Cardigan, Trousers, Hat, Onesie and Blanket in King Cole Cherish DK - 5726 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole 5726: Cardigan, Trousers, Hat, Onesie and Blanket Knitting Pattern in Cherish DK

Pattern King Cole 5726 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering five coordinating baby designs in one leaflet: a cardigan, trousers, hat, onesie, and blanket. Sized to fit babies from 36–56 cm (14–22 inches), this intermediate-level collection creates a complete, beautifully matched layette set. Every purchase of this King Cole pattern includes a donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

Yarn and Materials

All five designs are knitted in King Cole Double Knit weight yarn, worked on 4mm needles. The pattern references a main yarn (M) and a contrast yarn (C), allowing for creative colour combinations across the garments and accessories. The DK weight makes these projects relatively quick to knit while still producing a fine, soft fabric suitable for newborn and infant wear.

Tension

Achieving correct tension is essential before beginning any of the five pieces. The pattern specifies two tension measurements:

• 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch on 4mm needles
• 20 stitches and 26 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over the decorative lace pattern on 4mm needles

Knitters are advised to work a tension square before starting and to adjust needle size accordingly — moving to finer needles if the stitch count is too low, or larger needles if the count is too high.

Stitches and Techniques Used

This pattern employs a pleasing variety of knitting stitches and techniques, making it a rewarding intermediate project. The key stitches and methods used across the five designs include:

• Stocking stitch (st-st) — the classic smooth fabric formed by knitting on the right side and purling on the wrong side, used as the primary fabric for many sections
• Garter stitch (gst) — every row knitted, creating a ridged, reversible fabric used for borders and edgings
• A four-row lace or decorative pattern — worked using yarn forward (yfwd), yarn round needle (yrn), and pass slipped stitch over (psso) techniques to create an open, textured effect
• Increasing (inc) and decreasing (dec) — used for shaping sleeves, garment bodies, and fitted sections such as the trousers and onesie
• Slipping stitches (sl) — used within the decorative pattern rows
• P2tog (purl two together) — a decrease worked on wrong-side rows within the lace pattern
• Pass the third stitch over (psso-style manoeuvre on purl rows) — a distinctive technique within the four-row repeat that creates the characteristic gathered or clustered texture

The lace pattern is worked over a four-row repeat. Stitch counts should not be checked after the first or third rows of the pattern repeat, as yarn-overs temporarily alter the count; counts are verified after the second or fourth rows only.

The Cardigan

The cardigan is a central piece of the set, worked in the decorative four-row lace pattern across the body and sleeves, with garter stitch borders providing neat, stable edges. The back is worked flat, with sleeve stitches cast on and shaped using regular increases at each end. The sleeves begin with a cast-on of 25, 29, 29, 31, or 33 stitches depending on size, followed by garter stitch rows before transitioning into the main lace pattern. The combination of the open lace texture and garter stitch edging gives the cardigan a delicate, heirloom quality appropriate for a special baby garment.

The Trousers

The trousers are designed to coordinate with the cardigan and onesie, worked in King Cole Double Knit yarn. Shaping techniques including increases and decreases are used to create