Cardigans in Cottonsoft Candy DK & Cottonsoft DK - 5206 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Pattern 5206 – Knitted Baby Cardigans in Cottonsoft Candy DK and Cottonsoft DK

King Cole Pattern 5206 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern for adorable baby and toddler cardigans, sized to fit chest measurements from 36 cm to 56 cm (14 to 22 inches). Designed at an intermediate skill level, this pattern offers knitters the chance to create sweet, wearable garments for little ones using two of King Cole's popular cotton-blend yarns. A portion of every King Cole pattern purchase goes toward a donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation, making this a purchase with a charitable dimension.

Yarns and Materials

The pattern is written specifically for two King Cole yarn options:

• King Cole Cottonsoft Candy DK – a soft, cotton-blend DK-weight yarn featuring a candy-toned, multi-colour or variegated palette, ideal for creating playful, eye-catching baby garments.
• King Cole Cottonsoft DK – a smooth, cotton-blend DK-weight yarn available in solid shades, offering a classic, clean finish suited to more traditional styling.

Both yarns are DK (double knit) weight, making them lightweight and breathable — qualities particularly well suited to baby clothing. Cotton-blend yarns are gentle against delicate skin and easy to care for, which is a practical advantage for garments worn by young children.

The pattern references both a main (M) and a contrast (C) colour, suggesting that at least one of the cardigan designs incorporates two-colour knitting, with the main body worked in one shade and contrast details or stripes worked in a second. Knitters should select their M and C yarns accordingly from the Cottonsoft Candy DK or Cottonsoft DK ranges.

Needles

The pattern calls for 4mm knitting needles, or the size required to achieve the correct tension. As with all knitting patterns, working a tension swatch before beginning is strongly recommended to ensure the finished garment matches the stated size.

Tension

Two tension measurements are given, reflecting the different stitch patterns used throughout the cardigans:

• 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over Stocking Stitch using 4mm needles.
• 21 stitches and 36 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over Garter Stitch using 4mm needles.

If your stitch count is lower than stated, switch to a finer needle; if higher, switch to a larger needle. Achieving accurate tension is especially important in baby garments, where even small differences can significantly affect the finished chest size.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Pattern 5206 draws on a selection of classic knitting stitches and construction techniques appropriate for an intermediate knitter:

• Stocking Stitch (St-St) – The most widely used knitting fabric, formed by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. It creates a smooth, flat surface on the right side and is the primary stitch used across the body and sleeves of the cardigans.
• Garter Stitch (G-St) – Created by knitting every row, Garter Stitch produces a ridged, reversible fabric with a slightly denser, more textured appearance. It is commonly used for borders, hems, cuffs, and button bands in baby garments, as it lies flat without curling.
• 1x1 Rib – Formed by alternating one knit stitch and one purl stitch across the row, 1x1 Rib creates a stretchy, elastic fabric. It is typically used at the cuffs, lower hems, and neckbands to provide a neat, fitted edge.

Key knitting techniques referenced in the abbreviations include:

• Increasing (inc) and decreasing (dec) – used to shape the armholes, sleeves, and neckline.
• Slip one stitch knitways (sl1) and pass slipped stitch over (psso)