Hoody, Cardigans & Sweater in King Cole DK - 4549 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole DK 4549 – Hoody, Cardigans & Sweater Knitting Pattern for Babies and Toddlers

King Cole pattern 4549 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering multiple adorable designs for babies and toddlers, sized from 41 to 56 cm (16 to 22 inches) to fit ages 3 to 24 months. The collection includes a hoody, cardigans, and a sweater, all knitted in King Cole DK (double knit) weight yarn. This is a wonderfully practical pattern set for anyone looking to create a complete handmade wardrobe for a young child, combining classic styling with a comfortable, wearable fit. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who have moved beyond the basics and are comfortable working from written instructions across multiple garment pieces.

Garments Included in This Pattern

Hoody

The hoody is a standout design in this collection, offering a practical and on-trend look for babies and toddlers. Featuring a raglan sleeve construction, the hoody is shaped from the body upward with neat raglan shaping at the armholes, creating a smooth, comfortable fit across the shoulders without a traditional set-in sleeve seam. The hood adds warmth and a contemporary feel, making this an ideal garment for cooler days. Raglan sleeves are a classic choice for children's knitwear because they allow generous movement and are easier to size up as a child grows.

Cardigans

The pattern includes cardigans designed with the same thoughtful construction suited to young children. Cardigans are an essential part of a baby's wardrobe, offering a versatile layering piece that can be easily put on and taken off. The raglan sleeve shaping referenced in the pattern applies across the designs in this collection, giving the cardigans a neat, professional finish. Button bands and front openings are typical features of cardigans in this style range, making dressing and undressing straightforward for parents and caregivers.

Sweater

The sweater completes the trio of designs, providing a classic pullover option for the youngest members of the family. Like the other garments in this set, it is worked in stocking stitch as the primary fabric, giving a smooth, clean finish on the right side that showcases the yarn beautifully. The sweater's raglan sleeve construction keeps the design consistent across the collection and ensures a comfortable, non-restrictive fit for active babies and toddlers.

Construction and Techniques

Raglan Sleeve Shaping

All garments in pattern 4549 feature raglan sleeve construction, a technique where the sleeve and body are shaped simultaneously using paired decreases that run diagonally from the underarm to the neckline. This creates a distinctive diagonal seam line and eliminates the need for a traditional shoulder seam, resulting in a softer, more flexible fit — particularly beneficial in children's knitwear. Raglan shaping is worked by decreasing stitches at regular intervals on both the body and sleeve pieces, and knitters will use techniques such as knit two together (k2tog) and pass slipped stitch over (psso) to achieve the correct shaping.

Stocking Stitch

The main fabric of these garments is stocking stitch (st-st), worked with the knit stitch on the right side and the purl stitch on the wrong side. Stocking stitch produces a smooth, flat fabric on the knit side and a textured, ridged surface on the purl side. It is the most widely used knitting fabric for garments and creates a neat, even surface that is ideal for children's clothing. The tension for this pattern is set at 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch.

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

The pattern makes use of a range of standard knitting stitches and techniques, including:

• K (knit) – the foundational knit stitch used throughout
• P (purl) – used on wrong-side rows in stocking stitch and in ribbing
• St-st (stocking stitch) –