Tabards & Hat in King Cole Urban - 4331 - Downloadable PDF

Tabards & Hat Knitted in King Cole Urban – Pattern 4331

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from King Cole (pattern number 4331) provides instructions for creating a set of knitted tabards and a matching hat using King Cole Urban yarn. Classified as an intermediate difficulty project, this pattern is ideal for knitters who are comfortable with basic shaping and ribbing techniques and are ready to work with a textured or multi-fibre yarn. The pattern supports the Pink Ribbon Foundation, with a donation made for every King Cole pattern purchased.

About the Designs

Tabards

A tabard is a versatile, sleeveless over-garment that sits over the shoulders and drapes at the front and back, typically open at the sides. It is a practical and stylish layering piece, suitable for casual or everyday wear. This pattern includes instructions for knitted tabards, making them an excellent project for knitters looking to create a fashionable wardrobe accessory without the complexity of full garment construction such as sleeves or side seams.

• Construction: The tabard panels are worked flat and draped over the body, providing an easy-to-wear silhouette with minimal finishing.
• Stitch Patterns Used: The tabards incorporate Stocking Stitch (St-St) as the main fabric, worked by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. 2x2 Rib is also used, likely for borders or edgings, worked as K2, P2 on the first row and P2, K2, P2 on the second row, creating a neat, stretchy trim.
• Shaping Techniques: The pattern uses standard knitting shaping methods including increases (inc) and decreases (dec) to achieve the correct silhouette, along with working on alternate (alt) rows for gradual shaping.

Hat

The matching knitted hat completes the set, designed to coordinate with the tabards using the same King Cole Urban yarn. Hats knitted in aran-weight yarn work up quickly and provide a satisfying, practical project that pairs beautifully with the tabard as a coordinated outfit or gift set.

• Stitch Patterns Used: Like the tabards, the hat likely features Stocking Stitch for the main body and 2x2 Rib for the brim or lower band, providing elasticity and a snug fit.
• Shaping: Crown shaping is achieved through decreases (dec) worked at regular intervals, a classic technique for forming a neat, rounded hat crown.

Yarn and Materials

Both the tabards and the hat are knitted in King Cole Urban, an aran weight yarn. King Cole Urban is a distinctive yarn known for its textured, multi-fibre character — the tension note in the pattern specifically highlights that tension should be measured over plain yarn, not Lurex or fur, indicating that King Cole Urban contains decorative fibres such as Lurex (a metallic thread) and fur-effect fibres alongside its base yarn. This gives the finished fabric a rich, eye-catching texture with subtle shimmer, making the tabards and hat particularly striking as finished garments.

• Yarn: King Cole Urban (Aran weight)
• Needles: 5mm (US 8) knitting needles, or the size required to achieve the correct tension
• Tension: 16 stitches and 26 rows to 10cm (4 inches) over Stocking Stitch, measured over the plain yarn element of the fabric

Techniques and Skills Involved

This pattern is rated intermediate, making it suitable for knitters who have moved beyond beginner projects and are comfortable with the following techniques:

• Working Stocking Stitch (St-St) flat on straight needles
• Knitting 2x2 Rib for neat, stretchy edgings and borders