Cardigans With Lower Lace Panel & Lace Sleeves in King Cole Cottonsoft DK - 4517 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans With Lower Lace Panel & Lace Sleeves in King Cole Cottonsoft DK – Pattern 4517

This King Cole pattern 4517 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern for cardigans featuring a lower lace panel and lace sleeves, knitted in King Cole Cottonsoft DK yarn. The design is constructed with a raglan sleeve shaping, giving it a classic, elegant silhouette that suits a wide range of body types. The pattern covers a generous size range of 71/76 cm to 112/117 cm (28/30 in to 44/46 in), making it accessible for a broad spectrum of knitters in terms of fit.

Rated as an advanced knitting project, this pattern is best suited to experienced knitters who are comfortable working lace stitch patterns, managing multiple techniques simultaneously, and following complex shaping instructions. That said, the skills involved — lace panels, raglan shaping, and sleeve construction — are well-established knitting techniques that reward practice and patience.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a women's cardigan with two distinctive decorative features: a lower lace panel running along the body hem area, and lace sleeves that carry the delicate openwork detail through the full length of the sleeve. The raglan sleeve construction means there are no traditional set-in armhole seams; instead, the sleeve and body pieces are shaped simultaneously as they meet at the yoke, creating a smooth, comfortable fit across the shoulders and upper body.

Construction and Design Details

• Raglan sleeve shaping — a classic construction method where the sleeve cap and body armhole are decreased in tandem, row by row, until all stitches meet at the neckline. This creates a diagonal seam line from underarm to neck and is known for its excellent fit and drape.
• Lower lace panel — a decorative lace section worked into the lower portion of the cardigan body, adding texture and visual interest to the hem area without overwhelming the overall design.
• Lace sleeves — the sleeves are worked in a lace stitch pattern throughout, creating a lightweight, airy quality that is particularly well-suited to the cotton-blend yarn used in this design.

Techniques Used

• Lace knitting — lace is created through a combination of yarn-overs (which create deliberate holes or eyelets) and corresponding decreases (such as k2tog or sl1, k1, psso) that maintain the stitch count while forming an openwork pattern. Working lace requires careful attention to pattern repeats and row counts.
• Raglan shaping — involves working regular decrease rows on both the body and sleeve pieces so that all sections reduce evenly toward the neckline. This is a fundamental garment construction technique requiring accurate tension and stitch counting.
• Stocking stitch — the main body fabric (outside of the lace sections) is worked in stocking stitch, which is the standard combination of knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, flat fabric.
• Increasing and decreasing — standard shaping techniques used throughout for sleeve shaping, raglan lines, and lace pattern maintenance.
• Slipping stitches — referenced in the abbreviations (sl1, slip one stitch knitways), used within decrease sequences particularly in lace and raglan shaping.
• Working through back of loops (tbl) — used to create twisted stitches, often employed in decrease combinations to keep fabric neat and prevent holes where not intended.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch — the primary background fabric stitch
• Lace pattern stitches — incorporating yarn-overs, k2tog, psso (pass slipped stitch over), and related openwork combinations
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) — the foundational stitches used throughout all sections
• Slip stitch decreases — sl1, k1, psso used in shaping and lace pattern rows

Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 22