Raglan Sweaters in King Cole Cherish DK - 4516 - Downloadable PDF

Raglan Sweaters Knitted in King Cole Cherish DK – Pattern 4516

Pattern 4516 from King Cole is a collection of raglan-sleeved sweaters for babies and young children, knitted in the soft and gentle King Cole Cherish DK yarn. The pattern is described as Easy Knit, making it an accessible project for intermediate knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping techniques. Sizes range from 36 cm to 56 cm (approximately 14 to 22 inches) chest, covering a span of infant and toddler sizes. The pattern includes at least two distinct designs: a sweater with a hood, and what appears to be a classic raglan sweater, both worked in the same yarn and construction method.

Designs Included in Pattern 4516

Classic Raglan Sweater

The first design is a neat, fitted raglan sweater worked in stocking stitch with neat ribbed edgings. The raglan construction is a timeless method in which the sleeves and body are shaped simultaneously using paired decreases, creating a diagonal seam line from the underarm to the neckline. This gives the finished garment a smooth, comfortable fit across the shoulders — ideal for babies and toddlers who need ease of movement.

• Construction: Worked in separate pieces (front, back, and sleeves) and seamed together, with fully fashioned raglan shaping throughout.
• Edgings: Borders and cuffs are worked in 1x1 rib (knit one, purl one alternating), providing a neat, stretchy finish at the hem, cuffs, and neckline.
• Main fabric: Stocking stitch (knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows), creating a smooth, classic surface.
• Shaping: Fully fashioned raglan decreases are worked using K2tog (knit two together) and s1, K1, psso (slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over), placing the decreases one or two stitches in from the edge for a polished, visible shaping detail.

Sweater with Hood

The second design follows the same raglan construction as the classic sweater but features a cosy hood in place of a standard neckband. This makes it a particularly practical and charming option for keeping little ones warm. The hood is picked up or worked from stitches left on holders at the neckline, integrating smoothly with the body of the garment.

• Construction: As with the classic version, pieces are worked flat and seamed, with raglan shaping on all four pieces.
• Hood detail: Stitches from the front and back necklines are held on stitch holders and then combined to work the hood upward, with additional neck-edge shaping rows to ensure a neat fit around the face.
• Edgings: The same 1x1 rib is used at the lower body and cuffs, maintaining consistency across both designs.
• Main fabric: Stocking stitch throughout the body, sleeves, and hood.

Techniques Used

Both designs in this pattern make use of a focused set of classic knitting techniques that are well-suited to knitters building their skills beyond the absolute beginner stage:

• Fully fashioned raglan shaping: Decreases are placed deliberately a few stitches in from the edge, creating a decorative as well as functional shaping line. This is a hallmark of quality knitwear construction.
• Stitch holders: Used to hold live stitches at the neckline while other sections are completed, a common technique in garment knitting.
• Increasing and decreasing: Both inc (increasing) and dec (decreasing) are used throughout for shaping the raglan lines, neck edges, and hood.
• Ribbing: 1x1 rib is worked at all edges, requiring the knitter to alternate between knit and purl stitches within the same row.
• Casting on mid-pattern: Additional stitches are cast on