Ladies Cardigans Knitted in King Cole Subtle Drifter Chunky - 5684 - Downloadable PDF

Ladies Cardigans Knitted in King Cole Subtle Drifter Chunky – Pattern 5684

Pattern 5684 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF featuring ladies cardigans knitted in King Cole Subtle Drifter Chunky yarn. The pattern covers a generous size range of 81–127 cm (32–50 in), making it accessible to a wide range of body types. Rated as an intermediate knitting project, this leaflet is ideal for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and reading multi-size patterns, and who are ready to work with a chunky-weight yarn for a satisfying, relatively quick knit.

King Cole also donates to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every pattern purchase.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a classic ladies cardigan with a structured silhouette. The design includes a Left Front, Right Front, and Back as separately worked pieces that are seamed together. The construction follows a traditional set-in or drop-shoulder style typical of chunky-weight cardigans, delivering a cosy, wearable garment suitable for everyday wear.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: King Cole Subtle Drifter Chunky – a chunky-weight yarn known for its softly variegated, tonal colour shifts that add visual interest without the need for complex colourwork
• Needles: 5 mm needles are used for the ribbed welts and borders; 6 mm needles are used for the main body and stocking stitch sections
• No crochet hooks are required for this knitting pattern

Tension

The stated tension is 14 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch and pattern on 6 mm needles. As with all garment knitting, checking and matching tension before casting on is essential to achieving the correct finished size. If fewer stitches are obtained, thinner needles should be used; if more stitches are obtained, thicker needles are recommended.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• 1×1 Rib: The welts and front bands are worked in 1×1 rib (knit 1, purl 1 alternating), which provides elasticity and a neat, professional edge. This rib is established over the first 8 rows of each front and back piece using the smaller 5 mm needles.
• Stocking Stitch: The main body fabric is worked in stocking stitch (knit on right side rows, purl on wrong side rows), creating a smooth, classic fabric that allows the tonal colour drifts of the Subtle Drifter Chunky yarn to show beautifully.
• Thumb Method Cast On: All pieces begin with a thumb method cast on, which produces a flexible, sturdy edge well suited to chunky-weight projects.
• Shaping and Decreasing: The pattern includes armhole and shoulder shaping using cast-off sequences and paired decreases (working stitches together). Shoulder shaping is achieved through stepped cast-offs worked over multiple rows, a technique that creates a clean, structured shoulder line.
• Increasing: Increases are also referenced within the pattern to shape the garment correctly across the multiple size options.
• Welt Shaping: A decrease row is worked at the top of the rib section to reduce the stitch count before transitioning to the main body, ensuring the fabric lies flat and the garment fits correctly at the waist.

Pattern Structure and Sizing

The pattern is written for five sizes, spanning 81 cm (32 in) to 127 cm (50 in) bust. Instructions for each size are presented in sequence within square brackets, making it straightforward to follow once the correct size is circled on the leaflet as recommended. The Left Front and Right Front are mirror images of one another, with the button band orientation reversed between the two pieces.

Difficulty and Suitability