Cardigan & Sweater in King Cole Cottonsoft DK - 5126pdf - Downloadable PDF

Cardigan & Sweater Knitting Pattern in King Cole Cottonsoft DK – Pattern 5126

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents two classic knitwear designs — a cardigan and a sweater — both worked in King Cole Cottonsoft DK yarn. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and covers a generous range of adult sizes from 71/76 cm (28/30 in) up to 112/117 cm (44/46 in), making it suitable for a wide range of figures. Both garments feature raglan sleeve shaping, a construction method beloved for its smooth, diagonal shoulder lines and comfortable, relaxed fit.

What Is Being Made

The pattern includes instructions for two separate garments:

• A Cardigan — worked in one piece to the armholes, incorporating a decorative lace pattern as a key design feature, with ribbed edgings and raglan sleeve shaping.
• A Sweater — also featuring raglan sleeves, worked in stocking stitch with matching ribbed details for a clean, classic finish.

Both designs share the same sleeve construction — sleeves are described as both alike, beginning on smaller needles with a garter stitch border before transitioning into the main pattern. The raglan shaping is a central structural element across both garments, worked with paired decreases to create the characteristic diagonal armhole lines.

Construction Techniques

• Raglan sleeve shaping — a traditional construction technique where the sleeve and body are reduced simultaneously with matched decreases, eliminating a traditional set-in shoulder seam and creating a diagonal line from underarm to neckline.
• Working in one piece to the armholes — the cardigan body is cast on as a single wide piece and worked flat before dividing at the armholes, reducing seaming and creating a more seamless fabric.
• Lace patterning — the cardigan incorporates a lace stitch pattern, adding decorative openwork texture through the use of yarn-forward increases and paired decreases.
• Cabling — the pattern includes a C2B (Cable 2 Back) technique, worked over a cable needle, introducing a subtle twisted or crossed stitch detail.
• Ribbing — 1x1 rib is used for neat, stretchy edgings such as cuffs and borders, providing elasticity and a professional finish.
• Garter stitch borders — sleeves begin with several rows of garter stitch (knit every row) on smaller needles to create a firm, tidy cuff edge.
• Make One (M1) increases — used to add stitches neatly within the fabric by picking up the loop between stitches and working into the back of it to avoid a hole.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (St-St) — the sweater's main fabric, formed by alternating knit and purl rows for a smooth, classic surface.
• Lace pattern — used in the cardigan, incorporating yfwd (yarn forward) and yfrn (yarn forward round needle) increases alongside psso (pass slipped stitch over) and K2tog decreases to form decorative eyelets.
• 1x1 Rib — alternating knit and purl stitches across the row, creating a stretchy, textured border fabric.
• Garter stitch — all knit rows, used for sleeve borders and edging details.
• C2B (Cable 2 Back) — a two-stitch cable crossing worked with a cable needle held at the back, adding a subtle twisted texture.
• s1, K1, psso — a left-leaning decrease used in raglan and lace shaping.
• K2tog — a right-leaning decrease used in raglan shaping and lace pattern.
• M1 (Make One) — a lifted increase used to shape the fabric without creating unwanted holes.