Cardigan in King Cole Safari Chunky - 5930pdf - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Safari Chunky Cardigan Pattern (5930) – Knitting Pattern Summary

This downloadable PDF from King Cole (pattern number 5930) contains knitting instructions for cardigans knitted in King Cole Safari Chunky yarn. The pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty and covers a generous size range of 81–127 cm (32–50 inches), making it a versatile choice for a wide variety of body sizes. The pattern includes at least one design featuring three-quarter length sleeves, giving the finished garment a stylish, relaxed look that works well across seasons.

About the Design

The cardigan is a classic, cosy layering piece worked in King Cole Safari Chunky, a distinctive yarn that creates a random animal print effect as you knit. This is achieved through the yarn's self-patterning colour sequence, which mimics the look of animal fur or hide without any additional colourwork techniques. The pattern notes specifically advise knitters to match the background colour of the yarn across both front panels by joining new yarn at the start of the second front to align with the first — a thoughtful finishing detail that elevates the overall appearance of the garment.

The cardigan features a back panel, two front panels with integrated front edging, and set-in or shaped sleeves worked to a three-quarter length. Sleeve shaping and body shaping are both included, with clear instructions for each of the five sizes across the pattern.

Techniques Used

• Stocking stitch (st-st) – the main fabric of the cardigan, worked by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic finish
• Garter stitch (g-st) – referenced in the abbreviations, likely used for edging or border details
• K2, P2 rib – used for cuffs and front edging, providing elasticity and a neat, structured border
• Shaping techniques – including increases (M1: make a stitch by picking up the horizontal strand between stitches and knitting into the back of it), decreases (sl1-k1-psso: slip one stitch, knit one stitch, pass the slipped stitch over), and standard decrease rows using rib2tog
• Sleeve shaping – stitches are cast on at the beginning of rows to shape the sleeve head, with decreases worked on wrong-side rows to taper the cuff
• Front edging integration – the front bands are worked as part of the front panels rather than picked up separately, with 10 stitches reserved for the front edging throughout

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch – primary body fabric
• K2, P2 rib – cuffs and front bands
• Garter stitch – referenced for specific sections
• M1 (Make 1) – increase stitch worked by lifting the bar between stitches and knitting into the back of it
• sl1-k1-psso – a left-leaning decrease used in shaping

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 14 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) over stocking stitch. Achieving this tension is described as essential to ensure the finished garment matches the intended size. Knitters are advised to use thinner needles if their stitch count is too low, and thicker needles if their stitch count is too high.

Materials

• Yarn: King Cole Safari Chunky – a chunky weight yarn with a self-patterning animal print colour effect
• Needles: 6mm knitting needles are specified as the needle size required to achieve the correct tension, though knitters should adjust needle size as needed based on their individual tension swatch

Additional Notes

This pattern is a downloadable PDF, making it immediately accessible after purchase. It is published by