Sweaters in King Cole Cotton Top DK - 5374pdf - Downloadable PDF

Sweaters in King Cole Cotton Top DK – Pattern 5374: Raglan Sleeve Larger Sizes

Pattern 5374 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern featuring sweaters with raglan sleeves, designed specifically in larger sizes ranging from 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in) chest circumference. Knitted in King Cole Cotton Top DK yarn, these garments are an excellent choice for knitters who want a comfortable, breathable sweater suitable for warmer seasons or year-round wear in a natural fibre blend.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces knitted sweaters with raglan sleeves in a generous size range. The raglan sleeve construction is a classic and practical design where the sleeve extends in one diagonal line from the underarm all the way to the neckline, eliminating the traditional set-in shoulder seam. This creates a relaxed, comfortable fit that is particularly flattering across a wide range of body shapes and sizes. The larger size range — spanning 32 to 50 inches — makes this pattern especially inclusive and versatile for a broad audience of knitters and wearers.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Raglan sleeve shaping: The defining construction technique of this pattern, requiring careful and consistent decreasing along raglan lines on both the body and sleeves simultaneously to achieve the characteristic diagonal seam from underarm to neck.
• Increasing and decreasing: Shaping throughout the garment is achieved using standard knitting increase and decrease methods, referenced in the abbreviations as inc and dec.
• Tension/gauge management: The pattern places strong emphasis on achieving the correct tension — 21 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch on 4 mm needles — which is essential for the finished sweater to match the intended measurements across all sizes.
• Working in rows: The pattern references both right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) rows, confirming the garment pieces are worked flat in rows rather than in the round.
• Garter stitch (g-st): Referenced within the pattern, garter stitch — produced by knitting every row — is used in at least one section of the design, likely as a border, trim, or textural detail.
• Stocking stitch: The main fabric of the sweater is worked in stocking stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side), which is the standard base fabric used for the stated tension measurement.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch: The primary stitch pattern, creating a smooth knit fabric on the right side and a textured purl fabric on the wrong side.
• Garter stitch: Every row knitted, producing a ridged, reversible fabric often used for edgings, cuffs, or hem bands in DK-weight sweater patterns.
• Knit (k) and Purl (p): The fundamental stitches forming the basis of all stitch patterns in this design.
• Yarn forward (yfwd): Listed in the abbreviations, suggesting this technique is used at some point in the pattern, potentially for a decorative eyelet detail or as part of an increase method.

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Sizing

The pattern is specifically written for King Cole Cotton Top DK yarn, a double knit (DK) weight yarn. Cotton Top DK from King Cole is a popular choice for spring and summer knitting projects due to its soft cotton-rich composition, which offers breathability, stitch definition, and a pleasant drape — all qualities that suit a relaxed sweater design well.

• Yarn: King Cole Cotton Top DK
• Needle size: 4 mm needles are recommended to achieve the stated tension, though the pattern notes that knitters should adjust needle size up or down as needed to match the correct tension of 21 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm.
• Sizes: The pattern covers a wide range of sizes from 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in), making it suitable for a