Cardigan & Waistcoat in King Cole Wool Aran - 5962 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Wool Aran Pattern 5962 – Cardigan and Waistcoat Knitting Pattern

Pattern 5962 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern featuring two classic knitwear designs: a cardigan and a waistcoat, both worked in King Cole Aran weight yarn. The pattern covers a generous range of sizes, from 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in), making it suitable for a wide variety of body shapes. Rated as an intermediate level project, this pattern is ideal for knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to tackle more structured shaping and decorative stitch work, including cable panels.

Purchasing this pattern also contributes to a good cause — King Cole donates to the Pink Ribbon Foundation for every pattern sold.

Designs Included

The Cardigan

The cardigan is a fully structured, wearable garment designed with both style and comfort in mind. It features a prominent cable panel as a central design element, adding texture and visual interest to what might otherwise be a straightforward Aran knit. The cable panel spans 54 stitches and measures 17.5 cm (6¾ in) wide, making it a substantial and eye-catching feature of the finished garment. This type of cable work is a hallmark of traditional Aran knitting, drawing on a rich heritage of intricate rope and lattice designs.

The body of the cardigan is worked in Irish moss stitch, a classic textured stitch that alternates knit and purl stitches in a specific sequence to create a dense, slightly raised fabric with excellent drape and warmth. Irish moss stitch differs subtly from standard moss stitch in its row-by-row construction, producing a more defined, pebbly texture that complements the smoothness of cable panels beautifully.

The Waistcoat

The waistcoat offers a sleeveless alternative that uses the same yarn and shares the overall aesthetic of the cardigan. It is well suited to layering over shirts or blouses, or wearing as a standalone piece in milder weather. Like the cardigan, it is worked in King Cole Aran weight yarn and is sized from 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in). The waistcoat provides an excellent opportunity for knitters to practise the same stitch techniques in a shorter, quicker project without the added complexity of sleeves.

Techniques and Stitches Used

Key Stitches

• Irish Moss Stitch – Used across the main body sections, this stitch creates a richly textured, reversible fabric. It is worked by alternating knit and purl stitches and shifting the pattern by one stitch on alternate rows, producing a seed-like, bumpy surface.
• Stocking Stitch (st-st) – A foundational knitting stitch used in various sections of the garments, producing a smooth right side and a ridged wrong side.
• Cable Panel (C8F) – A 54-stitch cable panel is a central feature of the pattern. The C8F cable cross involves slipping 4 stitches onto a cable needle and holding them at the front of the work before knitting the following stitches, then knitting the held stitches. This creates the characteristic twisted rope effect associated with Aran knitwear.

Key Techniques

• Increasing (inc) – Used to shape the garments, particularly around armholes, fronts, and body shaping.
• Decreasing (dec) – Applied to create neat, tailored shaping at key construction points.
• M1 (Make 1) – A specific increase technique where the horizontal strand lying between two stitches is picked up and knitted through the back loop, twisting it to avoid a hole. This creates a virtually invisible increase, ideal for shaping within a textured fabric.
• Yarn Forward (yfwd) – Used at specific points in the pattern to create deliberate stitch effects.
• Tension Checking – The pattern places strong emphasis on achieving the correct tension before beginning. The stated tension is 18 stitches and 26 rows to 10 cm (