Sweaters Knitted in King Cole Island Beaches DK - 5738 - Downloadable PDF

Sweaters Knitted in King Cole Island Beaches DK – Pattern 5738: Full Summary

Pattern 5738 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering instructions for sweaters and jumpers worked in double knit (DK) weight yarn. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is designed to fit chest sizes ranging from 81 cm to 107 cm (32 in to 42 in), making it suitable for a broad range of adult sizes. Although the PDF references King Cole Drifter Aran in its tension section, the product is presented as a design knitted in King Cole Island Beaches DK, a yarn celebrated for its subtly variegated, multicolour palette that evokes coastal and seaside tones.

Garments Included in This Pattern

V Neck Sweater

The primary design featured in pattern 5738 is a classic V neck sweater. This garment is constructed in separate pieces — including a Back — which are then seamed together in the traditional flat-knitting method. The V neck shaping gives the finished sweater a timeless, versatile silhouette that works equally well for casual and smart-casual occasions. The body of the sweater features a 16-row repeating lace and cable-inspired stitch pattern that adds elegant textural interest, complemented by a neat rib border at the cast-on edge.

Techniques Used

• Flat knitting — all pieces are worked back and forth in rows on straight or circular needles, then seamed
• Tension/gauge swatching — the pattern strongly emphasises checking tension before beginning, with guidance on adjusting needle size accordingly
• Shaping — including increases (inc) and decreases (dec) to form the V neck and armhole shaping
• V neck shaping — worked by dividing stitches at the centre front and working each side separately
• Seaming — joining front, back, and sleeves using standard finishing techniques
• Lace patterning — yarn-over movements create decorative eyelets within the body pattern repeat

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st-st) — right side knit, wrong side purl; used as a foundation fabric in various sections
• Reversed stocking stitch (rev st-st) — right side purl, wrong side knit; adds textural contrast
• Garter stitch (gst) — every row knit; typically used for borders or detail sections
• 1×1 rib — alternating K1, P1 across the row, used for the cast-on welt and cuffs to provide elasticity and a neat finish
• Lace pattern stitches — including yfwd (yarn forward), yon (yarn over needle), yrn (yarn round needle) to create decorative yarn-over eyelets
• K2tog (knit two together) — a right-leaning decrease used within the lace pattern repeat
• sl1, K1, psso (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over) — a left-leaning decrease paired with yarn-overs in the lace motif
• P2tog (purl two together) — a decrease worked on wrong-side rows within the pattern
• P2tog tbs (purl two together through back of stitches) — a directional decrease on purl rows for balanced lace shaping
• Knit and purl combinations — the 16-row body pattern alternates knit and purl panels to create a fabric with both visual and tactile depth

Stitch Pattern Detail

The main body fabric is worked over a 16-row repeat, combining columns of knit and purl stitches with travelling yarn-over increases and paired decreases. This creates a flowing, lace-like texture reminiscent of gentle wave or ripple motifs — a design choice that complements the coastal colour story of