Sweater and Hooded Knitted in King Cole Subtle Drifter Chunky - 5680 - Downloadable PDF

Pattern Summary: King Cole Subtle Drifter Chunky – Sweater and Hooded Sweater (Pattern 5680)

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole includes instructions for two garments: a classic round neck sweater and a hooded sweater, both knitted in King Cole Subtle Drifter Chunky yarn. The pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty and is suitable for knitters who are comfortable working with shaping techniques, raglan construction, and rib stitch variations. Chest sizes range from 56 to 76 cm (22 to 30 inches), making this a versatile pattern that can be sized up or down across five sizes.

Purchasing this pattern contributes to a charitable cause — King Cole donates to the Pink Ribbon Foundation for every pattern sold.

Garment One: Round Neck Sweater

The round neck sweater is a classic, structured knit featuring a neat neckline and a raglan sleeve construction. Raglan shaping is one of the most popular methods in sweater knitting, creating a diagonal seam that runs from the underarm to the neckline, providing a comfortable, flexible fit without a traditional set-in sleeve seam.

Construction and Shaping

The back of the sweater is worked flat, beginning with a 2x2 rib border using 5 mm needles. The rib is formed by repeating a sequence of two knit stitches followed by two purl stitches across the row, creating a stretchy, textured band ideal for cuffs, hems, and neckbands. After the rib section, the main body is worked in stocking stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side) using 6 mm needles.

Raglan shaping begins with cast-off stitches at the beginning of rows, followed by a series of decrease rows worked at each end of the needle. Decreases are spaced across alternating rows and every fourth row depending on the size being worked, gradually tapering the fabric toward the neckline. Remaining stitches are placed on a stitch holder for later use in finishing the neckband.

Techniques Used

• 2x2 rib – used for the hem, cuffs, and neckband
• Stocking stitch – used for the main body and sleeves
• Raglan shaping – worked through paired decreases at armhole edges
• Stitch holders – used to hold stitches for neckband finishing
• Thumb method cast-on – specified for starting the back piece

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) and purl (p) – the fundamental stitches forming all fabric sections
• P2tog (purl two together) – a decrease stitch used during raglan and neck shaping
• K2, p2 rib – the 2x2 rib pattern used throughout borders

Garment Two: Hooded Sweater

The hooded sweater follows a similar construction to the round neck version but incorporates a hood in place of the traditional neckband. This makes it a more casual, contemporary option while using the same yarn, needle sizes, and core techniques. The hood is worked as an extension of the neckline, picking up stitches after the body is complete and shaping the hood with increases and decreases to create a structured, fitted finish.

Construction and Shaping

Like the round neck sweater, the hooded version is worked in stocking stitch for the main body with 2x2 rib borders at the hem and cuffs. The raglan sleeve shaping is constructed in the same manner, with decreases worked at armhole edges across alternating rows. The pattern uses both a main colour (M) and a contrast colour (C), suggesting the option of working the hood or certain sections in a complementary shade of King Cole Subtle Drifter Chunky.

The hood shaping involves careful neck edge decreases worked simultaneously with raglan