Ladies Cardigans Knitted in King Cole Ultra-Soft Chunky - 5691 - Downloadable PDF

Ladies Cardigans Knitted in King Cole Ultra-Soft Chunky – Pattern 5691

Pattern 5691 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern for ladies cardigans worked in King Cole Ultra-Soft Chunky yarn. The pattern covers a generous size range of 81–127 cm (32–50 in) bust, making it accessible to a wide range of body shapes. This is an intermediate-level knitting project that produces a stylish, cosy cardigan suitable for everyday wear. Notably, for every King Cole pattern purchased, a donation is made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces at least one style described as a Short Cardigan, constructed in separate pieces including a Left Front with full shaping instructions for the neck and shoulder. The cardigan features a ribbed border worked in a contrast colour (C) before transitioning to the main colour (M) for the body, giving the finished garment a neat, two-tone detail at the edges. The chunky weight yarn and relatively simple silhouette make this a satisfying project for knitters with some experience of garment construction.

Techniques Used

• Thumb method cast-on – used at the start of the Left Front to create a flexible, neat edge suitable for ribbing.
• Colour work – the rib border is worked in a contrast colour (C), then stitches are broken off and the main colour (M) is joined for the body sections, introducing basic yarn management skills.
• Ribbing – a K2, P2 rib is worked over multiple rows to form the lower border, providing stretch and structure at the hem and cuffs.
• Stocking stitch – the main body fabric is worked in stocking stitch (st-st), knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows, creating a smooth, classic fabric.
• Neck shaping – decreases are worked at the neck edge at regular intervals (every 22nd, 20th, 16th, 19th, 17th, or 13th row depending on size) using K2tog to create a gradual, shaped neckline.
• Shoulder shaping – stitches are cast off at the shoulder edge to create the correct slope for a well-fitting garment.
• Make 1 stitch (m1) – a standard increase technique used to add stitches by picking up the horizontal strand between the last stitch and the next stitch and working into the back of it, preventing a hole.
• Tension/gauge checking – the pattern emphasises the importance of achieving the stated tension before beginning, with guidance on adjusting needle size accordingly.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) and purl (p) – the fundamental building blocks of all the fabric in this pattern.
• K2, P2 rib – worked as a two-row repeat to form the ribbed borders.
• Stocking stitch – the primary body fabric, formed by alternating knit and purl rows.
• K2tog – a right-leaning decrease used for neck shaping.
• P2tog – a purl decrease used during shaping rows.
• Make 1 (m1) – an increase stitch worked by lifting the horizontal strand between stitches and knitting into the back of it.

Materials

The pattern is designed to be knitted in King Cole Ultra-Soft Chunky yarn, a chunky weight yarn. Two colours are used: a main colour (M) for the body and a contrast colour (C) for the ribbed borders. The stated tension is 14 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch, achieved on 6 mm needles. The ribbed border sections are worked on 5 mm needles to ensure a neat, firm edge. Knitters are advised to check their tension carefully and adjust