Cabled Cardigan & Sweater in King Cole - 5012 - Downloadable PDF

Cabled Cardigan & Sweater in King Cole Chunky Tweed – Pattern 5012

This King Cole pattern 5012 offers knitters the choice of two classic garments: a cabled cardigan and a cabled sweater, both knitted in King Cole Chunky Tweed yarn. Designed with a raglan sleeve construction, these pieces combine timeless cable detailing with a flattering, structured fit. The pattern covers a wide range of sizes, from 71 cm to 117 cm (28 in to 46 in), making it accessible for a broad range of body types. This is rated as an intermediate level knitting pattern, suitable for those who are comfortable with basic knitting techniques and ready to progress into cable work and shaping.

Garments Included

• Cabled Cardigan – A front-opening garment featuring cable panels, worked in King Cole Chunky Tweed with raglan sleeve shaping.
• Cabled Sweater – A pullover version sharing the same cable detailing and raglan construction as the cardigan.

Construction and Design Details

Both garments are built using a raglan sleeve method, a classic construction technique where the sleeve and body are shaped simultaneously so that diagonal seam lines run from the underarm to the neckline. This creates a smooth, comfortable shoulder fit with minimal bulk at the seam. Raglan shaping is achieved through systematic decreasing on right-side rows, giving the garment its characteristic angled silhouette.

The defining feature of both designs is the cable patterning, worked using a cable needle (CN). Cables are created by temporarily holding stitches on the cable needle, either to the front or back of the work, and then knitting them in a different order to produce twisted rope-like textures. This technique adds visual interest and a tactile, three-dimensional quality to the fabric.

Techniques Used

• Cable knitting using a cable needle (CN) to cross stitches and create rope or twist effects
• Raglan sleeve shaping through structured decreasing across body and sleeve pieces
• Increasing and decreasing for garment shaping throughout
• Stocking stitch as the main background fabric, alternating knit and purl rows
• Working on both right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) rows with pattern awareness
• Slipping stitches knitways as part of decrease techniques (sl1, psso)
• Working through back of loops (tbl) where specified

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch – the primary background stitch, formed by alternating knit and purl rows
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches as foundational elements throughout
• Cable stitches – worked over designated stitch counts using a cable needle
• Decrease stitches including knit two together (k2tog) and slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (sl1, k1, psso)
• Rib stitch – typically used for welts, cuffs, and neckbands in garments of this style

Materials and Tension

Both garments are knitted in King Cole Chunky Tweed, a chunky weight yarn that works up quickly and produces a warm, substantial fabric with the characteristic flecked appearance of a tweed. The recommended tension is 14 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch, achieved using 6 mm knitting needles, or the needle size required to obtain the correct tension. A cable needle is also required for working the cable panels. As with all knitting patterns, achieving the stated tension is essential — knitters are advised to switch to a finer needle if too few stitches are produced per 10 cm, or to a larger needle if too many stitches result