Cardigan & Smock Top in King Cole Comfort Kids DK & Comfort Baby DK - 5111 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole 5111 – Cardigan & Smock Top Knitting Pattern in Comfort Kids DK & Comfort Baby DK

King Cole pattern 5111 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering two distinct children's designs: a classic raglan-sleeve cardigan and a smock top. Both garments are sized to fit children aged 1 to 10 years, covering chest measurements of 51–71 cm (20–28 in), making this a versatile pattern that grows with the child. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, meaning it suits knitters who are comfortable with shaping, working multiple stitch patterns simultaneously, and following multi-size instructions.

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Design 1: Raglan Sleeve Cardigan

The first design in this pattern is a raglan-sleeve cardigan worked in King Cole Comfort Kids DK or King Cole Comfort Baby DK yarn. The raglan construction is a timeless choice for children's knitwear: instead of a traditional set-in sleeve, the sleeve and body pieces are joined diagonally from the underarm to the neckline, creating a smooth, comfortable fit with excellent freedom of movement — ideal for active children.

Construction and Shaping

The cardigan is worked in separate pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. Raglan shaping is achieved through paired decreases worked on right-side rows, using techniques such as K2tog (knit two together) and sl1, K1, psso (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over), which create neat, mirrored decrease lines running diagonally across the yoke. The pattern specifies the exact stitch counts at each stage for all five sizes, so knitters must circle their chosen size before beginning.

Stitch Patterns Used

• Stocking stitch (st-st) – the main fabric of the cardigan body and sleeves, worked with knit on the right side and purl on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic finish.
• Moss stitch (moss-st) – used for borders and edgings, created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a specific sequence to produce a textured, non-curling fabric. The pattern notes a separate tension for moss stitch: 22 sts and 32 rows to 10 cm over moss stitch on 4 mm needles.
• Garter stitch (gst) – every row knitted, referenced in the abbreviations and used for structural edging details.
• Reversed stocking stitch (rev st-st) – purl on the right side and knit on the wrong side, referenced in the pattern abbreviations for decorative contrast sections.

Key Techniques

• Raglan sleeve shaping with mirrored decreases
• Casting on and working multiple stitch patterns in the same row
• Working through the back of stitches (tbs) for a twisted, firmer stitch appearance, particularly in moss-stitch borders
• Using yarn forward (yfwd), yarn over needle (yon), and yarn round needle (yrn) for decorative or structural purposes
• Multi-size pattern reading — five sizes are given throughout, requiring the knitter to identify and follow their chosen size consistently

Tension

Two tension measurements are given for the cardigan. Over stocking stitch: 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) on 4 mm needles. Over moss stitch: 22 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm (4 in) on 4 mm needles. Checking tension before starting is strongly recommended, as the row-per-10 cm difference between the two stitch types is significant and will affect the finished length of edgings and borders.

Design 2: Smock Top

The second design in pattern 5111 is a smock