Cardigans & Hat in King Cole Cherished DK & Cherish DK - 4196 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Pattern 4196 – Cardigans & Hat in Cherished DK & Cherish DK

Pattern 4196 from King Cole is a knitting pattern for baby and children's cardigans and a matching hat, sized to fit chest measurements of 41–66 cm (16–26 inches), covering ages 0 to 7 years. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is rated as an intermediate level project, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and working from a multi-size pattern leaflet.

This is a charming set designed for babies and young children, combining a classic shaped cardigan with a coordinating hat. The range of sizes means the pattern can be used to create garments from newborn right through to early school age, making it a versatile addition to any knitter's collection. King Cole also donates to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every pattern purchase.

Yarns Used

The pattern is written specifically for two King Cole DK weight yarns:

• King Cole Cherished DK – a soft DK yarn designed with baby and children's garments in mind
• King Cole Cherish DK – another DK weight yarn from King Cole's baby and children's range

Both yarns are double knit (DK) weight, which is one of the most popular yarn weights for baby and children's knitwear. DK yarn strikes a balance between a fine, delicate fabric and a practical knitting speed, producing garments that are lightweight yet durable enough for everyday wear.

Needles

The pattern recommends 4 mm knitting needles, or the size required to achieve the correct tension. As with all knitting patterns, checking your tension swatch before beginning is strongly advised. The pattern notes that if you achieve fewer stitches than stated you should use thinner needles, and if you achieve more stitches you should use thicker needles.

Tension

• 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch using 4 mm needles
• 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over the pattern stitch using 4 mm needles

The slight difference in row tension between stocking stitch and the pattern stitch is worth noting, as it affects the length of the garment sections worked in each stitch type.

Stitches and Techniques

The cardigans and hat make use of a combination of classic knitting stitches and standard garment construction techniques:

• Stocking stitch – the most widely used knitting stitch, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, flat fabric on the right side
• Pattern stitch – a textured or decorative stitch pattern used across sections of the garments, adding visual interest to the design
• Increasing – used to shape the garment pieces as they are worked, adding stitches at specified points
• Decreasing – used for shaping, particularly at armholes, necklines, and shoulders, removing stitches to create a tailored fit
• Shoulder shaping – achieved by casting off groups of stitches at the shoulder edge while simultaneously decreasing at the neck edge, a technique that creates a neat, professional shoulder line
• Casting off in pattern – stitches are cast off while maintaining the established stitch pattern, ensuring the cast-off edge matches the fabric texture
• Working alternate rows – shaping is worked on alternate rows, a standard technique in garment knitting that allows gradual, smooth shaping

The Cardigans

The cardigan designs in this pattern are classic in style, featuring shaped shoulders and neckline shaping, making them ideal for gifting or knitting as a keepsake garment for a baby or young child. The multi-size format means the same pattern leaflet covers