V and Round Neck Cardigans in King Cole Opium Pallet - 4184 - Downloadable PDF

V and Round Neck Cardigans in King Cole Opium Palette – Pattern 4184

Pattern King Cole 4184 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering two classic cardigan designs for adults: a V-neck cardigan and a round neck cardigan, both knitted in the beautiful King Cole Opium Palette chunky-weight yarn. This intermediate-level pattern covers a generous size range of 71/76 cm to 112/117 cm (28/30 in to 44/46 in), making it suitable for a wide variety of figures. The two neckline variations give knitters a choice of style while working from the same core construction, making this pattern excellent value for those who enjoy having options.

About the Designs

V-Neck Cardigan

The V-neck cardigan is a timeless, flattering design that features a deep V-shaped neckline worked with careful neck shaping. The construction involves raglan sleeve shaping, a technique where the sleeves and body are decreased simultaneously to create a smooth, diagonal seam line from the underarm to the neckline. This gives the finished garment a neat, tailored fit across the shoulders without the need for a traditional set-in sleeve. The V-neck shaping requires the knitter to decrease stitches at the neck edge and raglan edge at the same time, which is a satisfying and engaging process for those with some knitting experience.

Round Neck Cardigan

The round neck cardigan shares the same raglan construction as its V-neck counterpart but features a classic, rounded neckline that is universally flattering and easy to wear. The round neck version is an ideal choice for those who prefer a more traditional cardigan silhouette. Like the V-neck design, it is worked using raglan shaping techniques and the same chunky yarn, meaning both cardigans have a cosy, substantial feel that is perfect for cooler weather.

Construction and Techniques

Both cardigans in this pattern are constructed using flat knitting, meaning the individual pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves — are worked separately and then seamed together. The key structural technique throughout is raglan shaping, which involves working regular decreases at set intervals on both the body and sleeve pieces so that all four pieces taper neatly toward the neckline. This is a classic and highly practical construction method that distributes ease evenly and results in a comfortable, well-fitting garment.

The pattern includes detailed row-by-row instructions for managing simultaneous decreases — for example, decreasing at the raglan edge and neck edge in the same rows. This requires careful attention to the instructions but produces a beautifully clean finish. Knitters working through this pattern will gain confidence in managing multiple shaping sequences at once, which is a hallmark of intermediate-level knitting.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) – the foundation stitch used throughout the main body fabric
• Purl stitch (P) – used in combination with knit stitches to create the fabric texture and in shaping rows
• K2tog (knit two together) – a right-leaning decrease used in raglan and neck shaping
• P2tog (purl two together) – a decrease worked on purl rows for shaping
• P2togtbl (purl two together through the back loop) – a left-leaning decrease on purl rows, used to mirror shaping neatly
• Cast on – the back piece begins with a cast on of 77 to 115 stitches depending on size, using 3.25mm needles

Materials and Needles

Both cardigans are designed to be knitted in King Cole Opium Palette, a chunky-weight yarn that is part of King Cole's popular Opium range. The Palette colourway features a beautifully blended, multi-tonal effect that adds visual interest to even the simplest stitch patterns, meaning the fabric itself becomes a feature of the finished garment without the need for complex colourwork techniques.

The pattern specifies 3.25mm knitting needles for at least part of the construction — typically used for the ribbed edgings and borders — with larger needles used for the main body fabric in accordance with the stated tension