Cardigans in King Cole Glitz DK - 5027 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans in King Cole Glitz DK – Pattern 5027: A Detailed Summary

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents a collection of cardigans featuring raglan sleeves, designed for knitters working at a beginner level. The pattern is knitted in King Cole Glitz DK yarn, a double knit weight yarn that adds a subtle sparkle to classic cardigan silhouettes. The designs are sized to fit bust measurements ranging from 81 cm to 107 cm (32 in to 42 in), making them accessible across a wide range of sizes.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces raglan sleeve cardigans — a timeless style in which the sleeves extend in one continuous diagonal line from the cuff all the way to the neckline, eliminating the traditional set-in shoulder seam. This construction gives the finished garment a relaxed, comfortable fit and is particularly well-suited to beginner knitters, as the shaping is straightforward and methodical. The cardigans are designed as classic layering pieces suitable for everyday wear.

Yarn and Materials

The specified yarn is King Cole Glitz DK, a double knit (DK) weight yarn. As the name suggests, Glitz DK incorporates a glitter or metallic element woven into the yarn composition, giving the finished fabric a subtle shimmer without sacrificing softness or wearability. DK weight yarn is one of the most popular yarn weights for garment knitting, striking a balance between speed of knitting and fine fabric detail.

• Yarn: King Cole Glitz DK (double knit weight)
• Needles: 4 mm needles for the main stocking stitch fabric; 3¼ mm needles for the border pattern sections

Tension

Achieving the correct tension is essential for a well-fitting cardigan. The pattern specifies two distinct tension requirements:

• Stocking stitch tension: 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) on 4 mm needles
• Border pattern tension: 24 stitches and 48 rows to 10 cm (4 in) on 3¼ mm needles

As with all garment knitting, it is strongly recommended to work a tension swatch before beginning. If your swatch produces fewer stitches than stated, switch to thinner needles; if it produces more stitches, switch to thicker needles.

Techniques Used

The cardigans are constructed using a combination of classic knitting techniques, making this pattern an excellent choice for those building their skills beyond the very basics while still working at a beginner-friendly level.

• Raglan sleeve shaping — the defining construction technique of this design, worked through regular decrease rows that shape both the body and sleeves simultaneously as they converge toward the neckline
• Stocking stitch — the primary fabric stitch, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, classic knitted fabric
• Border pattern — a textured or decorative stitch pattern used for edging sections, worked on the smaller 3¼ mm needles to create a neat, firm border
• Increasing and decreasing — used to shape the raglan lines, sleeves, and any waist or neckline shaping within the pattern
• Yarn forward (yfwd) — a technique referenced in the abbreviations, typically used to create decorative eyelets or lace-effect details within the border or edging sections
• Slip stitch techniques — referenced via the abbreviation sl 1 and psso (pass slipped stitch over), commonly used in decrease sequences for clean, directional shaping

Stitches Used

The following stitches and stitch techniques are referenced within the pattern:

• Knit (k) — the foundational knitting stitch
• Purl (p) — worked on wrong side rows to create stocking stitch fabric
• St