V & Round Neck Cardigans & Sweaters in King Cole Aran - 5542 - Downloadable PDF

V & Round Neck Cardigans & Sweaters in King Cole Aran – Pattern 5542 Summary

King Cole pattern 5542 is an intermediate-level knitting pattern offering four classic children's knitwear designs: a V-neck cardigan, a round neck cardigan, a V-neck sweater, and a round neck sweater. All four garments are knitted in King Cole Aran weight yarn, making this a versatile pattern pack that allows knitters to create a coordinated wardrobe of timeless, structured knitwear for children aged 3 to 13 years, covering chest sizes from 56 cm to 76 cm (22 in to 30 in).

Garments Included

• V-Neck Cardigan: A front-opening garment featuring a classic V-shaped neckline, knitted in the round and finished with button bands. The V-neck silhouette gives a neat, tailored appearance suitable for layering over school or casual wear.
• Round Neck Cardigan: A front-opening cardigan with a traditional rounded neckline, offering a softer, more relaxed look. Like the V-neck version, it features button bands and a structured fit.
• V-Neck Sweater: A classic pullover with a V-shaped neckline, worked in one piece with set-in or standard sleeve construction. The V-neck sweater is a timeless wardrobe staple for children of all ages within the size range.
• Round Neck Sweater: A pullover design with a rounded neckline, ideal for everyday wear. The round neck finish gives a clean, comfortable edge that sits neatly at the collar.

Knitting Techniques Used

All four designs in pattern 5542 are constructed using well-established knitting techniques suited to an intermediate knitter. The pattern involves working separate pieces — typically a back, front or fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together to create the finished garment. Key construction techniques include:

• Shaping: Increasing (inc) and decreasing (dec) stitches are used throughout to shape the armholes, necklines, and sleeve heads, giving each garment a properly fitted silhouette.
• Neckline shaping: Both V-neck and round neck variations require specific shaping techniques. The V-neck involves gradual decreasing on either side of a central divide, while the round neck requires casting off stitches at the centre and then working each shoulder separately.
• Button bands: The cardigan versions require knitted button and buttonhole bands, typically worked by picking up stitches along the front edges and knitting a narrow ribbed band.
• Tension checking: The pattern emphasises the importance of knitting a tension square before beginning, a standard and essential step in achieving the correct garment dimensions.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st-st): The main body fabric of all four garments is worked in stocking stitch — knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side — creating a smooth, classic fabric that is both durable and visually clean.
• Rib stitch: Ribbing is typically used for welts, cuffs, and neckbands in Aran-weight garments of this style, providing stretch and a neat, professional finish at the edges.
• Slip stitch (sl): Used in specific shaping techniques, including the pass slipped stitch over (psso) decrease, which creates a neat left-leaning decrease commonly used in neckline and armhole shaping.

Tension

The stated tension for all designs in this pattern is 18 stitches and 25 rows to 10 cm (4 in) measured over stocking stitch using 5 mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is critical to ensuring the finished garment matches the intended measurements. If fewer stitches or rows are achieved per 10 cm, finer needles should be used; if more stitches or rows are achieved, larger needles are recommended.

Materials

• Yarn: