Ladies' Tabards in King Cole Indulge Chunky - 4862 - Downloadable PDF

Ladies' Tabards Knitted in King Cole Indulge Chunky – Pattern 4862

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole provides instructions for knitting a set of ladies' tabards in King Cole Indulge Chunky yarn. Designed to fit bust sizes ranging from 81 cm to 122 cm (32 in to 48 in), the pattern covers larger sizes and is rated as intermediate in difficulty. A tabard is a sleeveless, open-sided garment that drapes over the front and back of the body, making it a versatile and stylish layering piece suitable for a range of occasions.

Garment Design: Long Version with Cowl Neck

The pattern includes a Long Version of the tabard, which features a distinctive cowl neck detail. The long version reaches a front length of approximately 76 to 86 cm (30 to 34 inches) depending on the size chosen, making it a substantial and cosy layering garment. The cowl neck is worked separately after the main body pieces are joined, adding a soft, draped neckline finish that suits the luxurious texture of the Indulge Chunky yarn.

Construction and Shaping

The tabard is constructed in separate back and front panels, which are then seamed together at the shoulders. Key construction details include:

• Shoulder shaping is worked on both the back and front panels to create a neat, fitted shoulder line.
• Neck shaping on the front involves placing stitches on a stitch holder at the centre front, then working each side separately with decreases at the neck edge. Decreases are worked in the first and every following fourth row to create a gradual, elegant neckline curve.
• After joining the right shoulder seam, stitches are picked up evenly along both sides of the neck and across the held stitches at both the front and back of the neck to form the cowl neck.
• The cowl neck is worked to a depth of 8 cm (3 inches) before casting off.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The pattern makes use of a combination of classic knitting stitches and techniques suited to an intermediate knitter:

• 2x2 Rib (2x2 rib stitch) – worked as k2, p2 on right side rows and p2, k2 on wrong side rows. This rib is used for the lower border of the back panel, worked over 14 rows before a decrease row reduces the stitch count to shape the body.
• Stocking stitch – the main body fabric of the tabard is worked in stocking stitch, which is knit on right side rows and purl on wrong side rows. The stated tension is based on stocking stitch.
• Pattern stitch (patt) – referenced throughout the shaping sections, indicating the established stitch pattern is continued while working increases or decreases.
• Thumb method cast on – specified for casting on the initial stitches of the back panel, a technique that creates a firm, elastic edge.
• Picking up and knitting stitches – used to gather stitches evenly around the neckline from both sides and from stitch holders to begin the cowl neck section.
• Stitch holders – used to hold live stitches at the front and back neck while other sections are worked, a standard technique in garment knitting for managing multiple sections simultaneously.
• Decreasing (dec) – used for both neck shaping and the transition row between the rib border and the main body, where p2tog decreases are worked at regular intervals to reduce the stitch count smoothly.

Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 14 stitches and 21 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch. Achieving the correct tension is essential to ensure the finished tabard matches the intended sizing. Knitters are advised to adjust needle size accordingly — using thinner needles if fewer stitches are achieved per 10 cm, or thicker needles if more stitches are achieved.

Materials: Yarn