Cardigans in King Cole Cherished DK - 4648 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans in King Cole Cherished DK – Pattern 4648: Detailed Summary

Pattern 4648 from King Cole is a knitting pattern for baby and toddler cardigans, designed to be worked in King Cole Cherished DK yarn. The pattern covers a generous size range, from 41/46 cm (16/18 in) up to 61/66 cm (24/26 in) chest measurements, making it suitable for babies through to young toddlers. The cardigans feature a classic raglan sleeve construction, giving them a neat, fitted silhouette that is both practical and timeless for childrenswear.

This is rated as an advanced knitting pattern, reflecting the combination of shaping techniques, cable work, and stitch pattern management required to complete the garments successfully. Knitters who enjoy a technical challenge and are comfortable working with multiple stitch types simultaneously will find this pattern particularly rewarding.

Garment Design and Construction

The cardigans are constructed with raglan sleeves, a traditional shaping method where the sleeve and body are joined diagonally from the underarm to the neckline, eliminating the need for a set-in sleeve seam. This technique creates a smooth, comfortable fit that works especially well for babies and young children, allowing freedom of movement. The raglan shaping is achieved through careful decreasing worked at regular intervals on both the body and sleeve pieces.

The pattern includes ribbing as a foundational element, with the first and second rows forming the rib structure used at cuffs, hems, and button bands. Ribbing provides elasticity and helps garment edges lie flat without curling, which is especially important for a neat finish on a baby cardigan.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Pattern 4648 draws on a variety of knitting stitches and techniques, making it a rich and engaging project for the experienced knitter:

• Stocking stitch – the primary fabric stitch, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic knitted fabric
• Rib stitch – used for borders, cuffs, and bands, formed by alternating knit and purl stitches to create a stretchy, structured edge
• Cable stitches – including C4B (cable 4 back) and C4F (cable 4 front), which create twisted rope-like cables by crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle (CN); C4B twists to the right and C4F twists to the left
• C2F – a smaller two-stitch cable cross worked to the front, adding delicate twisted detail to the pattern
• Decreasing (dec) – used throughout for raglan shaping, reducing stitch counts on body and sleeves in a controlled and symmetrical way
• Pattern repeats (rep) – the stitch pattern is worked in repeating sequences, requiring careful attention to stitch counts across the different sizes

The inclusion of both C4B, C4F, and C2F cable crossings alongside ribbing and stocking stitch means the knitter must manage multiple stitch types within the same rows, which is why this pattern is classified as advanced. Working cables requires the use of a cable needle to hold stitches temporarily at the front or back of the work while the crossing stitches are knitted.

Tension and Needle Information

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this pattern. The stated tension is 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in), measured over stocking stitch using 4 mm knitting needles. Knitters are advised to work a tension swatch before beginning and to adjust needle size accordingly — using thinner needles if fewer stitches than expected are produced, or thicker needles if more stitches result. Working to the correct tension ensures the finished cardigan matches the intended measurements across all sizes.

Materials: Yarn and Tools

The pattern is specifically designed for King Cole Cherished DK, a double knitting (DK) weight yarn. Cherished DK is a yarn from