Ladies' Sweaters in King Cole Drifter Chunky - 4601 - Downloadable PDF

Ladies' Sweaters in King Cole Drifter Chunky – Pattern 4601

Pattern 4601 from King Cole is a knitting pattern for ladies' sweaters, offering a range of sizes from 81/86 cm to 102/107 cm (32/34 in to 40/42 in), including larger sizes. Rated at an intermediate difficulty level, this downloadable PDF pattern is a rewarding project for knitters who are comfortable with standard shaping techniques and are ready to work with chunky-weight yarn for a satisfying, quick-to-knit result.

This pattern is part of King Cole's commitment to charitable giving — for every King Cole pattern purchased, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation, making this a feel-good project in more ways than one.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces ladies' sweaters knitted in King Cole Drifter Chunky yarn. The sweater designs are classic in construction, worked in pieces and suited to everyday wear. The chunky weight of the yarn means the finished garments have a cosy, substantial feel, ideal for cooler seasons. Multiple sizes are included, making the pattern versatile for a range of body shapes.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: King Cole Drifter Chunky — a chunky-weight yarn known for its softly variegated, tonal colour effects created through a unique spinning technique that blends different coloured fibres together.
• Needles: 6 mm knitting needles, or the size required to achieve the correct tension. The pattern advises adjusting needle size up or down as needed to match tension.

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 14 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch using 6 mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential to ensure the finished sweater matches the intended measurements. Knitters are advised to work a tension swatch before beginning — if fewer stitches are achieved, switch to thinner needles; if more stitches are achieved, switch to thicker needles.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stocking stitch — the primary fabric stitch, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic jersey fabric.
• Knit (k) and purl (p) stitches form the foundation of the pattern throughout.
• Increasing (inc) — used to shape the body and sleeves as the knitting progresses.
• Decreasing (dec) — used for armhole shaping, neckline shaping, and other fitted areas of the sweater.
• Alternating rows (alt) — shaping is worked on alternate rows in places, a common intermediate technique that creates smooth, gradual curves rather than abrupt steps.
• Remaining stitches (rem) and following rows (foll) — standard construction techniques used throughout the shaping sections.

Construction Approach

The sweaters are constructed using traditional flat knitting techniques, working the front, back, and sleeves as separate pieces before seaming. This method is well-suited to intermediate knitters who are familiar with reading shaping instructions and working increases and decreases at row intervals. The use of King Cole Drifter Chunky yarn means the fabric grows quickly on the needles, making this an achievable and enjoyable project without requiring an excessive time commitment.

Sizing

• Bust sizes covered: 81/86 cm, and up to 102/107 cm (32/34 in to 40/42 in)
• Larger sizes included within the same pattern leaflet
• Knitters are encouraged to circle the size they wish to make before beginning, as multiple size instructions are presented together throughout the pattern.

Why Choose This Pattern

King Cole Drifter Chunky is a popular yarn choice for sweater knitting because its self-striping, tonal colour variations add visual interest without requiring any complex colourwork techniques — the yarn does the decorative work for you. Combined with the straightforward stocking stitch construction of pattern