Cardigans in King Cole Safari Chunky - 5934pdf - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Safari Chunky Cardigans – Pattern 5934: Ladies Round Neck and V Neck Cardigans

Pattern 5934 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern for two classic ladies cardigans — a Round Neck Cardigan and a V Neck Cardigan — both knitted in King Cole Safari Chunky yarn. Designed at an intermediate difficulty level, this pattern covers a generous size range of 81–127 cm (32–50 in), making it accessible to a wide range of knitters. The chunky weight of the yarn means these cardigans knit up relatively quickly while delivering a cosy, substantial fabric with real visual impact.

A notable and distinctive feature of King Cole Safari Chunky is its random self-patterning construction, which creates an animal print effect as you knit. The pattern notes specifically advise knitters to match the background colour of the yarn on both sides of the neck opening by joining in new yarn on the second side — a thoughtful technique tip that helps achieve a polished, professional finish on both cardigans.

What Is Being Made

• Round Neck Cardigan: A classic ladies cardigan featuring a neat, rounded neckline, set-in sleeves, and a structured ribbed hem and cuff finish.
• V Neck Cardigan: A ladies cardigan with a flattering V-shaped neckline, also featuring set-in sleeves and matching ribbed details.

Both designs are worked in separate pieces — back, fronts, and sleeves — and then seamed together, which is a traditional construction method well suited to intermediate knitters looking to build their garment-making skills.

Techniques Used

• Thumb method cast-on: Used throughout for casting on stitches at the start of each piece, giving a neat and elastic edge.
• Armhole shaping: Worked by decreasing stitches at the armhole edge using k2tog and p2tog decreases over multiple rows to create a clean set-in sleeve shaping.
• Shoulder shaping: Achieved by casting off stitches in stages to create a sloped shoulder line for a well-fitted finish.
• Sleeve shaping: Stitches are increased along the sleeve to create the correct taper from cuff to underarm.
• Neck shaping: Both round and V necklines are shaped through careful decreasing and casting off of stitches, with the pattern guiding knitters on matching yarn colour across both sides of the neck opening.
• Tension checking: The pattern emphasises the importance of achieving the correct tension before beginning, advising knitters to adjust needle size accordingly — using thinner needles if fewer stitches are produced and thicker needles if more stitches result.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st-st): The main fabric stitch, worked throughout the body and sleeves of both cardigans. It creates a smooth, flat knit surface that allows the animal print effect of King Cole Safari Chunky to show beautifully.
• 1x1 Rib (k1, p1 rib): Used for the welts, cuffs, and button bands, providing a stretchy, tidy border that frames the garment neatly.
• k2tog (knit two together): A right-leaning decrease used during armhole and other shaping sections.
• p2tog (purl two together): A decrease worked on purl (wrong side) rows, also used in armhole shaping and during the sleeve rib reduction row.

Materials

• Yarn: King Cole Safari Chunky — a chunky weight yarn with a self-patterning, animal print design created through random colour sequencing in the yarn itself.
• Needles: 5 mm needles are used for the ribbed sections (welts, cuffs, and bands), while 6 mm needles are used for the main stocking stitch fabric of the body and sleeves.
• Tension: 14 stit