Sweater & Vest in King Cole Cottonsoft Crush DK - 4770 - Downloadable PDF

Sweater & Vest Knitting Pattern – King Cole Cottonsoft Crush DK (Pattern 4770)

This King Cole pattern 4770 is a downloadable PDF providing instructions for two classic knitwear designs: a fitted sweater with set-in sleeves and a sleeveless vest. Both garments are knitted in King Cole Cottonsoft Crush DK yarn and are sized to fit a range of chest measurements from 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in), making this pattern suitable for a wide spectrum of sizes including larger sizes. The pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty, making it ideal for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques and are ready to develop their skills further.

About the Designs

The Sweater

The sweater is a classic, elegant knit featuring a garter stitch border transitioning into a stocking stitch body, giving the finished garment a clean, polished appearance. A distinctive design detail is the central V-shaped or chevron shaping worked on both the back and front panels, created by working decreases around a marked centre stitch. This creates a subtle, flattering visual line running through the fabric. The sweater includes set-in sleeves, which are worked separately and shaped at the top to fit neatly into the armhole, giving the garment a tailored, structured silhouette.

The back is cast on using the thumb method and begins with a garter stitch section before the main stocking stitch pattern begins. Shoulder shaping is achieved through a series of cast-offs, and stitches are left on a holder for neat neckline finishing. The front follows the same construction as the back up to a given point, after which neckline shaping diverges to create the front neckline. The sleeves are worked identically for both arms, beginning on smaller needles with a garter stitch cuff before changing to larger needles for the stocking stitch body of the sleeve, with regular increases worked to shape the sleeve from cuff to underarm.

The Vest

The vest is a sleeveless companion design, sharing the same yarn and general construction approach as the sweater but omitting the sleeves entirely. Like the sweater, it features the characteristic garter stitch edging and stocking stitch body, making it a versatile layering piece suitable for warmer weather or wearing over a shirt or blouse. The vest is an excellent project for knitters who want to practise body shaping techniques without the additional challenge of sleeve construction.

Techniques Used

• Thumb method cast-on – used throughout for both the body pieces and sleeves, this method creates a neat, slightly elastic edge well suited to garment knitting
• Garter stitch (g-st) – formed by knitting every row, used for the lower borders and cuffs to create a firm, non-curling edge
• Stocking stitch (st-st) – the main fabric of both garments, formed by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic finish
• Central double decrease – a key shaping technique in this pattern, worked by slipping two stitches as if to k2tog, knitting one stitch, then passing the two slipped stitches over; this creates a neat, symmetrical decrease around a marked centre stitch
• Paired decreases – used at the edges of panels for armhole, sleeve top, and neckline shaping, including k2tog and p2tog decreases
• Increases (inc) – worked into the first stitch of a row to shape the sleeve from cuff to underarm
• Shoulder shaping by cast-off – stitches are cast off in stages at the beginning of rows to create a neat, angled shoulder seam
• Stitch holders – used to hold neckline stitches live for later finishing
• Tension/gauge swatch – the pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch, and knitters are advised to adjust needle size accordingly to achieve the correct gauge

Stitches Used