Sweaters & Cardigan in King Cole Aran - 4551 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Aran 4551 – Raglan Sleeve Sweaters & Cardigan Knitting Pattern (Downloadable PDF)

This downloadable PDF from King Cole presents a collection of classic raglan sleeve sweaters and a cardigan, all knitted in King Cole Aran weight yarn. The designs are sized to fit chest measurements ranging from 66 cm to 112 cm (26 in to 44 in), making them suitable for a wide range of sizes. Rated at an intermediate difficulty level, these patterns are ideal for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and working from multi-size instructions.

Garments Included

Raglan Sleeve Sweaters

The sweaters in this collection feature the timeless raglan sleeve construction, a style in which the sleeve extends in one continuous piece from the cuff all the way to the neckline, eliminating a traditional set-in shoulder seam. This creates a comfortable, flexible fit across the shoulder and upper body, and is a hallmark of classic knitwear design. The raglan shaping is achieved through systematic decreasing along defined lines on both the body and sleeve pieces, producing clean diagonal lines that are both functional and decorative.

A key design feature of these sweaters is the use of a Fisherman's rib pattern, which gives the fabric a rich, deeply textured appearance reminiscent of traditional Aran and fisherman knitwear. Fisherman's rib produces a double-layered, spongy fabric that is exceptionally warm and has a pleasing elasticity, making it well suited to Aran weight yarn.

Cardigan

The cardigan included in this pattern shares the same raglan sleeve construction and stitch vocabulary as the sweaters, ensuring a cohesive aesthetic across the collection. As an open-fronted garment, the cardigan requires additional attention to front band finishing and neckline shaping, with neck edge decreases worked on specified rows to achieve a neat, tailored fit around the collar.

Techniques Used

• Raglan sleeve shaping – decreasing stitches at set intervals along raglan lines to shape both the body and sleeves simultaneously
• Neck edge shaping – decreasing stitches at the neck edge on specified rows (including every 4th row) to create a smooth, fitted neckline
• Increasing and decreasing – standard shaping techniques used throughout the construction of all garments
• Tension/gauge checking – the pattern strongly emphasises knitting a tension square before beginning, adjusting needle size as needed to achieve the correct gauge
• Working from multi-size instructions – knitters are instructed to circle their chosen size before beginning, a standard intermediate-level skill

Stitches Used

• Fisherman's rib pattern – the primary stitch pattern, worked over the main body and sleeves, producing a deeply ridged, elastic fabric
• Garter stitch (gst) – every row knitted, typically used for borders, bands, or edging details
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – the foundational stitches used throughout
• K1B (Knit one below) – a signature technique in Fisherman's rib, worked by inserting the needle into the stitch one row below and knitting in the usual way, creating the characteristic elongated, ribbed texture
• Slip stitch (sl) and pass slipped stitch over (psso) – used in decrease sequences for shaping
• Yarn forward (yfwd) – used as part of the stitch pattern or shaping sequences

Materials

• Yarn: King Cole Aran weight yarn – an Aran weight yarn providing the warmth, stitch definition, and body required for these textured designs
• Needles: 5mm knitting needles are specified for achieving the stated tension of 15 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over Fisherman's rib pattern

Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 15 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm (4 in)