Sweaters in King Cole Value Chunky - 4702 - Downloadable PDF

Sweaters in King Cole Big Value Chunky – Pattern 4702

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents a collection of sweaters and jumpers worked in Big Value Chunky yarn. Designed for advanced knitters, the pattern covers a generous size range of 71/76 cm to 112/117 cm (28/30 in to 44/46 in), making it suitable for a wide variety of adult figures. The designs are centred around a classic raglan sleeve construction, one of the most elegant and practical approaches in knitwear, where the sleeve and body are shaped simultaneously from the underarm to the neckline, creating a smooth, diagonal seam line across the shoulder.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces raglan-sleeved sweaters knitted in a chunky weight yarn. The raglan shaping is a defining structural feature: rather than a set-in or drop-shoulder construction, the armhole and sleeve cap are worked together using fully fashioned decreases, meaning the shaping stitches are worked a set number of stitches in from the edge to create a neat, visible decrease line that is both functional and decorative. This technique is a hallmark of quality knitwear construction and requires careful attention to row counts and stitch placement.

Techniques Used

• Raglan sleeve construction – the sleeves and body pieces are shaped to meet at a diagonal raglan line, requiring coordinated decreasing across all four pieces (back, front, and two sleeves)
• Fully fashioned armhole shaping – decreases are worked inward from the edge rather than at the very edge, producing a polished finish visible on the right side of the fabric
• Cable panel knitting – the pattern references a cable panel worked with a cable needle (CN), adding textural interest and visual structure to the design
• Increasing and decreasing – standard shaping techniques using inc (increase) and dec (decrease) methods, including psso (pass slipped stitch over) for clean directional decreases
• Slipping stitches – stitches are slipped knitways (sl) as part of the decrease and cable techniques
• Tension/gauge swatch knitting – the pattern strongly emphasises checking tension before beginning, which is especially important at chunky weight where small differences in gauge have a significant impact on finished dimensions

Stitches Used

• Stocking Stitch (St-St) – the primary fabric stitch, worked as knit on right side rows and purl on wrong side rows, creating a smooth, classic jersey surface
• 2x2 Rib – a repeating sequence of *K2, P2* used typically for welts, cuffs, and neckbands, providing elasticity and a neat, structured edge
• Cable stitch – worked over a defined cable panel using a cable needle, creating the characteristic twisted rope or lattice effect associated with traditional knitwear
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – the fundamental building blocks used throughout all stitch patterns
• Through back of loop (tbl) – a technique used to twist stitches for a tighter, neater finish in specific decrease or detail situations

Tension and Sizing

The stated tension for this pattern is 14 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch using 6mm knitting needles. However, the pattern also notes a tension of 21 rows to 10 cm (4 in) specifically to accommodate the fully fashioned armhole shaping, highlighting the importance of row gauge as well as stitch gauge in raglan construction. Knitters are strongly advised to work a tension swatch before casting on, as achieving the correct gauge is essential to ensuring the finished sweater matches the intended size.

Materials

The sweaters are knitted in King Cole Big Value Chunky yarn, a chunky weight yarn well suited to quick, satisfying knitting projects. 6mm knitting needles are specified as the primary needle size, along with a cable needle for working the cable panel sections. The chunky