Waistcoat & Cardigan in King Cole Drifter Chunky - 5053 - Downloadable PDF

Waistcoat & Cardigan Knitting Pattern – King Cole Drifter Chunky (Pattern 5053)

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents two classic knitwear designs in one leaflet: a waistcoat and a cardigan, both worked in King Cole Drifter Chunky yarn. The pattern is graded as intermediate in difficulty and covers a wide range of sizes from 71/76 cm to 112/117 cm (28/30 in to 44/46 in), making it suitable for a broad range of adult figures. Each purchase of this King Cole pattern includes a donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

About the Designs

The Waistcoat

The waistcoat is a sleeveless, fitted garment worked in a textured pattern with neat garter stitch front borders. It features a button band with integrated buttonholes, making it a practical and polished piece suitable for layering. The front borders are worked as part of the knitting rather than picked up separately, which gives a clean, professional finish. Shoulder seams and side seams are joined during making up, and buttons are sewn on to complete the garment.

• Shaping: Side seam increases are worked at regular intervals — on the 11th and every following 12th row — to achieve a tailored silhouette.
• Buttonholes: A series of seven buttonholes in total are worked at regular intervals (every 9th/10th rows) along the front border, using a simple cast-off and cast-on method across two rows.
• Shoulder markers: Stitch markers are placed either side of the centre stitches to indicate shoulder placement, aiding accurate seaming.
• Front border continuity: The garter stitch front border is maintained throughout all shaping rows, ensuring a consistent edge.

The Cardigan

The cardigan shares the same yarn and core stitch pattern as the waistcoat but adds sleeves, creating a warmer, more substantial garment. Like the waistcoat, it is worked with a textured stitch pattern for the body and a garter stitch border along the front edges. The left front construction mirrors that of the waistcoat, beginning with the same cast-on and rib-style textured patterning, and the two designs share many structural techniques, making this pattern leaflet an excellent value for knitters who wish to make either or both garments.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Both garments draw on a selection of classic knitting stitches and techniques that are well within reach of an intermediate knitter:

• Textured Pattern: The main fabric is created using a repeating combination of knit and purl stitches — specifically a K2, P1 rib-style arrangement — worked across right-side and wrong-side rows to produce a subtly textured surface that complements the tonal qualities of Drifter Chunky yarn.
• Garter Stitch (G-St): Every row knit; used for the front borders to provide a firm, non-curling edge.
• Slip Stitch (S1): Stitches are slipped knitways at the beginning of border rows to create a neat selvedge.
• Increasing (inc): Working twice into a stitch to add stitches for side shaping.
• Decreasing (dec): Used in armhole and neckline shaping.
• Pass Slipped Stitch Over (psso): A decrease technique used in shaping sections.
• Buttonhole Construction: A two-row buttonhole method — casting off one stitch on the buttonhole row and casting on one stitch on the return row — creates small, neat horizontal buttonholes.
• Seaming: Shoulder seams and side seams are joined during making up using standard seaming methods.

Tension

The stated tension for both designs is 18 stitches and 24 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over the textured pattern. Achieving this tension is described in the pattern as essential. Knitters are advised to adjust needle size accordingly — moving to a