Cardigan and Waistcoat Knitted in King Cole Bramble DK - 5739 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole 5739: Cardigan and Waistcoat Knitted in King Cole Bramble DK – Pattern Summary

Pattern King Cole 5739 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole that includes instructions for two classic garments: a cardigan and a waistcoat. Both designs are worked in King Cole Bramble DK yarn and are sized to fit a range of chest measurements from 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in), making them suitable for a wide variety of body types. The pattern is rated as beginner difficulty, making it an excellent choice for newer knitters who are ready to move beyond simple swatches and scarves into garment construction.

King Cole donates to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every pattern purchase, so buying this pattern also supports a meaningful charitable cause.

About the Designs

The Cardigan

The cardigan is a timeless, comfortable layering piece worked in stocking stitch throughout, with neat 1x1 rib borders at the cuffs, lower edges, and neckband. The construction follows a traditional set-in or shaped armhole method, with separate pieces worked for the back, left front, right front, and sleeves, which are then seamed together. The left front instructions detail shaping for both the armhole and the neck, with a small number of stitches placed on a stitch holder to be picked up later for the neckband — a classic and tidy finishing technique.

The body is worked flat on straight needles, beginning with a rib section on 3.25mm needles before switching to 4mm needles for the main stocking stitch fabric. This needle change is a standard technique used to ensure the ribbing sits snugly while the body fabric drapes and flows correctly. Armhole shaping involves casting off a set number of stitches at the beginning of rows and then decreasing gradually to create a smooth, fitted curve.

The Waistcoat

The waistcoat is a sleeveless garment that shares the same yarn, needle sizes, and fundamental construction approach as the cardigan. Like the cardigan, it uses stocking stitch as the main fabric and 1x1 rib for the borders. The sleeveless silhouette makes it a versatile layering piece, ideal for wearing over shirts or blouses in cooler weather. Armhole shaping is worked to create neat, finished edges suited to a sleeveless style.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stocking Stitch (St-St): The primary stitch pattern used for both garments. Worked by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, stocking stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric that is ideal for showcasing the texture and colour of King Cole Bramble DK.
• 1x1 Rib: Used for all borders, cuffs, and neckbands. Worked by alternating knit and purl stitches across the row, 1x1 rib creates a stretchy, elastic fabric that hugs the body neatly at the edges and helps garments maintain their shape over time.
• Armhole Shaping: Involves casting off stitches at the beginning of rows and then working decreases to create a smooth, fitted armhole curve — a fundamental garment construction technique.
• Neck Shaping: Stitches are placed on a stitch holder at the front neck and later picked up for the neckband, ensuring a clean and professional finish.
• Increasing and Decreasing: Standard shaping techniques used throughout both garments to create fitted silhouettes at the armholes, sleeves, and necklines.
• Casting On and Casting Off: Used at the start and finish of each piece, as well as mid-row for armhole shaping.

Abbreviations and Key Terms

The pattern uses standard UK knitting abbreviations, including K (knit), P (purl), st(s) (stitch or stitches), rs (right side), ws (wrong side), dec (decrease), inc (increase), tbl (through back of loop), psso (