Waistcoat and Cardigans in King Cole Baby Pure DK - 4903 - Downloadable PDF

Waistcoat and Cardigans Knitting Pattern – King Cole Baby Pure DK (Pattern 4903)

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents a collection of classic baby knitwear designs, including a waistcoat and cardigans, all worked in King Cole Baby Pure DK yarn. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is designed to fit chest sizes ranging from 36 cm to 56 cm (14 in to 22 in), making it suitable for babies and young toddlers across a range of ages and sizes. Each pattern purchase contributes a donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation, adding a charitable dimension to every project.

About the Designs

Waistcoat

The waistcoat is a sleeveless layering piece, ideal for keeping little ones warm without restricting arm movement. It features a structured front opening and a neat, fitted silhouette. The design is worked in sections — including a Left Front, Right Front, and Back — with armhole shaping and shoulder seams joined upon completion. A key finishing detail is the border, which is picked up using a 3.25mm circular needle commencing at the lower edge of the Right Front, with stitches picked up evenly along the straight front edges. This creates a clean, professional finish around the entire front opening and neckline.

The body of the waistcoat is worked in a textured stitch pattern based on a combination of knit and purl stitches arranged in a repeating sequence. The pattern is set over four rows, with the first and third rows working a P1, K2 repeat and the fourth row worked as a plain knit row, creating a subtle raised texture across the fabric. Armhole shaping is worked by decreasing stitches at the appropriate points, and work continues without further shaping until the armholes reach the specified depth before casting off in pattern.

Cardigans

The cardigan designs in this pattern share the same yarn and needle specifications as the waistcoat but introduce sleeves and additional shaping to create a complete, wearable baby garment. Cardigans of this style are traditionally worked in separate pieces — back, two fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together. The front bands and neckline are typically finished with a picked-up border or ribbed edging, giving the garment a tidy, structured appearance. Buttonholes may be incorporated into one of the front bands to allow for fastening.

As with the waistcoat, the cardigans make use of the same 1x1 rib for welts and cuffs, providing elasticity and a snug fit at the lower edges and sleeve ends. The body fabric transitions into the main textured stitch pattern above the ribbing, maintaining visual consistency across all the designs in the leaflet.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• 1x1 Rib: Worked over an odd number of stitches by alternating knit and purl stitches across each row. The first row works K1, P1 to the last stitch then K1; the second row begins with P1 and continues K1, P1 to the end. This rib is repeated to form the welt and cuff sections.
• Textured Stitch Pattern: A four-row repeat combining P1, K2 sequences with a plain knit row, creating a raised, structured surface texture across the main body of each garment.
• M1p (Make One Purlwise): An increase technique where the horizontal loop between the last and next stitch is picked up and purled through the back of the loop, creating a neat, almost invisible increase that maintains the integrity of the purl fabric.
• Slip Stitch Edge: The first stitch of certain rows is slipped knitways (s1), creating a neat selvedge edge, particularly useful along front opening edges before the border is applied.
• Armhole Shaping: Worked through decreasing stitches at the beginning of rows at the appropriate points, after which work continues straight until the armhole reaches the required depth.
• Picking Up Stitches: With right side facing, stitches are picked up and knitted evenly along front edges using a 3.25mm circular needle to work the border in one continuous piece.
• Casting Off in Pattern: Stitches are cast off while maintaining the established stitch pattern, ensuring the cast-off edge is