Cardigans in King Cole Big Value Baby DK - 5140 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans in King Cole Big Value Baby DK 5140 – Knitting Pattern Summary

Pattern 5140 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern featuring a collection of charming baby and children's cardigans. Designed for sizes 6 months to 6 years, covering chest measurements of 46 to 61 cm (18 to 24 inches), this pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty and is described within the pattern itself as Easy Knit, making it an accessible project for knitters who have moved beyond the basics and are comfortable working from written instructions.

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What Is Being Made

The pattern produces knitted cardigans sized for babies and young children. The collection includes variations that cater to different style preferences, with references within the pattern to a Raglan Sleeve version and a Larger Sizes version, giving knitters the flexibility to create garments suited to a range of ages and fits across the 6-month to 6-year size range. These are classic, wearable everyday cardigans ideal as handmade gifts or wardrobe staples for little ones.

Yarn and Materials

The cardigans are knitted in King Cole Big Value Baby DK yarn, a double knit (DK) weight yarn. DK weight is one of the most popular yarn weights for baby and children's knitwear, offering a balance between warmth and drape while knitting up at a satisfying pace. The Big Value Baby DK range from King Cole is specifically formulated to be soft and gentle against delicate skin, making it well suited to garments worn close to the body by young children.

• Yarn: King Cole Big Value Baby DK
• Weight: Double Knit (DK)
• Needles: 4mm needles are specified for the main pattern

Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 inches) measured over pattern using 4mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential before beginning the garment. If fewer stitches or rows than stated are obtained over 10 cm, finer needles should be used. Knitters are strongly encouraged to knit a tension square first, as even small differences in tension can significantly affect the finished size of a child's garment.

Techniques Used

This is a knitting pattern worked using traditional hand-knitting construction methods. Key techniques referenced in the pattern include:

• Raglan sleeve shaping – a classic construction method where the sleeve and body are shaped simultaneously with diagonal decrease lines running from the underarm to the neckline, creating a smooth, fitted shoulder without a traditional set-in seam
• Increasing and decreasing – used throughout for shaping the body, sleeves, and neckline
• Slipping stitches and passing slipped stitches over – a decrease technique used in shaping
• Working yarn forward, yarn over needle, and yarn round needle – techniques that may be used for decorative stitch effects or buttonhole construction
• Repeating stitch patterns – the pattern references working over a defined stitch pattern repeat

Stitches Used

The pattern employs a range of standard knitting stitches and stitch manoeuvres, as indicated by the abbreviations provided:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – the two foundational stitches of hand knitting, used to build texture and fabric
• Slip (sl) – slipping stitches without working them, used in decreases and stitch patterns
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso) – combined with a slip stitch to form a left-leaning decrease
• Knit two together (tog) – a right-leaning decrease stitch
• Yarn forward (yfwd), Yarn over needle (yon), Yarn round needle