Blanket, Jacket, Cardigan and Hat in King Cole DK - 4007 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole DK Pattern 4007 – Blanket, Jacket, Cardigan and Hat for Premature Babies to 12 Months

King Cole pattern 4007 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern designed for the tiniest recipients of all — premature babies right through to 12 months old. The pattern covers four separate designs: a cosy blanket, a jacket, a cardigan with cap sleeves, and a matching hat. Chest sizes range from 31 cm to 51 cm (12–20 inches), making this a wonderfully versatile collection for newborn and baby knitwear. This is rated as an intermediate knitting project, making it ideal for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping, working pieces in one, and reading multi-size pattern instructions.

King Cole also notes that a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation for every King Cole pattern purchased, adding a charitable dimension to every project made from this collection.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

All four designs in this pattern are knitted using King Cole DK (double knit) weight yarn. DK is one of the most popular yarn weights for baby knitting — it works up quickly, produces a fabric with excellent stitch definition, and is widely available in a broad range of soft, baby-appropriate fibres. Knitters should always check the ball band of their chosen King Cole DK yarn for fibre content and care instructions, particularly when knitting for newborns and premature babies.

The pattern calls for two needle sizes to achieve the correct tension and fabric quality across the different stitch patterns used:

• 3.25 mm needles — used for ribbed and garter stitch borders and edgings
• 3.75 mm needles — used for certain cast-on and foundation sections
• 4 mm needles — used for the main body fabric worked in stocking stitch and the slip-stitch pattern
• 4.5 mm needles — referenced for specific pattern sections with an adjusted tension

Tension

Achieving the correct tension is essential when knitting baby garments, where even small differences in stitch gauge can significantly affect the finished size. The pattern specifies:

• 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch and the main pattern on 4 mm needles
• 21 stitches and 26 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over pattern on 4.5 mm needles

Knitters are strongly advised to work a tension square before beginning any of the four designs and to adjust needle size accordingly — moving to larger needles if the stitch count is too tight, or smaller needles if the fabric is too loose.

The Blanket

The blanket is a classic baby knit — a comforting, practical piece that works beautifully as a pram cover, cot blanket, or swaddling layer. Worked in King Cole DK, the blanket makes excellent use of the textural stitch patterns featured throughout the collection, including garter stitch borders for a neat, non-curling edge. Garter stitch — where every row is knitted — is one of the most beginner-friendly and durable stitch patterns in knitting, producing a ridged, reversible fabric that lies flat without blocking.

The Jacket

The baby jacket is a neat, structured garment designed to fit snugly over a baby's clothing. Like the cardigan, the jacket body is worked in one piece to the armholes, which reduces the number of seams required and creates a cleaner finish — a technique particularly appreciated when making garments for delicate premature babies. The jacket features:

• Garter stitch (gst) borders — worked on the smaller 3.25 mm needles for a firm, tidy edge
• A slip-stitch pattern for the main body fabric — a technique where selected stitches are slipped rather than knitted, creating a subtle woven or textured visual effect without requiring complex colourwork
• Shaping through cast-off rows at the armholes and decrease rows to shape the crown and cap sections

The Cardigan with Cap Sleeves