Waistcoat & Cardigan in King Cole Drifter 4ply - 5381pdf - Downloadable PDF

Waistcoat & Cardigan Knitting Pattern in King Cole Drifter 4ply – Pattern 5381

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents two classic women's garments: a waistcoat and a cardigan, both knitted in the beautiful King Cole Drifter 4ply yarn. The pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty and covers a generous range of sizes from 71/76 cm to 112/117 cm (28/30 in to 44/46 in), making it suitable for a wide variety of figures. Each purchase of this King Cole pattern includes a donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation, adding a charitable dimension to your crafting.

About the Two Designs

The Waistcoat

The waistcoat is a sleeveless layering piece, ideal for adding warmth and style without the bulk of full sleeves. Waistcoats knitted in 4ply weight yarn produce a lightweight, refined fabric that drapes elegantly and works well for both casual and smarter occasions. This design is well suited to the tonal, gradient qualities of King Cole Drifter 4ply, which adds subtle colour variation throughout the knitted fabric without the need for complex colourwork techniques.

• Silhouette: Classic sleeveless waistcoat with a neat, fitted finish
• Size range: 71/76 cm – 112/117 cm (28/30 in – 44/46 in)
• Yarn: King Cole Drifter 4ply
• Primary stitch: Stocking stitch body with ribbed edgings

The Cardigan

The cardigan is a versatile, open-fronted garment with sleeves, offering a timeless wardrobe staple that can be dressed up or down. Knitted in King Cole Drifter 4ply, the finished cardigan benefits from the yarn's softness and its characteristic drifting colour effect, which creates a gently variegated appearance across the stocking stitch fabric. The ribbed trims provide a neat, professional finish at the cuffs, hem, and front bands.

• Silhouette: Classic open-front cardigan with set-in or standard sleeves
• Size range: 71/76 cm – 112/117 cm (28/30 in – 44/46 in)
• Yarn: King Cole Drifter 4ply
• Primary stitch: Stocking stitch with 2x2 rib trims

Stitches and Techniques Used

Both garments in this pattern rely on a small, well-chosen set of classic knitting stitches and techniques. These are clearly defined within the pattern using standard abbreviations, making the instructions accessible to knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to progress their skills.

Stitches Used

• Stocking Stitch (St-St): The main fabric stitch for both garments, worked by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. Stocking stitch produces a smooth, flat fabric on the right side and is the ideal canvas for showcasing the tonal colour shifts of King Cole Drifter 4ply.
• 2x2 Rib (K2, P2 Rib): Used for edgings, cuffs, and hem bands. The first row of the rib is worked as *K2, P2, repeat from *, creating a stretchy, structured border that helps garments retain their shape and sit neatly against the body.

Techniques Used

• Increasing (inc): Used to shape sleeves and body panels, adding stitches at specified intervals to achieve the correct garment dimensions.
• Decreasing (dec): Applied during armhole shaping, neckline shaping, and sleeve cap construction to create well-fitted, tailored edges.
• Slipping stitches (sl1): A slip-one-stitch-knitways technique is referenced, typically used in decrease sequences for neat, tidy edges