Sweater & Cardigan Knitted in King Cole Quartz Super Chunky - 5638 - Downloadable PDF

Sweater & Cardigan Knitted in King Cole Quartz Super Chunky – Pattern 5638

This downloadable PDF pattern from King Cole provides instructions for two classic knitwear designs: a pullover sweater and a cardigan, both worked in the luxuriously thick King Cole Quartz Super Chunky yarn. Sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements from 76/81 cm (30/32 in) up to 117/122 cm (46/48 in), these garments are ideal for knitters with an intermediate level of experience who want a satisfying, relatively quick knit thanks to the super chunky weight of the yarn. A portion of every King Cole pattern purchase goes toward the Pink Ribbon Foundation, making this a purchase with a charitable dimension.

About the Designs

The Sweater

The sweater is a straightforward yet stylish pullover constructed in separate pieces — back, front, and sleeves — that are seamed together on completion. The body features a combination of textured stitch patterns that give the finished garment visual interest and a cosy, tactile quality. The lower body and cuffs begin with a 2x2 rib border worked over approximately 15 cm to provide a neat, elasticated edge that holds its shape well. The main body fabric transitions into Reverse Stocking Stitch, which presents the purl side of the fabric as the right side, creating a subtly textured, matte surface that suits chunky-weight yarns particularly well. Shaping is worked at the shoulders and back neck, with a cast-off neckband added to finish the neckline cleanly. The making-up instructions call for joining the left shoulder and neckband seams, with the neckband folded to create a neat double-thickness finish.

The Cardigan

The cardigan shares the same yarn, needle sizes, and core stitch repertoire as the sweater, making the two designs a cohesive set that could be worked as a coordinating wardrobe pair. Like the sweater, it uses 2x2 rib for the welts and borders, and the body fabric is worked in the same combination of textured stitches. The open-front construction of a cardigan introduces additional shaping considerations at the front bands and button or fastening placket, giving knitters the opportunity to practise neat edge finishing on a larger scale. Both garments are sized across the same generous range, making the pattern versatile for a household or as a gift project.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• 2x2 Rib: Worked by alternating two knit stitches and two purl stitches across each row, with the pattern reversing on wrong-side rows to create a stretchy, structured fabric. Used for welts, cuffs, and neckbands throughout both designs.
• Stocking Stitch (St-St): The classic combination of knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, flat fabric surface.
• Reverse Stocking Stitch (Rev St-St): The same construction as Stocking Stitch but worn with the purl side facing outward, giving a bumpy, textured appearance that is particularly effective in super chunky yarns.
• M1 (Make One): An increase technique where the horizontal bar of yarn running between two stitches is picked up and knitted through the back of the loop to create a new stitch without leaving a visible hole — used for shaping.
• Decreasing: Standard decrease methods including knitting two stitches together (K2tog) and the slip-slip-pass technique (sl1, psso) are referenced for shaping the shoulders, armholes, and neckline.
• Shoulder and Back Neck Shaping: Worked by casting off stitches in stages across the shoulder rows, a standard construction method that creates a sloped shoulder line for a comfortable, well-fitted garment.
• Seaming and Making Up: The finished pieces are joined using standard mattress stitch or back stitch seaming, with specific instructions for joining shoulder seams and attaching the folded neckband.

Tension

Achieving the correct tension is essential for both designs to come out at the stated sizes. The pattern specifies 10 stitches and 14 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over Reverse Stocking Stitch, and 12 stitches and 14 rows to 10 cm (4 in