Sweaters in King Cole Stripe DK - 5597 - Downloadable PDF

Sweaters in King Cole Stripe DK – Pattern 5597

This King Cole pattern 5597 is a downloadable PDF offering instructions for knitted sweaters worked in King Cole Stripe DK yarn. The pattern covers a wide range of sizes, from 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in) chest measurements, making it suitable for a broad range of adults. Rated as an intermediate level knitting project, this pattern is ideal for knitters who are comfortable with standard techniques and ready to take on more structured stitch work, including cable panels.

As with all King Cole patterns, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every purchase, adding a charitable dimension to your crafting.

Garment Design

The pattern features sweaters — classic, wearable knitwear designed to be both practical and stylish. The use of King Cole Stripe DK yarn means the colour patterning is built into the yarn itself, creating attractive striped effects without the need for complex colourwork techniques such as intarsia or Fair Isle. This makes the design accessible to intermediate knitters while still producing a visually striking finished garment.

A notable design feature is the inclusion of a cable panel, which adds texture and structure to the sweater. The cable panel measures 8 cm (3¼ in) in width and is worked over 26 stitches, providing a bold focal point against the striped stocking stitch background.

Techniques Used

• Stocking stitch – the primary fabric of the sweater body, worked in alternating knit and purl rows to create a smooth, classic surface that showcases the self-striping yarn beautifully
• Cable knitting – a textured technique involving crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle, creating twisted rope-like patterns; the specific cable used is C10B, which involves slipping 5 stitches onto a cable needle and leaving them at the back of the work before knitting
• Rib stitch – used for sleeve ribbing and likely for cuffs and hems, providing elasticity and a neat, fitted finish; the sleeve rib tension is measured separately at 26 sts and 30 rows to 10 cm on 3¾ mm needles
• Increasing and decreasing – standard shaping techniques used to form the garment's silhouette, including armhole and neckline shaping
• Working from a tension swatch – the pattern emphasises checking tension carefully, with guidance to switch to thinner needles if fewer stitches are achieved and thicker needles if more stitches result

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) and purl (p) – the fundamental stitches forming all fabric in the pattern
• Stocking stitch – alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side
• Rib stitch – alternating knit and purl stitches within the same row for stretchy edgings
• C10B (Cable 10 Back) – a 10-stitch cable crossing worked by slipping 5 stitches to a cable needle held at the back, knitting the next 5 stitches, then knitting the held stitches; this creates a bold rightward-twisting cable rope effect

Materials

Yarn

The pattern is designed specifically for King Cole Stripe DK, a double knitting (DK) weight yarn. This yarn is self-striping, meaning it changes colour automatically as you knit, producing even, consistent stripes without any yarn joining or colour management by the knitter. DK weight yarn is a versatile, medium-light weight widely used for garments, offering good stitch definition and a comfortable drape.

Needles

• 4 mm needles – used for the main body fabric in stocking stitch, achieving a tension of 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in)
• 3¾ mm needles – used for the sleeve rib sections, achieving a tension of