Waistcoat, Cardigan & Sweater in King Cole Splash DK - 4656 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Splash DK Pattern 4656: Waistcoat, Cardigan & Sweater Knitting Pattern

Pattern 4656 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern offering three distinct garment designs in one pack: a waistcoat, a cardigan, and a sweater. All three are knitted in King Cole Splash DK yarn, making this an excellent intermediate-level project for knitters looking to create versatile, wearable knitwear. The pattern covers chest sizes from 31 cm to 51 cm (12 in to 20 in), making it suitable for children or smaller adult sizes depending on the specific size range selected.

As part of King Cole's commitment to charitable giving, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation for every King Cole pattern purchased, adding a meaningful dimension to every project made from this pattern.

The Three Garment Designs

Waistcoat

The waistcoat is a sleeveless layering piece, ideal for adding warmth and style without the bulk of full sleeves. Waistcoats in DK weight yarn knit up relatively quickly and are a great way to showcase a variegated or textured yarn like King Cole Splash DK. The sleeveless construction means the focus falls entirely on the body shaping and stitch pattern, making tension and neat finishing particularly important.

Cardigan

The cardigan design features an open front, making it a practical and classic wardrobe staple. Cardigans knitted at DK weight offer a comfortable, mid-weight fabric suitable for year-round wear. The front opening is a defining feature of the cardigan construction, typically requiring button bands or front edgings worked in a neat, non-curling stitch such as rib or moss stitch, though knitters should refer to the pattern instructions for the specific finishing details used here.

Sweater

The sweater (also known as a jumper or pullover) is a closed-front garment with sleeves, offering full coverage and warmth. Knitted in King Cole Splash DK, the sweater design benefits from the yarn's colour variation, which adds visual interest to an otherwise straightforward construction. Like the cardigan, the sweater is worked in pieces — typically a front, back, and two sleeves — which are then seamed together for a neat, structured finish.

Techniques and Construction

All three garments in this pattern are worked using standard knitting construction methods appropriate for an intermediate skill level. Knitters should be comfortable with the following techniques:

• Stocking stitch (St-St) — the primary stitch pattern used across all three garments, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic fabric
• Decreasing — used for armhole shaping, neckline shaping, and sleeve tapering; the pattern uses standard decrease methods
• Slip stitch techniques — including sl1 (slip one stitch knitways) and psso (pass slipped stitch over), which are used in shaping sequences
• Working through the back of loop (tbl) — used to create twisted stitches for a neater finish in certain decrease or edging situations
• Yarn forward (yfwd) — used to create yarn-overs, typically for decorative detail or buttonhole construction
• Alternating rows (alt) — a standard technique used in shaping, where decreases or increases are worked on every other row
• Rib stitch — commonly used for welts, cuffs, and neckbands to provide elasticity and a neat edge
• Seaming and finishing — joining knitted pieces neatly is essential for a professional result across all three garment types

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) — the foundational stitch used throughout
• Purl (P) — worked on wrong-side rows to create stocking stitch fabric
• Stocking stitch (St-St) — the main fabric stitch for all three garments
• Slip stitch (sl1) — used in shaping and edging
• Decrease