Sweater & Tunic in King Cole Stripe DK - 5715pdf - Downloadable PDF

Sweater & Tunic in King Cole Stripe DK – Pattern 5715

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents two classic designs — a sweater and a tunic — both knitted in King Cole DK yarn. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and covers a generous size range of 81–107 cm (32–42 in) chest, making it suitable for a wide range of adult figures. As with all King Cole patterns, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every purchase.

What Is Being Made

The pattern includes instructions for two separate garments:

• A Sweater — a classic, everyday pullover worked in DK weight yarn, designed for a comfortable, wearable fit across multiple sizes.
• A Tunic — a longer-length version of the same basic silhouette, offering additional coverage and a relaxed, contemporary style that can be worn over leggings or slim-fit trousers.

Both garments are knitted flat in pieces and seamed together, which is a traditional construction method well suited to intermediate knitters looking to build confidence with shaping and finishing techniques.

Techniques Used

As an intermediate-level pattern, this design calls upon a range of standard knitting construction techniques:

• Flat knitting — worked back and forth in rows to create the front, back, and sleeves as separate panels
• Tension/gauge swatching — the pattern strongly emphasises checking tension before beginning, a key intermediate skill
• Shaping — including armhole, neckline, and sleeve-cap shaping using increases and decreases
• Seaming and finishing — joining knitted pieces together to complete the garment
• Decreasing — using techniques such as knitting two stitches together (tog) and pass slipped stitch over (psso)
• Slipping stitches — used within pattern and shaping rows

Stitches Used

The garments are constructed using a combination of foundational knitting stitches and a defined stitch pattern:

• Stocking stitch (st-st) — the primary fabric stitch, worked with knit on the right side and purl on the wrong side, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) — the two fundamental stitches that form the basis of all construction
• Pattern stitch (patt) — a defined stitch pattern is used throughout, with tension measured over this pattern at 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) on 4 mm needles
• Slip stitch (sl) — used in shaping and pattern sequences
• Yarn forward (yfwd) — used to create decorative or structural effects within the stitch pattern
• Through back of stitch (tbs) — a technique used to twist stitches for a neater finish in certain decrease or pattern sequences

Materials – Yarn and Needles

Both the sweater and tunic are designed to be knitted in King Cole DK weight yarn. The pattern is specifically written for a striped DK yarn, suggesting the use of King Cole's self-striping or multi-coloured DK range, which creates visual interest without the need to manually change colours. DK (double knit) is one of the most popular yarn weights in the UK, offering a satisfying balance between speed of knitting and fabric drape.

• Yarn: King Cole DK (double knit weight)
• Needles: 4 mm knitting needles are specified for the main tension swatch and garment fabric
• Tension: 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over pattern on 4 mm needles

A Note on Tension