Sweater & Cardigan in King Cole Sprite DK - 4573 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Sprite DK Sweater & Cardigan – Pattern 4573

This King Cole pattern 4573 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering two classic garments in one: a pullover sweater and a cardigan, both featuring a distinctive raglan sleeve construction. Designed for intermediate knitters, the pattern covers a wide range of adult sizes from 71/76 cm (28/30 in) up to 112/117 cm (44/46 in) chest, making it a versatile wardrobe staple suitable for a broad range of body types.

Garments Included

• Raglan Sleeve Sweater – A classic pullover worked in stocking stitch with fully fashioned raglan shaping for a neat, tailored finish at the armhole and sleeve head.
• Raglan Sleeve Cardigan – A matching open-front cardigan sharing the same raglan construction and stitch pattern, offering a coordinated set that can be worn together or separately.

Construction and Design Details

Both garments are built around the raglan sleeve method, a beloved construction technique in which the sleeves and body are shaped simultaneously so that diagonal seam lines run from the underarm up to the neckline. This creates a smooth, comfortable fit across the shoulders without the need for a traditional set-in sleeve. The raglans in this pattern are described as fully fashioned, meaning the decreases are worked a stitch or two in from the edge, leaving a visible and decorative decrease line — a hallmark of quality hand knitting that gives the finished garment a professional, refined appearance.

Fully fashioned shaping is a technique worth noting for its practical and aesthetic value. Rather than simply decreasing at the very edge of the fabric, stitches are worked to a set position before the decrease is made, producing a clean ladder or chain effect along the raglan line. This detail elevates the look of the finished piece and is a key feature of this intermediate-level design.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stocking Stitch – The primary fabric stitch, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. It produces a smooth, flat surface on the right side and a textured reverse.
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – The two fundamental knitting stitches used throughout.
• Fully Fashioned Decreasing – Worked at the raglan edges to create decorative and structural shaping lines.
• Slip stitch decrease (sl, k1, psso) – Slipping a stitch knitways, knitting the next stitch, then passing the slipped stitch over, used as part of the raglan shaping.
• Knitting through the back of the loop (tbl) – Used to create twisted stitches where specified, contributing to the neat appearance of the shaping.
• Increasing (inc) and Decreasing (dec) – Standard shaping techniques used throughout the sleeves and body.
• Tension/Gauge Checking – The pattern strongly emphasises checking tension before beginning; the main fabric is worked at 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch, while the raglan sections are measured at 30 rows to 10 cm (4 in) due to the fully fashioned detailing.

Materials Required

• Yarn: King Cole Sprite DK – a double knit (DK) weight yarn. DK is one of the most popular yarn weights in hand knitting, sitting between 4-ply and Aran weight, and is well suited to garments that need good stitch definition without being too heavy.
• Needles: 4 mm knitting needles, or the size required to achieve the correct tension. It is standard practice to adjust needle size up or down as needed to match the stated tension exactly, as this directly affects the finished size of the garment.

Sizing

The pattern accommodates a wide range of adult chest measurements, beginning at 71/76 cm (28/30 in) and extending up to 112/117 cm