Jacket & Gilet in King Cole Chunky - 4423 - Downloadable PDF

Jacket & Gilet Knitting Pattern – King Cole Chunky (Pattern 4423)

This intermediate-level knitting pattern from King Cole presents two classic outerwear designs in one downloadable PDF: a knitted jacket and a knitted gilet (sleeveless waistcoat). Both garments are worked in King Cole Chunky weight yarn, making them satisfying projects that knit up relatively quickly while still offering textural interest through a series of cable-style crossing stitches. The pattern covers a generous size range of 81–112 cm (32–44 in) chest, making it suitable for a wide range of adult sizes.

About the Designs

The Jacket

The jacket is a structured, knitted outerwear piece featuring a defined body, shaped armholes, and neck shaping. It is constructed in separate pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together in the traditional flat-knitting method. The fabric combines a rib border at the lower edges with a richly textured cable-cross stitch pattern throughout the main body and sleeves, giving the finished garment a tactile, visually interesting surface.

The back begins with a cast-on of 70 to 94 stitches depending on size, worked on 5.5mm needles for the rib section before moving to 6mm needles for the main pattern. Armhole shaping is achieved through decreases worked on alternate rows, and neck shaping is carefully structured to create a clean, fitted neckline. The right and left fronts mirror each other in construction, with the neck shaping adapted accordingly for each side.

The Gilet

The gilet is a sleeveless waistcoat version of the same design concept, sharing the same stitch pattern and construction approach but omitting the sleeves entirely. It is an excellent choice for knitters who want a slightly less involved project or a layering piece that works across seasons. Like the jacket, it features rib edging and the decorative crossing stitch pattern across the main fabric panels.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Rib Stitch

Both garments open with a rib border worked on 5.5mm needles. The rib is based on a K2, P4 repeat (knit 2, purl 4), creating a firm, elasticated lower edge that helps the garments sit neatly and retain their shape. This type of rib is slightly wider in its purl channels than a standard 2x2 rib, giving it a more decorative appearance while still providing stretch and recovery.

Cable Cross Pattern

The main body fabric is worked using a 12-row repeating stitch pattern built around two special cable-cross abbreviations:

• C2R (Cross 2 Right): Knit the second stitch in front of the first stitch, then knit the first stitch, slipping both stitches off the needle together. This creates a right-leaning cross without the need for a cable needle.
• C2L (Cross 2 Left): Knit the second stitch behind the first stitch, then knit the first stitch, slipping both stitches off the needle together. This creates a left-leaning cross, again without a cable needle.

These two-stitch crosses are worked across a background of knit and purl stitches in a structured 12-row sequence. The pattern alternates between right-side rows featuring the crossing stitches and wrong-side rows that are simply purled, which is a common construction in textured knitting that allows the pattern to build cleanly. The 12-row repeat includes rows where C2L and C2R are combined in different arrangements to create a travelling, interlocking visual effect across the fabric surface — similar in appearance to a rope or braid cable but achieved without a cable needle, making it more accessible for intermediate knitters.

Shaping Techniques

The pattern employs standard knitting shaping methods throughout:

• Armhole shaping via decreases worked on next and following alternate rows, maintaining the stitch pattern as much as possible while reducing the stitch count.
• Neck shaping worked by slipping stitches and casting off in stages to create a smooth, curved neckline edge.
• Straight rows worked between sh