Cardigans & Snood in King Cole Riot DK - 4234 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans & Snood Knitted in King Cole Riot DK – Pattern 4234

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents a collection of cardigans and a snood worked in the brand's popular Riot DK yarn. Designed for intermediate knitters, the pattern covers chest sizes ranging from 81 cm to 107 cm (32 in to 42 in), making it suitable for a broad range of adult sizes. The combination of wearable layering pieces — classic cardigans alongside a cosy snood — makes this an appealing multi-project pattern for those who enjoy building a coordinated handknitted wardrobe.

About King Cole Riot DK

All pieces in this pattern are worked in King Cole Riot DK, a double knit weight yarn well known for its self-striping, variegated colour sequences that create visual interest without the need for complex colourwork. The yarn's tonal shifts produce a lively, riot of colour across the finished fabric, which pairs beautifully with the clean, structured stitch patterns used throughout this design. 4 mm knitting needles are recommended to achieve the stated tension.

Tension

Two tension measurements are given, reflecting the different stitch patterns used across the garments:

• 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch on 4 mm needles
• 25 stitches and 29 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over border pattern on 4 mm needles

As with all knitting patterns, achieving the correct tension is essential to ensuring the finished garments match the intended measurements. Knitters are advised to work a tension swatch before beginning and to adjust needle size accordingly — using thinner needles if fewer stitches than stated are produced, or thicker needles if more stitches appear.

The Cardigans

Design and Construction

The cardigans in this pattern are knitted flat in separate pieces — typically front panels, back, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. This traditional construction method is well suited to intermediate knitters who are comfortable with shaping and finishing techniques. The use of King Cole Riot DK's self-striping properties means the colourwork develops naturally as you knit, with no need to manage multiple balls of yarn simultaneously.

Stitches and Techniques

• Stocking stitch — the primary body fabric, created by knitting on right side rows and purling on wrong side rows, producing a smooth, classic knitted surface
• Border pattern — a textured stitch pattern used for edgings and borders, worked at a slightly different tension to the main fabric
• Garter stitch (g-st) — every row knitted, producing a ridged, reversible fabric often used for bands and trims
• Increasing and decreasing — used to shape armholes, necklines, and sleeve heads, giving the cardigans a neat, tailored fit
• Yarn forward (yfwd) — a technique used to create decorative eyelets or as part of lace-effect detailing within the border pattern
• Slip stitch (sl 1) and pass slipped stitch over (psso) — decrease methods that contribute to clean, directional shaping on necklines and armholes

Size Range

The cardigans are sized to fit chest measurements of 81 cm to 107 cm (32 in to 42 in), covering a generous range of adult sizes within a single pattern booklet.

The Snood

Design and Construction

The snood is a circular neck warmer — essentially a wide, seamless or seamed loop of fabric worn around the neck and lower face. It is a straightforward and satisfying project that works up quickly in DK weight yarn, making it an ideal companion piece to the cardigans or a standalone accessory project. The snood benefits from the same self-striping qualities of King Cole Riot DK, allowing the yarn