Girls Lace Cardigan and Sweater in King Cole Big Value Baby DK - 4218 - Downloadable PDF

Girls Lace Cardigan and Sweater – King Cole Big Value Baby DK Pattern 4218

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern, King Cole pattern 4218, provides instructions for two charming girls' garments: a lace cardigan and a lace sweater. Both designs are worked in King Cole Big Value Baby DK yarn and are sized to fit chest measurements of 46–71 cm (18–28 inches), making them suitable for babies and young children across a generous range of sizes. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, meaning it is well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to explore simple lace and cable detailing.

Garments Included

• Girls Lace Cardigan – a front-opening garment featuring lace panel detailing, button bands, and a neat neckline finish.
• Girls Lace Sweater – a pullover version sharing the same lace design language, worked as a seamless or seamed construction with matching stitch patterning.

Both garments share the same decorative stitch vocabulary, giving a coordinated look while offering two distinct silhouettes. The lace detailing adds a delicate, feminine quality that makes either piece ideal for special occasions as well as everyday wear.

Techniques Used

• Lace knitting – openwork panels are incorporated into the body of both garments, creating an elegant, lightweight texture. Lace knitting typically involves a combination of yarn-over increases paired with decreases to maintain stitch count while forming decorative holes.
• Cable knitting – the pattern references a C4B (cable 4 back) stitch, which involves slipping stitches onto a cable needle and holding them at the back of the work before knitting, creating a twisted rope-like column that adds structure and visual interest alongside the lace panels.
• Ribbing – 1×1 rib (alternating knit and purl stitches) is used for welts, cuffs, and button bands, providing elasticity and a tidy, professional edge.
• Shaping – standard garment shaping techniques are used throughout, including armhole, neck, and shoulder shaping. Stitches are placed on a stitch holder during neckline construction, a common method for keeping live stitches ready to be rejoined or grafted.
• Buttonhole construction – the cardigan features worked buttonholes, formed by casting off a small number of stitches and replacing them on the following row, neatly integrated into the button band ribbing.
• Passing slipped stitches over (p2sso) – a double decrease technique referenced in the pattern's abbreviations, used within the lace sections to shape the openwork motifs precisely.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – the foundational stitches used throughout both garments in stocking stitch sections and ribbing.
• 1×1 Rib – alternating K1, P1 across rows, used for borders and cuffs.
• C4B (Cable 4 Back) – a four-stitch back cable creating a twisted column, worked as part of the decorative panel.
• Yarn over (yo) – used within the lace sections to create decorative eyelets and openwork holes.
• p2sso (pass 2 slipped stitches over) – a double decrease used to balance yarn-over increases within the lace pattern and shape the motifs.
• Stocking stitch – knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows, forming the smooth fabric of the main body sections.

Materials

Both garments are designed to be knitted in King Cole Big Value Baby DK, a double knit (DK) weight yarn. DK weight yarn is a versatile, medium-light yarn that works up quickly while still producing a fine enough fabric for delicate lace detailing. The Baby DK designation indicates the yarn is particularly soft and gentle against a child's skin, making it an ideal choice for infant and toddler knitwear. Appropriate