Cardigan, Matinee Jacket, Hat and Blanket Knitted in King Cole Baby Safe DK - 5770 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Baby Safe DK Pattern 5770 – Cardigan, Matinee Jacket, Hat and Blanket Knitting Pattern

Pattern 5770 from King Cole is a charming collection of four classic baby knits designed to be worked in King Cole Baby Safe DK yarn. The set includes a Cardigan, a Matinee Jacket, a Hat, and a Blanket, making it an ideal all-in-one resource for anyone preparing a handmade baby layette. Sizes range from 31 cm to 51 cm (12 to 20 inches), covering newborn through to early infant stages. The pattern is rated as beginner level, making it a wonderful starting point for newer knitters while still offering enough variety to keep more experienced crafters engaged.

This is a downloadable PDF pattern, meaning it can be accessed and printed immediately after purchase. For every King Cole pattern purchased, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

What Is Being Made

• Cardigan: A classic baby cardigan, a timeless wardrobe staple for newborns and young infants. Cardigans of this style typically feature simple shaping, a button band, and set-in or raglan sleeves suited to delicate baby proportions.
• Matinee Jacket: A matinee jacket is a traditional longer-length baby garment that extends past the hips, offering extra warmth and coverage. It is a quintessential piece in British baby knitting heritage and pairs beautifully with the matching blanket and hat.
• Hat: A snug-fitting baby hat to coordinate with the rest of the set, providing warmth for newborns and young babies across the full size range.
• Blanket: A knitted baby blanket to complete the layette set, ideal for use in a pram, cot, or as a cosy wrap. Blankets of this type are typically worked in a straightforward stitch pattern that creates a soft, even fabric.

Yarn and Materials

All four designs are knitted in King Cole Baby Safe DK, a double knitting (DK) weight yarn. DK weight yarn is a versatile, medium-light weight that works up quickly while still producing a fine, soft fabric well-suited to baby garments. The Baby Safe designation indicates the yarn is formulated with infant safety in mind, making it an appropriate choice for items worn close to a baby's sensitive skin.

The pattern calls for 4mm knitting needles, which is the standard needle size recommended for DK weight yarn. Knitters are encouraged to check their tension carefully before beginning any of the garments.

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch on 4mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential, particularly for fitted pieces such as the cardigan and matinee jacket, to ensure the finished garment matches the intended size. 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.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stocking Stitch (st-st): The primary stitch fabric used throughout the garments. Stocking stitch is formed by knitting on the right side and purling on the wrong side, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface. It is the most commonly used stitch in baby knitting and gives a neat, professional finish.
• Garter Stitch (gst): Formed by knitting every row, garter stitch creates a ridged, reversible fabric with natural stretch. It is frequently used for borders, cuffs, and blanket edges as it lies flat without curling.
• Increasing (inc): Used to shape the garment pieces, such as sleeve shaping, by adding stitches at specified points in the pattern.
• Decreasing (dec): Used for armhole shaping, neckline shaping, and hat crown reductions. Techniques referenced include pass slipped stitch over (psso) and pass 2 stitches over (p2sso), which are standard decrease methods in knitting.
• Slipping