Cardigan and Sweater Knitted in King Cole Subtle Drifter DK - 5741 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Pattern 5741: Cardigan and Sweater Knitted in King Cole Subtle Drifter DK

King Cole pattern 5741 is a downloadable PDF featuring two classic knitwear designs — a cardigan and a sweater — both knitted in King Cole Subtle Drifter DK yarn. Designed at an intermediate difficulty level, this pattern offers a satisfying project for knitters who are comfortable with shaping techniques and working from written instructions. The designs are sized to fit bust measurements from 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in), making them accessible across a wide range of sizes.

About the Yarn and Materials

Both garments are worked in King Cole Subtle Drifter DK, a double knitting weight yarn known for its softly variegated, tonal colour shifts that add visual interest without the need for complex stitch patterns. The DK weight makes these garments relatively quick to knit while still producing a fabric with excellent drape and definition.

• Yarn: King Cole Subtle Drifter DK
• Yarn weight: Double knitting (DK)
• Primary needles: 4mm knitting needles (for main fabric)
• Rib needles: 3.25mm knitting needles (for ribbed welts and borders)

Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch using 4mm needles. As with all knitting patterns, achieving the correct tension is essential to ensure the finished garments match the intended measurements. Knitters are advised to adjust needle size accordingly — switching to finer needles if too few stitches are achieved per 10 cm, or to larger needles if too many stitches are present.

Design One: The Cardigan

The cardigan is a structured, classic design featuring a Left Front section worked separately, indicating a traditional set-in or raglan-style construction with distinct front panels. The garment is finished with a neckband worked from stitches held on a stitch holder, giving a neat, professional finish at the collar.

Construction and Shaping

The cardigan begins with ribbed welts cast on using 3.25mm needles, establishing a tidy, elasticated lower edge before transitioning to the main body fabric on 4mm needles. The body is worked in stocking stitch throughout. Key shaping features include:

• Raglan shaping — stitches are cast off at the armhole edge and then decreased progressively on subsequent rows to form the characteristic raglan sleeve line
• Neck shaping — worked with paired decreases at the neck edge, including P2tog and P2togtbl on wrong-side rows and K2tog on right-side rows, creating a smooth, angled neckline
• Internal decreases — the pattern uses K2tog paired decreases at intervals across rows to shape the body panels
• Stitch holder usage — stitches are placed on a holder at the neckline to be picked up later for the neckband, a technique that ensures a seamless, tidy join

Stitches and Techniques Used in the Cardigan

• 1x1 Rib — alternating knit and purl stitches across the row, used for welts and borders; creates a stretchy, textured edge
• Stocking Stitch (St-St) — knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows; forms the smooth, classic main fabric
• K2tog — knit two stitches together; a right-leaning decrease used throughout for shaping
• P2tog — purl two stitches together; used on wrong-side rows for neck shaping
• P2togtbl — purl two stitches together through the back of the loop; a left-leaning decrease on purl rows
• Slip one stitch