Tunic and Sweater in King Cole Chunky - 4511 - Downloadable PDF

King Cole Chunky Tunic and Sweater – Pattern 4511: Detailed Summary

Pattern 4511 from King Cole is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern featuring two classic children's knitwear designs: a tunic and a sweater, both knitted in King Cole Chunky weight yarn. The pattern covers sizes for children aged 3 to 13 years, with chest measurements ranging from 56 cm to 86 cm (22 to 30 inches), making it a versatile choice for a wide range of ages and sizes. This is an ideal project for beginner knitters, as the chunky yarn works up quickly and the construction is straightforward, while still producing a polished, wearable result.

A notable feature of this pattern is that every purchase contributes a donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation, so knitters can feel good about their purchase beyond the craft itself.

About the Designs

The Tunic

The tunic is a longer-length children's top designed to be worn over leggings or as a standalone garment. It features a classic raglan sleeve construction, which means the sleeves are joined to the body at a diagonal seam running from the underarm to the neckline, rather than a traditional set-in sleeve. This creates a relaxed, comfortable fit that is especially practical for children's active wear. The raglan shaping is achieved through regular decreases worked at the raglan edges on alternate rows, giving the garment its characteristic angled lines.

The tunic is worked in separate pieces — a back, front, and two sleeves — which are then seamed together. The neckline is finished by picking up stitches around the neck opening and working a neat edging, with stitches picked up along both the left and right sides of the front neck and across the back neck. This creates a tidy, professional finish suitable for a handknitted children's garment.

The Sweater

The sweater shares the same raglan sleeve structure as the tunic but is worked to a shorter, more traditional jumper length. Like the tunic, it is constructed in separate flat pieces and seamed, making it accessible for knitters who are not yet comfortable with circular or in-the-round techniques. The sweater's proportions are designed to give a comfortable, slightly relaxed fit appropriate for everyday children's wear across the full size range covered by the pattern.

Construction and Techniques

Both garments are worked flat on straight needles in separate pieces that are sewn together on completion. The key construction technique throughout both designs is the raglan sleeve shaping, which requires the knitter to work paired decreases at set intervals to shape the armhole and sleeve head simultaneously. This is a fundamental and satisfying technique that teaches knitters how to read and follow shaping instructions across multiple pieces.

• Raglan shaping: Decreases are worked at the raglan edge on every following alternate row, creating the diagonal seam line characteristic of raglan garments. The pattern uses K2tog (knit two together) as the primary decrease method.
• Neck shaping: Both garments include neck shaping, with decreases worked simultaneously at the raglan edge and the neck edge to create a neat neckline opening. Stitches are picked up around the finished neck to work a border.
• Garter stitch borders: The lower edges of the garments are worked in garter stitch (every row knit) on 5.5mm needles for a firm, non-curling hem. The pattern specifies 4 rows of garter stitch at the cast-on edge before switching to the main body fabric.
• Stocking stitch body: After the garter stitch border, the main body of both garments is worked in stocking stitch (right side knit, wrong side purl) on 6mm needles, which gives a smooth, classic knitted fabric.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch (gst): Every row knit; used for borders and hems to prevent curling and add texture.
• Stocking stitch (st-st): Knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side; used for the main body and sleeves of both garments.
• K2tog (knit two together): A simple right-leaning decrease used throughout the rag