Sweater & Cardigan in King Cole Wildwood Chunky - 5891PDF - Downloadable PDF

King Cole 5891: Sweater & Cardigan Knitted in King Cole Wildwood Chunky — Pattern Summary

Pattern King Cole 5891 is a knitting pattern offering two classic, cosy designs for adults: a pullover sweater and a cardigan, both worked in the luxuriously textured King Cole Wildwood Chunky yarn. The pattern covers a generous size range of 86–122 cm (34–48 in) chest, making it accessible to a wide range of body types. Rated as an intermediate level project, it is well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques and are ready to move beyond simple beginner projects.

What Is Being Made

The pattern contains instructions for two separate garments:

• A pullover sweater — a classic over-the-head style knitted in a straightforward, relaxed silhouette ideal for everyday wear.
• A cardigan — an open-front version of the same design, offering versatility as a layering piece across seasons.

Both garments feature set-in or structured sleeves, with the pattern specifically referencing a left sleeve construction with markers placed at each end of a designated row, indicating shaped sleeve construction typical of classic knitwear design. The chunky weight of the yarn means both garments work up relatively quickly compared to lighter-weight projects, making them satisfying makes for intermediate knitters.

Yarn and Materials

Both designs are worked exclusively in King Cole Wildwood Chunky, a chunky weight yarn from the King Cole brand. Wildwood Chunky is known for its rich, nature-inspired colourways and its blend that gives a warm, rustic aesthetic — perfectly suited to cosy knitwear. The chunky weight classification means the yarn knits up quickly on larger needles, producing a warm, substantial fabric with excellent stitch definition in textured patterns.

• Yarn: King Cole Wildwood Chunky
• Needles: 5.5mm knitting needles are specified as the primary needle size for the main fabric

Tension

The stated tension for both garments is 16 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm (4 in) measured over garter stitch on 5.5mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential before beginning either garment. The pattern advises knitters to work a tension square first: if fewer stitches or rows than stated are achieved over 10 cm, switch to finer needles; if more stitches or rows are achieved, switch to larger needles. This step is particularly important in chunky-weight projects, where even small tension variations can significantly affect the finished dimensions of the garment.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure used throughout both garments is garter stitch, in which every row is knitted. Garter stitch is one of the most beginner-friendly yet visually appealing stitch patterns in knitting — it lies flat without curling, creates a ridged, elastic fabric, and is highly forgiving. Working a chunky yarn in garter stitch produces a dense, warm fabric with excellent drape and texture. Additional stitches and techniques referenced in the abbreviations include:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) — the two fundamental knitting stitches
• Garter stitch (gst) — every row knitted, forming the main fabric of both garments
• Slip stitch (sl) — used in shaping and decorative details
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso) — a decrease technique used in shaping
• Yarn forward (yfwd) and yarn back (ybk) — used to create yarn-over effects and manage yarn position during stitch transitions
• Increase (inc) and Decrease (dec) — standard shaping techniques used to form the sleeves, armholes, and neckline
• Knitting two stitches together (tog) — a common decrease method

Techniques Used