purlJam

Here is a complete pattern for a children's knitted pullover featuring a "Super Plumber" motif.

**PATTERN NAME:** 8-Bit Hero Pullover
**DIFFICULTY LEVEL:** Intermediate
**SIZES:** 2 (4, 6, 8, 10) years
**FINISHED CHEST:** 24 (26, 28, 30, 32) inches / 61 (66, 71, 76, 81) cm
**YARN WEIGHT:** Worsted Weight (Category 4)

### DESCRIPTION
This is a classic children's pullover worked flat in pieces (Front, Back, and Sleeves) from the bottom up and seamed together. The body is worked in Stockinette Stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS) with sturdy 2x2 ribbing at the hems, cuffs, and neckline. The front features an 8-bit style video game character worked using the Intarsia method.

### MATERIALS
*   **Yarn:** Worsted weight wool or acrylic blend.
    *   **Main Color (MC):** 400 (500, 600, 700, 800) yards of Royal Blue or Sky Blue.
    *   **Contrast Color 1 (CC1):** 30 yards Red (Hat/Shirt).
    *   **Contrast Color 2 (CC2):** 20 yards Brown (Hair/Boots).
    *   **Contrast Color 3 (CC3):** 20 yards Beige/Skin Tone (Face/Hands).
    *   **Contrast Color 4 (CC4):** 10 yards Denim Blue (Overalls).
    *   **Contrast Color 5 (CC5):** Scrap amount of Yellow (Buttons).
*   **Needles:**
    *   US 6 (4.0 mm) straight or circular needles (for ribbing).
    *   US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles (for body), or size needed to obtain gauge.
*   **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch holder, bobbins for colorwork.

### GAUGE
20 sts and 26 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch using larger needles.
*Take time to check your gauge.*

### ABBREVIATIONS (US TERMINOLOGY)
*   **k:** knit
*   **p:** purl
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **RS:** Right Side
*   **WS:** Wrong Side
*   **rem:** remaining
*   **rep:** repeat
*   **k2tog:** knit 2 stitches together (decrease)
*   **ssk:** slip, slip, knit (decrease)
*   **Stockinette St:** Knit on RS, Purl on WS.

---

### CHARTS

**Chart Notes:**
*   Read RS (odd) rows from Right to Left.
*   Read WS (even) rows from Left to Right.
*   Use the **Intarsia** method: Use separate bobbins or small balls of yarn for each block of color. Do not carry yarn across the back (stranding) for more than 3-4 stitches to avoid snagging, but for this large motif, separate bobbins are recommended to prevent puckering.
*   When changing colors, twist the new yarn around the old yarn on the Wrong Side to prevent holes.
*   The Chart represents the "Jumping Plumber" motif.

**CHART A: 8-BIT HERO (21 sts wide x 26 rows high)**

```
      21                  11                   1
26:   □□□□□□■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□
25:   □□□□■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□
24:   □□□■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□
23:   □□□░░░░░░░░□□□□□□□□□□
22:   □□░░░▓▓░░▓▓▓▓▓▓□□□□□□
21:   □□░░░▓▓░░▓▓▓▓▓▓□□□□□□
20:   □□░░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓□□□□□□□□
19:   □□□░░░░░░░□□□□□□□□□□□
18:   □□□■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□
17:   □□■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□
16:   □■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□
15:   □■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□
14:   □□□≡≡≡●≡≡●≡≡≡□□□□□□□□
13:   □□≡≡≡≡●≡≡●≡≡≡≡□□□□□□□
12:   □≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡□□□□□□
11:   □≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡□□□□□□
10:   □□≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡□□□□□□□
 9:   □□≡≡≡□□□□□□≡≡≡□□□□□□□
 8:   □▓▓▓□□□□□□□□▓▓▓□□□□□□
 7:   ▓▓▓▓□□□□□□□□▓▓▓▓□□□□□
 6:   ▓▓▓▓□□□□□□□□▓▓▓▓□□□□□
 5:   □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
 4:   □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
 3:   □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
 2:   □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
 1:   □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
```

**COLOR KEY:**
□ = **MC** (Background Blue)
■ = **CC1** (Red - Hat/Shirt)
▓ = **CC2** (Brown - Boots/Hair)
░ = **CC3** (Skin Tone - Face)
≡ = **CC4** (Denim - Overalls)
● = **CC5** (Yellow - Buttons)

---

### INSTRUCTIONS

#### BACK
Using smaller needles (US 6 / 4.0 mm) and MC, cast on 60 (66, 70, 76, 80) sts.
**Row 1 (RS):** *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
**Row 2 (WS):** *K2, p2; rep from * to end (knit the knits and purl the purls).
Work in K2, P2 ribbing until piece measures 2 (2, 2.5, 2.5, 3) inches.

Change to larger needles (US 7 / 4.5 mm).
**Next Row (RS):** Knit all sts, increasing 2 sts evenly across row. [62 (68, 72, 78, 82) sts]
Work in Stockinette St (Knit RS, Purl WS) until piece measures 9 (10, 11, 12.5, 13.5) inches from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

**Shape Armholes:**
Bind off 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. [56 (62, 64, 70, 72) sts]
Continue in Stockinette St without shaping until piece measures 13.5 (15, 16.5, 18.5, 20) inches from cast-on edge.

**Shape Shoulders:**
Bind off 16 (18, 19, 21, 22) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Bind off remaining 24 (26, 26, 28, 28) sts for back neck.

#### FRONT
Work same as Back until piece measures approx 2 inches *after* the ribbing is complete. You will now place the chart.

**Placement Row (RS):**
Calculate the starting point for the chart to center it:
(Total Sts - 21) / 2 = Number of MC stitches before chart.
*Example for Size 2 (62 sts): (62-21)/2 = 20.5 (round to 20 or 21).*

Using MC, k 20 (23, 25, 28, 30) sts, Work Row 1 of **Chart A** over next 21 sts, with MC k to end.
Continue working in pattern, following Chart A until all 26 rows of the chart are complete.
Then, continue in MC Stockinette St until piece measures same as Back to underarm [9 (10, 11, 12.5, 13.5) inches].

**Shape Armholes:**
Bind off 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. [56 (62, 64, 70, 72) sts]

**Shape Neck:**
Work until piece measures 2.5 (3, 3, 3.5, 3.5) inches *above* the armhole bind off, ending with a WS row.
**Next Row (RS):** K 21 (24, 25, 27, 28) sts, join a 2nd ball of yarn and bind off center 14 (14, 14, 16, 16) sts, k to end.
Working both sides at once with separate balls of yarn:
Decrease 1 st at each neck edge every RS row 5 (6, 6, 6, 6) times. [16 (18, 19, 21, 22) sts rem for each shoulder]
Work even until Front measures same length as Back.
Bind off shoulders.

#### SLEEVES (Make 2)
Using smaller needles and MC, cast on 32 (34, 36, 38, 40) sts.
Work in K2, P2 ribbing for 2 inches.
Change to larger needles.
**Inc Row:** Knit, increasing 2 sts evenly. [34 (36, 38, 40, 42) sts]

Work in Stockinette St, increasing 1 st at each end of the row (RS) every 6th (6th, 6th, 8th, 8th) row 7 (8, 10, 10, 12) times. [48 (52, 58, 60, 66) sts]
Work even until sleeve measures 9 (10.5, 11.5, 13, 14.5) inches from cast on.
Bind off all sts loosely.

### FINISHING
1.  **Block Pieces:** Lay pieces flat to finished measurements. Spray with water or cover with damp cloth and let dry. This is crucial for smoothing out the Intarsia motif.
2.  **Seam Shoulders:** Sew the right and left shoulder seams.
3.  **Neckband:** With RS facing and smaller needles, pick up and knit 64 (68, 72, 76, 76) sts evenly around the neckline. Place marker and join for working in the round. Work in K2, P2 ribbing for 1 inch. Bind off loosely in rib pattern.
4.  **Set in Sleeves:** Mark the center of the sleeve top. Pin to shoulder seam. Sew sleeve to body between the armhole bind-offs.
5.  **Side Seams:** Sew side seams and sleeve seams.
6.  **Weave in ends:** Secure all color change tails on the WS.