Cardigan and Sweater in King Cole Cottonsmooth DK - 5751pdf - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Cottonsmooth DK Pattern 5751: Children's Cardigan and Sweater Knitting Pattern

Pattern 5751 from King Cole is a charming knitting pattern offering two classic children's garments: a cardigan and a sweater, both worked in King Cole Cottonsmooth DK yarn. Designed for intermediate knitters, this downloadable PDF pattern covers a generous size range of 56–76 cm (22–30 inches) chest, making it suitable for babies and young children across several growth stages. Purchasing this pattern also contributes to the Pink Ribbon Foundation, a charitable cause King Cole supports with every pattern sold.

Garments Included

Children's Cardigan

The cardigan is a timeless, practical design ideal for layering over everyday outfits. As a button-front garment, it offers easy dressing for young children and a neat, classic silhouette. The construction follows traditional flat-knitting methods, with separate pieces worked and then seamed together — a technique well suited to intermediate knitters looking to build their finishing skills.

Children's Sweater

The sweater is a straightforward pullover design, sharing the same yarn and needle specifications as the cardigan. Its clean lines and simple shaping make it a versatile wardrobe staple, and working both garments from the same pattern sheet allows knitters to create a coordinating set.

Knitting Techniques Used

Both garments are constructed using well-established knitting techniques appropriate for the intermediate skill level. Key techniques include:

• Flat knitting — pieces are worked back and forth in rows on straight needles
• Shaping — including increasing and decreasing to form armholes, necklines, and sleeve caps
• Seaming — finished pieces are joined using standard seaming methods
• Tension/gauge checking — the pattern emphasises the importance of knitting a tension square before beginning, adjusting needle size as needed to achieve the correct gauge

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a small but classic selection of stitches that combine texture and structure:

• Stocking Stitch (St-St) — the primary stitch pattern, formed by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, creating a smooth, flat fabric ideal for showcasing the yarn's texture
• Garter Stitch (G-St) — worked by knitting every row, producing a ridged, reversible fabric often used for borders, hems, and cuffs to add stability and a decorative finish
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) — the two fundamental stitches that form the basis of all stitch patterns in the design
• Yarn Forward (yfwd) — used to create eyelets, likely for decorative detailing or buttonholes on the cardigan

Tension

The stated tension is 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch. Achieving this tension is essential to ensure the finished garments match the stated size range. Knitters are advised to work a tension square and adjust needle size accordingly — moving to finer needles if fewer stitches than stated are produced, or to larger needles if more stitches result.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Both garments are designed to be knitted in King Cole Cottonsmooth DK, a double knitting (DK) weight yarn. DK weight is a versatile, medium-light yarn that works up relatively quickly while still producing fine stitch definition — particularly well suited to children's garments where comfort and clarity of stitch pattern are both important. A cotton-blend yarn such as Cottonsmooth DK offers a soft handle, breathability, and durability, making it practical for children's everyday wear.

The recommended needle size is 4 mm knitting needles, though knitters should adjust this size as necessary to achieve the correct tension. This is a standard needle size for DK weight yarn and is widely available in both straight and circular formats, though this pattern is worked flat on straight needles.

Pattern Format and Sizing

This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF