Sweater & Cardigan in King Cole Drifter DK - 4955 - Downloadable PDF

Sweater & Cardigan in King Cole Drifter DK

What Is Being Made

This downloadable knitting pattern from King Cole offers instructions for creating both a sweater and a cardigan design. Both garments feature raglan sleeves and are sized to fit chest measurements ranging from 81 to 107 centimeters (32 to 42 inches), making them suitable for a range of adult sizes. The pattern provides complete guidance for knitting either a pullover sweater or a button-front cardigan, allowing crafters to choose their preferred style.

Yarn and Materials

These garments are designed to be knitted using King Cole Drifter DK, a double knit weight yarn. The pattern requires 4mm knitting needles for working the main fabric. Double knit yarn is a versatile medium weight that creates garments with good drape and structure, making it ideal for both sweaters and cardigans that maintain their shape well during wear.

Knitting Techniques and Construction

The sweater and cardigan feature raglan sleeve construction, a classic technique where the sleeves are increased gradually from the cuff to the neckline, creating diagonal seam lines from the underarm to the shoulder. This construction method provides excellent fit and comfort while minimizing seaming work.

The pattern utilizes standard knitting abbreviations and stitch techniques commonly found in intermediate-level designs. Crafters will work with fundamental knitting operations including increases and decreases to shape the raglan sleeves, as well as techniques for managing stitches at various stages of construction.

Stitches Used

• Stocking Stitch (st-st): The primary fabric stitch, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic knit appearance
• Garter Stitch (gst): Formed by knitting every row, creating a textured, reversible fabric often used for borders and ribbing
• Patterned Stitches: The design incorporates a stitch pattern worked over the main body, with tension specifications provided for pattern repeat sections
• Reversed Stocking Stitch (rev st-st): The inverse of standard stocking stitch, with purl stitches on the right side and knit stitches on the wrong side, used selectively in the design

Tension and Gauge

Achieving proper tension is critical for garment fit. The pattern specifies 30 stitches and 28 rows to 10 centimeters (4 inches) over the stitch pattern on 4mm needles, and 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 centimeters (4 inches) over stocking stitch on 4mm needles. Knitters are advised to knit a tension swatch before beginning the garment to ensure their personal gauge matches these specifications, as variations in tension will affect the final garment size.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle garment construction projects. The intermediate classification reflects the complexity of shaping raglan sleeves, managing multiple stitch techniques, and assembling a fitted garment.

Pattern Format

This is a downloadable PDF pattern, allowing immediate access to complete instructions for both the sweater and cardigan variations. The digital format provides convenient reference while working on your project.

Charitable Contribution

For every King Cole pattern purchased, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation, allowing crafters to support charitable causes while enjoying their creative projects.