Sweaters in King Cole Chunky Tweed - 5015 - Downloadable PDF

Sweaters in King Cole Chunky Tweed – Pattern 5015: Knitted Raglan Sleeve Sweaters

This downloadable PDF pattern from King Cole presents a collection of knitted sweaters worked in King Cole Chunky Tweed yarn. The designs are sized to fit a wide range of chest measurements, spanning 71 cm to 117 cm (28 in to 46 in), making them suitable for a broad audience from smaller to larger adult sizes. The pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty, meaning it is well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques and ready to tackle more structured shaping and construction methods.

Design Overview: Raglan Sleeve Sweaters

The central design featured in this pattern is a raglan sleeve sweater. The raglan construction is a classic and practical approach to knitwear design in which the sleeves extend in one diagonal line all the way to the neckline, eliminating the need for a traditional set-in shoulder seam. This results in a comfortable, flexible fit across the shoulders and upper body, and is a particularly popular choice for chunky-weight garments where the bold yarn texture benefits from clean, uninterrupted lines.

Raglan shaping is achieved through careful and regular decreasing on both the body and sleeve pieces simultaneously, so that all four sections — the front, back, and two sleeves — converge neatly at the neck edge. This technique requires attention to row counts and stitch counts throughout the construction process, which is why the pattern is considered intermediate rather than beginner level.

Techniques Used

• Raglan sleeve shaping – the defining construction technique of this pattern, worked by decreasing stitches at regular intervals across the raglan line on both body and sleeve sections
• Increasing and decreasing – used throughout for shaping the sleeves, body, and raglan lines; the pattern references both inc (increase) and dec (decrease) methods
• Slipping stitches – referenced via the abbreviation sl 1 (slip one stitch knitways), commonly used in decrease sequences such as sl1, K1, psso (pass slipped stitch over)
• Cable needle techniques – the pattern lists CN (Cable Needle) as an abbreviation, indicating that at least one design or design variation incorporates cable stitch work
• Working in pattern (patt) – sections of the garment require the knitter to maintain an established stitch pattern while simultaneously working shaping, a hallmark of intermediate-level knitting
• Right side and wrong side row management – the pattern distinguishes between rs (right side) and ws (wrong side) rows, essential for maintaining correct stitch orientation throughout

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch – the primary fabric stitch used across the sweater body and sleeves, created by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side; the tension is set over stocking stitch at 14 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm (4 in)
• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – the two foundational stitches from which all other stitch patterns in this design are built
• Alternate stitch patterns – referenced via the abbreviation alt (alternate), suggesting the use of alternating row or stitch sequences within certain pattern sections
• Cable stitches – implied by the inclusion of a cable needle abbreviation, adding textural interest to at least one of the sweater designs

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The sweaters in this pattern are designed to be knitted in King Cole Chunky Tweed yarn, a chunky weight yarn that delivers a warm, textured fabric with the characteristic flecked appearance of tweed. Chunky yarn works up quickly on larger needles, making these sweaters a satisfying and relatively swift project despite their intermediate construction demands.

The recommended needle size is 6 mm knitting needles, or the size required to achieve the correct tension. As noted in the pattern, achieving the stated tension of 14 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm over stocking stitch is essential. Knitters who find they have fewer stit