Polo Neck and Sweater in King Cole Chunky - 4385 - Downloadable PDF

Polo Neck and Sweater in King Cole Chunky – Pattern 4385

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole provides instructions for two classic knitwear designs: a polo neck sweater and a sweater, both knitted in King Cole Chunky weight yarn. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is sized to fit chest measurements of 81–107 cm (32–42 inches), covering six sizes to suit a wide range of adult figures. As with all King Cole patterns, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every purchase.

Designs Included

Polo Neck Sweater

The polo neck version features a distinctive high, rolled or folded collar that sits snugly around the neck — a timeless cold-weather staple. The body of the garment is worked in a textured lace-style pattern that adds visual interest and warmth without excessive weight, making the most of the chunky yarn's natural bulk. The polo neck collar itself is finished by slipping remaining stitches onto a thread, a technique that allows for a neat, stretchy neckline finish well-suited to a close-fitting collar.

Sweater

The second design in the pattern is a classic sweater sharing the same stitch pattern construction as the polo neck version. The front is worked exactly as given for the back up to a designated point, after which shaping diverges for the neckline. Both garments share the same back construction, beginning with a cast-on of 82, 86, 90, 94, 98, or 102 stitches depending on the chosen size, and are shaped through careful cast-off rows at the shoulders.

Techniques Used

• Tension/gauge swatch: The pattern emphasises checking tension before starting. The correct tension is 16 stitches and 16 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over pattern using 8 mm needles. Knitters are advised to switch to finer needles if too few stitches appear, or larger needles if too many.
• Lace patterning: The main body fabric uses a repeating lace-style stitch pattern incorporating yarn-overs and decreases to create an open, decorative texture. Stitch counts change within pattern rows and are only stable after specific rows (the 5th, 6th, 11th, and 12th rows of the pattern repeat).
• Shoulder shaping: Shoulders are shaped by casting off stitches at the beginning of successive rows, a standard method for creating a neat, structured shoulder seam.
• Neckline finishing: The polo neck collar is completed by slipping remaining stitches onto a thread rather than casting them off, preserving elasticity in the neckband.
• Ribbing: The lower edges are worked on 7 mm needles before switching to 8 mm needles for the main body, a common approach in chunky knitting to create a firm, non-curling welt.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) — the foundational stitches of all knitted fabric
• Stocking stitch (st-st) — right side knit, wrong side purl; creates a smooth, classic fabric
• Reversed stocking stitch (rev st-st) — right side purl, wrong side knit; produces a textured, bumpy surface
• Garter stitch (gst) — every row knitted; creates a ridged, reversible fabric often used for borders
• Yarn over needle (yon / yrn) — used to create decorative eyelets and increase stitches within the lace pattern
• Slip 1, K1, pass slipped stitch over (sl1, K1, psso) — a left-leaning decrease paired with yarn-overs in the lace repeat
• K2tog (knit two together) — a right-leaning decrease used to balance the lace pattern
• Knit through back of stitch (tbs) — creates a twisted stitch for added definition

Materials

• Yarn: King Cole