Baby Cardies and Beret in King Cole Cherished and Cherish DK - 4193 - Downloadable PDF

Baby Cardies and Beret in King Cole Cherished and Cherish DK – Pattern 4193

This King Cole pattern 4193 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern designed for babies and young children, offering a charming set of baby cardigans (cardies) and a beret. The pattern is worked in Double Knit (DK) weight yarn and is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and garment construction but looking to develop their skills further. Sizes range from 41 cm to 66 cm (16 in to 26 in) chest, covering a generous span of baby and toddler sizes.

For every King Cole pattern purchased, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation, so buying this pattern also supports a worthwhile charitable cause.

Garments Included

Baby Cardigans

The pattern includes baby cardigans — classic, timeless garments that are perennial favourites for handknitted baby gifts and layette sets. The cardigans feature a Right Front and corresponding construction sections, indicating a traditional set-in or drop-shoulder style with separate front panels joined to a back. The fronts are picked up along the cast-on edge of the back, with stitches picked up evenly to ensure a neat, professional finish — a technique that gives the garment structure and helps it lie flat.

The cardigans are worked across multiple sizes, and knitters are advised to circle the size they wish to make before beginning, a helpful approach when working from a multi-size pattern. Shaping is achieved through increases and decreases worked at key points in the construction.

Beret

The pattern also includes a beret to coordinate with the cardigans, creating a matching set ideal for gifting or dressing a baby or toddler. A beret is a classic circular hat style, typically worked from the brim upward with increases to form the crown and then decreases to shape the top. Worked in the same DK yarn, it will complement the cardigans beautifully.

Techniques Used

• Stocking stitch — the primary fabric of the garments, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic finish ideal for baby garments
• Thumb method cast-on — specified for casting on stitches, this technique creates a firm, elastic edge well suited to garment borders
• Picking up stitches along cast-on edges — used to join sections and create neat, integrated bands or borders
• Increasing and decreasing — used for garment shaping throughout
• Working in pattern (patt) — maintaining established stitch patterns across shaping rows
• Right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) awareness — the pattern distinguishes between RS and WS rows, essential for correct stocking stitch and any textural details
• Yarn forward (yfwd) — referenced in the abbreviations, suggesting decorative or functional yarn-over techniques, potentially used for buttonholes or lace detailing

Stitches Used

• Knit (k)
• Purl (p)
• Stocking stitch — knit on RS rows, purl on WS rows
• Yarn forward (yfwd) — creates an extra stitch, commonly used for eyelets or buttonholes
• Increases (inc) and decreases (dec) — for shaping
• Knit two together (tog) — a standard decrease stitch

Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch using 4 mm needles, or the needle size required to achieve the correct tension. Knitters are advised to check their tension carefully — using thinner needles if fewer stitches are produced per 10 cm, and thicker needles if more stitches are produced. Achieving the correct tension is especially important in baby garments