Cardigans in King Cole Paradise Beaches DK - 5613 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans Knitted in King Cole Paradise Beaches DK – Pattern 5613

This King Cole pattern 5613 is a downloadable PDF featuring children's cardigans knitted in King Cole Paradise Beaches DK yarn. The pattern covers a size range of 56–76 cm (22–30 inches), making it suitable for babies and young toddlers. Rated at an intermediate difficulty level, this pattern is ideal for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques and are ready to work with a structured garment construction.

About King Cole Paradise Beaches DK

The yarn specified for this pattern is King Cole Paradise Beaches DK, a double knit weight yarn known for its soft, vibrant, and often self-striping or variegated colourways inspired by tropical and coastal themes. DK weight yarn is one of the most versatile and popular yarn weights in knitting, offering a balance between speed of knitting and fine stitch definition. Its medium weight makes it particularly well-suited to children's garments, providing warmth without bulk.

Needles and Tension

The pattern recommends 4 mm knitting needles, or whichever needle size is required to achieve the correct tension. Achieving the stated tension is described in the pattern as essential to ensure the finished cardigan matches the intended measurements. The stated tension is:

• 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch
• If fewer stitches are achieved, knitters are advised to use thinner needles
• If more stitches are achieved, knitters are advised to use thicker needles

This emphasis on tension is especially important in garment knitting, where even small deviations can result in a finished piece that is significantly larger or smaller than intended.

Construction and Design Details

The cardigans in this pattern are worked as classic, structured children's garments with a front button band or border. The pattern includes specific instructions for maintaining continuity of the front border, which is worked as a set 7-stitch panel running alongside the main body fabric. This border is integrated into the row-by-row instructions, ensuring a neat, consistent finish along the cardigan opening.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch – the primary fabric stitch, formed by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface
• Front border pattern – a repeating 2-row stitch pattern worked over the final 7 stitches of each row to create a structured button band
• Knit (k) and purl (p) stitches form the foundation of all fabric sections

Techniques Used

• Increasing – used to shape the garment pieces, such as sleeves or body panels
• Decreasing – used for armhole shaping, neckline shaping, and other fitted areas
• Working on right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) rows – standard flat knitting construction
• Following a repeating pattern – the front border is maintained throughout by following a set 2-row repeat, requiring the knitter to keep track of pattern continuity alongside shaping rows
• Tension checking – an essential preliminary technique before beginning the garment

Sizes and Suitability

Pattern 5613 covers chest sizes from 56 cm to 76 cm (22 to 30 inches), encompassing a range of baby and toddler sizes. The pattern leaflet instructs knitters to circle the size they wish to make, a common convention in multi-size knitting patterns that helps avoid confusion when following size-specific stitch counts and shaping instructions throughout the document.

Charitable Contribution

As noted on the pattern leaflet, King Cole makes a donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation for every pattern purchased, adding a charitable dimension to this knitting project.

Who Is This Pattern For?