Cardigans & Sweaters in King Cole Melody DK - 4673 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans & Sweaters Knitted in King Cole Melody DK – Pattern 4673

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents a collection of cardigans and sweaters designed for babies and children, with chest sizes ranging from 31 cm to 51 cm (12 to 20 inches). Worked in King Cole Melody DK yarn, these garments are suited to intermediate knitters looking to create charming, wearable knitwear for little ones. As with all King Cole patterns, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every purchase.

About the Yarn: King Cole Melody DK

King Cole Melody DK is a double knit weight yarn, making it an ideal choice for small garments that need to be both soft and durable. DK weight yarn is one of the most versatile weights in knitting, sitting between lightweight sport yarn and heavier aran weight, and it produces a fabric with excellent stitch definition — perfect for showcasing the shaping and texture details found in these designs. The Melody DK range from King Cole is known for its smooth finish and broad colour palette, making it well suited to children's knitwear.

Needles and Tension

The pattern is worked using 4mm (US size 6) knitting needles, or whichever needle size is required to achieve the correct tension. Achieving the stated tension is emphasised as essential to ensure the finished garments match the intended sizing. The tension specification is:

• 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch using 4mm needles
• If fewer stitches than stated are achieved over 10 cm, knitters are advised to switch to a finer needle
• If more stitches than stated are achieved over 10 cm, knitters are advised to switch to a larger needle

Techniques and Construction

The garments in this pattern are constructed using classic hand knitting techniques appropriate for an intermediate skill level. Knitters working through this pattern can expect to use a range of standard and slightly more advanced methods, including:

• Shaping techniques such as increasing (inc) and decreasing (dec) to create fitted sleeves, armholes, and necklines
• Working flat on straight needles, with separate front, back, and sleeve pieces that are seamed together
• Techniques such as passing a slipped stitch over (psso) for neat, directional decreases
• Working stitches through the back of the loop (tbl) for twisted stitches where required
• Yarn forward (yfwd) movements, which may be used to create decorative eyelets or lace-effect detailing
• Alternating rows (alt) as part of structured shaping sequences

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout these designs is stocking stitch (alternating knit and purl rows), which forms the smooth, classic fabric seen on the main body and sleeves of the garments. Additional stitches and stitch patterns are likely incorporated for borders, cuffs, and button bands, which in traditional baby and children's knitwear typically include:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches as the foundation of all fabric construction
• Stocking stitch as the main body fabric, worked on the right side as knit and wrong side as purl
• Ribbing or moss stitch borders, commonly used in this style of garment for neat, non-curling edges
• Slip stitch techniques (sl1) used in shaping and decorative decrease sequences

Sizing and Suitability

The pattern covers a range of five sizes, with chest measurements from 31 cm to 51 cm (12 to 20 inches), making it suitable for babies and toddlers across a broad age range. The inclusion of multiple sizes within a single pattern makes this an