from 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in) bust, giving an inclusive fit range that covers a wide variety of figures. Knitters are encouraged to circle their chosen size on the leaflet and to check their tension carefully before beginning, as achieving the correct gauge is essential to producing a garment that matches the intended measurements.

Designs Included

Ladies' Sweater

The sweater is a classic, relaxed-fit pullover designed to be both practical and stylish. It features a straightforward construction that is well suited to knitters who are new to working shaped garments. The sweater includes shoulder shaping worked through a series of cast-off rows, giving the finished garment a neat, structured shoulder line. The pattern provides clear stitch counts for each size at every shaping point, so knitters can follow along with confidence.

Ladies' Tunic

The tunic version extends the length of the sweater for a more relaxed, fashion-forward silhouette that can be worn over leggings or slim-fit trousers. Like the sweater, it is constructed using the same yarn and needles, and shares the same fundamental shaping techniques, making it easy for a knitter to choose between the two styles or even make both.

Techniques Used

Both garments are worked flat in pieces, which is a traditional and beginner-friendly approach to garment knitting. Key techniques used throughout the pattern include:

• Casting on and casting off – including shaped cast-offs at the shoulder to create a clean, angled shoulder seam
• Increasing (inc) and decreasing (dec) – used to shape the body and armhole sections
• Right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) row working – the pattern distinguishes between RS and WS rows throughout, helping knitters maintain correct orientation of the fabric
• Alternating rows (alt) – used in shaping sequences to create gradual, smooth curves
• Seaming – as the garments are worked in separate pieces (front, back, and sleeves), finishing involves joining seams, a fundamental garment-making skill

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern used throughout both designs is a garter stitch rib pattern. This textured stitch creates a fabric that combines the visual interest of ribbing with the horizontal ridges characteristic of garter stitch, resulting in a fabric with good elasticity and a pleasing hand feel. The tension for this stitch pattern is stated as 15 stitches and 22 rows to 10 cm over 4 inches, measured over the garter stitch rib pattern.

Core stitches referenced in the abbreviations and used throughout the pattern include:

• Knit (k) – the foundational stitch of garter stitch fabric
• Purl (p) – used in combination with knit stitches to create the rib texture
• Garter stitch rib pattern – the signature stitch of both garments, creating a stretchy, textured fabric that is flattering and comfortable to wear

Materials – Yarn and Needles

Both the sweater and the tunic are knitted using King Cole Autumn Chunky yarn. This is a chunky weight yarn, which means it works up quickly on larger needles and produces a warm, substantial fabric that is perfect for cooler-weather knitwear. King Cole Autumn Chunky is known for its soft handle and rich autumnal colour palette, making