Cardigans Island in King Cole Beaches DK - 5913pdf - Downloadable PDF

Cardigans Knitted in King Cole Island Beaches DK – Pattern 5913

This downloadable PDF pattern from King Cole presents a collection of cardigans knitted in King Cole Island Beaches DK yarn. Designed at an intermediate difficulty level, the pattern offers sizes ranging from 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in), making it suitable for a wide range of adult figures. The pattern is part of King Cole's ongoing commitment to charitable giving, with a donation made to the Pink Ribbon Foundation for every pattern purchased.

What Is Being Made

The pattern features knitted cardigans worked in double knit (DK) weight yarn. The cardigans are classic in construction and are designed to showcase the self-striping, variegated colour effects of King Cole Island Beaches DK, a yarn known for its vibrant, tropical-inspired colour transitions that create visual interest without the need for complex colourwork techniques.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: King Cole Island Beaches DK – a double knit weight yarn with multicolour, self-striping properties that produce naturally occurring colour patterns as you knit
• Knitting Needles: 4mm knitting needles, or the size required to achieve the correct tension

Tension

The stated tension for this pattern is 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10 cm (4 in) over stocking stitch using 4mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential to ensure the finished cardigan matches the intended measurements. If fewer stitches than stated are produced over 10 cm, knitters are advised to switch to a finer needle; if more stitches are produced, a larger needle should be used.

Knitting Techniques Used

The pattern employs a range of standard and intermediate knitting techniques suitable for knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to develop their skills further. Key techniques include:

• Shaping: Both increasing and decreasing are used throughout to shape the body, sleeves, and neckline of the cardigans
• Ribbing: 1x1 Rib is used, typically for welts, cuffs, and button bands, worked by alternating knit and purl stitches across the row
• Stocking Stitch (St-St): The main fabric of the cardigans is worked in stocking stitch, with right-side rows knitted and wrong-side rows purled, creating a smooth, classic fabric surface
• Make One (M1): A standard increase technique where a loop is picked up between two existing stitches and knitted to add a new stitch without leaving a visible hole
• Pass Slipped Stitch Over (psso): A decrease technique used to reduce stitch count and shape garment sections neatly
• Slip Stitch Knitways (sl1): A technique used in conjunction with decrease methods for clean, directional shaping
• Working through the Back of the Loop (tbl): Used to twist stitches for a neater finish in specific shaping or decorative contexts

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – the foundational stitch used throughout
• Purl (P) – used in ribbing and on wrong-side rows of stocking stitch
• 1x1 Rib – alternating knit and purl stitches, used for borders and cuffs
• Stocking Stitch – the primary stitch pattern for the main body fabric

Pattern Format and Sizing

This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing instant access after purchase. It covers a generous size range of 81 cm to 127 cm (32 in to 50 in) chest measurement, making it an inclusive and versatile choice for knitters of varying sizes. The intermediate difficulty rating means the pattern is best suited to knitters who are already familiar with basic knit and purl stitches and have some experience with garment construction, including reading multi-size