Cardigans in King Cole Cottonsoft Dk - 4345 - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans in King Cole Cottonsoft DK – Pattern 4345

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole presents a collection of cardigans knitted in King Cole Cottonsoft DK yarn. The pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty and covers a generous size range of 81–112 cm (32–44 in) chest, making it suitable for a wide range of adult figures. The leaflet number is 4345, and as with all King Cole patterns, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every purchase.

Designs Included

V Neck Cardigan

The pattern includes at least one classic V Neck Cardigan, a timeless wardrobe staple that combines elegant shaping with practical, everyday wearability. The V-neck silhouette is flattering across a wide range of body types and the construction is well-suited to knitters who have moved beyond beginner level and are comfortable managing multiple techniques simultaneously.

The cardigan features a structured front band worked in moss stitch that runs continuously as part of the front panels, giving the finished garment a neat, professional edge without the need for a separately picked-up border. The body fabric is worked in classic stocking stitch, providing a smooth, clean canvas that shows off the drape and texture of the cotton yarn beautifully.

A front slope shaping is worked to create the characteristic V-neck, requiring knitters to manage decreases alongside the ongoing moss-stitch band — a satisfying challenge for those building their skills. The pattern also incorporates buttonhole construction, with cast-off buttonholes worked into the rib band during the making-up process.

Construction and Shaping Details

The garment is worked in separate pieces — Back, Right Front, and by implication a mirrored Left Front — which are then seamed together. This traditional construction method gives knitters full control over tension and finishing. Key shaping techniques referenced in the pattern include:

• Front slope shaping to create the V-neck angle
• Buttonhole rows worked by casting off stitches and replacing them on the return row
• Stitch holding, with stitches slipped onto a thread for later finishing
• Transition between needle sizes to create ribbed welts and moss-stitch borders

Stitches Used

The pattern draws on a small but versatile set of stitch patterns, each serving a distinct structural or decorative purpose:

• Stocking Stitch (St-St) – the main body fabric, formed by alternating knit and purl rows, producing a smooth right side and textured wrong side
• Moss Stitch (G-st reference and moss-st) – used for the integrated front bands, created by working knit and purl stitches in alternating sequence on every row, producing a firm, non-curling fabric ideal for borders and button bands
• Garter Stitch (G-st) – referenced in the abbreviations and special stitch notes; formed by knitting every row, giving a ridged, reversible fabric
• Rib – used for welts and lower edges to provide elasticity and a neat finish at cast-on edges

Techniques Used

Knitters working this pattern will practise and develop a range of core and intermediate techniques:

• Casting on and casting off – including mid-row cast-off for buttonholes
• Increasing and decreasing – used for front slope and armhole shaping
• Working a moss-stitch border simultaneously with stocking stitch – requiring careful attention to the stitch count at row ends
• Slipping stitches onto a thread – a holding technique used before neckline finishing
• Tension management – the pattern explicitly instructs knitters to adjust needle size up or down to achieve the correct tension, emphasising the importance of swatching
• Seaming – joining separately worked front and back pieces

Tension

The stated tension