Cardigan & Sweater in King Cole Paradise Beaches DK - 5612 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigan & Sweater Knitting Pattern in King Cole Paradise Beaches DK – Pattern 5612

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents two classic children's designs — a cardigan and a sweater — both knitted in King Cole Paradise Beaches DK yarn. Sized to fit children aged 2 to 11 years, with chest measurements ranging from 56 to 76 cm (22 to 30 inches), these garments offer a versatile wardrobe staple for growing children. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty, making it well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to work with textured stitch patterns.

King Cole supports the Pink Ribbon Foundation through a donation made for every pattern purchased, adding a charitable dimension to your crafting.

About the Designs

The two garments share the same yarn and needle specifications but offer distinct finished looks, giving knitters the choice of an open-fronted cardigan or a classic pullover-style sweater. Both designs are constructed to be practical and comfortable for everyday children's wear, with clean shaping and a structured finish achieved through careful tension work.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: King Cole Paradise Beaches DK — a double knit weight yarn that provides good stitch definition and a pleasant drape suitable for children's garments
• Needles: 4 mm knitting needles, or the size required to achieve the correct tension
• The pattern uses both a main colour (M) and a contrast colour (C), suggesting a two-tone or colourwork element within one or both designs

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Irish Moss Stitch — a key textured stitch used throughout one or both garments. Irish moss stitch is a four-row repeat that creates a richly textured, slightly elastic fabric. It alternates knit and purl stitches in a shifting pattern, producing a surface with a subtle, bumpy texture that is more visually interesting than standard seed stitch.
• Stocking Stitch — the classic smooth knitting fabric formed by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. Used in sections of the garments to provide contrast against the textured Irish moss stitch areas.
• Increasing and Decreasing — standard shaping techniques used to form armholes, necklines, and sleeve tapers, referenced in the abbreviations as inc and dec
• Yarn Forward (yfwd) — a technique that creates a small eyelet or decorative increase, potentially used in edgings or decorative detailing
• Working with right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) rows, following standard flat knitting construction

Tension

Achieving the correct tension is essential to ensure the finished garment matches the intended size. The pattern specifies two tension measurements:

• 22 stitches and 32 rows to 10 cm / 4 inches over Irish moss stitch on 4 mm needles
• 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm / 4 inches over stocking stitch on 4 mm needles

Knitters are advised to check their tension swatch carefully before beginning — using thinner needles if too few stitches are produced, or thicker needles if too many. This step is especially important when working across multiple size options.

Pattern Format and Sizing

The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing instant access after purchase. It covers six sizes from 2 to 11 years, with the recommendation to circle the chosen size before beginning to avoid confusion during construction. Both the cardigan and sweater are included within the same leaflet, offering excellent value for knitters who wish to make either or both designs.

This pattern is an ideal project for an intermediate knitter looking to build confidence with textured stitch patterns while producing a practical, beautifully finished garment for a