purlJam

# Kung Fu Master — 80s Arcade Jumper

A beginner-friendly crochet pullover celebrating the iconic 1984 arcade classic. Worked flat in four pieces from the bottom up using worsted weight yarn, with a pixel-style colourwork motif on the front panel. The blocky 8-bit graphics are perfect for tapestry/intarsia crochet, and the simple silhouette keeps construction approachable.

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## Sizes

Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2XL)
- **Finished chest:** 91 (101, 112, 122, 132) cm / 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) in
- **Finished length:** 58 (60, 62, 64, 66) cm / 23 (23.5, 24.5, 25, 26) in
- **Sleeve length:** 46 cm / 18 in (all sizes)
- **Ease:** approx. 5 cm / 2 in positive ease

Sample shown in size Medium.

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Aran), approx. 180m / 100g per ball
  - **MC (Sky Blue):** 4 (5, 5, 6, 6) balls
  - **CC1 (Black):** 1 ball (Master/Hero outline & details)
  - **CC2 (Red):** 1 ball (Hero's gi/uniform)
  - **CC3 (Yellow/Gold):** 1 ball (lettering/highlights)
  - **CC4 (White):** 1 ball (skin tone/background accents)
- **Hook:** 5 mm (UK 6 / US H-8) for body; 4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) for ribbing
- **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch markers, scissors, bobbins for colourwork

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## Tension (Gauge)

**14 tr × 8 rows = 10 cm / 4 in** in double crochet fabric (UK tr) using 5 mm hook.

Always work a swatch and block before beginning — accurate tension is essential for chart placement and fit.

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## Abbreviations (UK terms)

- **ch** — chain
- **ss** — slip stitch
- **dc** — double crochet (US: sc)
- **tr** — treble crochet (US: dc)
- **dc blo** — double crochet in back loop only
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **rep** — repeat
- **sk** — skip
- **MC / CC** — main colour / contrast colour
- **RS / WS** — right side / wrong side

*Note: This pattern uses **UK crochet terminology**. UK tr = US dc.*

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## Construction Notes

The jumper is worked flat in four pieces: Back, Front (with colourwork chart), and two Sleeves. Pieces are seamed at shoulders and sides, then the neckband is worked in the round. The colourwork motif is placed on the Front only.

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## Attached Stitch Chart

A separate **Kung Fu Master colourwork chart** is provided as an attached panel alongside this pattern. **Do not look for the grid within these written instructions** — refer to the attached chart asset when you reach the colourwork section of the Front piece.

**Chart placement in pattern:** The chart is worked across the Front piece, beginning at **Row 6 of the body section** (after the ribbing and 5 plain tr rows) and continuing for **50 chart rows**. It is centred horizontally across the front.

**How to read the chart (crochet, worked flat):**
- Each square = 1 tr stitch; each row of squares = 1 row.
- **RS rows (odd-numbered, 1, 3, 5…):** read **right to left**.
- **WS rows (even-numbered, 2, 4, 6…):** read **left to right**.
- Follow the colour key printed on the attached chart to determine which yarn to use for each square.

**Colour-change technique:** Use **intarsia** — a separate small bobbin/butterfly of yarn for each colour block. On the final yarn-over of the stitch *before* a colour change, drop the old colour and complete that yarn-over with the new colour. This gives a clean colour transition. Carry yarn loosely on the WS; do not pull tight or the fabric will pucker.

**Stitch-count integration:** The chart is **40 stitches wide × 50 rows tall**. Centre it on your Front piece by working plain MC tr at each side:

| Size | Front sts | MC each side | Chart sts | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 64 | 12 | 40 | 12+40+12 = 64 ✓ |
| M | 72 | 16 | 40 | 16+40+16 = 72 ✓ |
| L | 78 | 19 | 40 | 19+40+19 = 78 ✓ |
| XL | 86 | 23 | 40 | 23+40+23 = 86 ✓ |
| 2XL | 92 | 26 | 40 | 26+40+26 = 92 ✓ |

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## BACK

With 4.5 mm hook and MC, ch 65 (73, 79, 87, 93).

### Bottom Ribbing
**Row 1 (RS):** dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in each ch across — 64 (72, 78, 86, 92) sts.
**Rows 2–6:** ch 1, turn, **dc blo** in each st across — 64 (72, 78, 86, 92) sts.

Ribbing measures approx. 5 cm / 2 in.

### Body
Switch to 5 mm hook.

**Row 1 (RS):** ch 2 (counts as first tr here and throughout), turn, tr in each st across — 64 (72, 78, 86, 92) sts.
**Rows 2–28 (29, 30, 31, 32):** ch 2, turn, tr in each st across.

Work measures approx. 40 (41, 42, 43, 44) cm from cast-on.

### Armhole Shaping
**Row 1:** ss across first 4 sts, ch 2, tr in each st until 3 sts remain, turn, leaving last 3 sts unworked — 58 (66, 72, 80, 86) sts.
**Rows 2–16 (17, 18, 19, 20):** ch 2, turn, tr in each st across.

Armhole measures approx. 18 (19, 20, 21, 22) cm.

### Shoulder/Neck (Back)
Fasten off, leaving long tails for seaming. Mark centre 22 (24, 26, 28, 30) sts for back neck; the remaining 18 (21, 23, 26, 28) sts on each side are shoulder stitches.

*Check: 18 + 22 + 18 = 58 ✓ (S); 21+24+21 = 66 ✓ (M); 23+26+23 = 72 ✓ (L); 26+28+26 = 80 ✓ (XL); 28+30+28 = 86 ✓ (2XL)*

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## FRONT

Work as for Back **through the bottom ribbing and Rows 1–5 of the Body** — 64 (72, 78, 86, 92) sts.

### Begin Colourwork (Row 6 of Body)
Refer to the **attached Kung Fu Master chart**.

**Row 6 (RS, Chart Row 1):** ch 2, turn. Work **12 (16, 19, 23, 26) tr in MC**, then work **40 tr following Chart Row 1** (read right-to-left for RS), then work **12 (16, 19, 23, 26) tr in MC** — 64 (72, 78, 86, 92) sts.

**Rows 7–55 (Chart Rows 2–50):** ch 2, turn. Work MC border tr, follow the chart row for the centre 40 sts (alternating direction per row as described in *Attached Stitch Chart*), then MC border tr.

**Total chart rows worked: 50.** Cut all CC yarns and weave in ends after the chart is complete (or after blocking).

### Continue in MC
Continue plain tr in MC. Begin armhole shaping at the same row as Back:

**At underarm row:** ss across first 4 sts, ch 2, tr until 3 sts remain, turn — 58 (66, 72, 80, 86) sts.

Continue plain tr in MC until armhole measures **12 (12, 13, 14, 14) cm** — about 10 (10, 11, 12, 12) rows.

### Front Neck Shaping
**Next row (RS):** ch 2, tr in first 22 (25, 27, 30, 32) sts, turn — leave remaining sts unworked for now. Work this side first.

**Dec row:** ch 2, turn, tr until last 2 sts, tr2tog (yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2 loops; yo, insert in next st, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2; yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook) — 1 st decreased.

Repeat dec row every row 4 times more — 18 (21, 23, 26, 28) sts.

Work straight until armhole matches Back. Fasten off.

**Right neck side:** With RS facing, sk centre 14 (16, 18, 20, 22) sts, rejoin MC to next st, ch 2, tr to end — 22 (25, 27, 30, 32) sts.

Work decreases at neck edge (beginning of WS rows / end of RS rows) to mirror first side — finishing with 18 (21, 23, 26, 28) sts. Fasten off.

*Check: 22 + 14 + 22 = 58 ✓ (S); etc.*

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## SLEEVES (make 2)

With 4.5 mm hook and MC, ch 31 (33, 35, 37, 39).

### Cuff Ribbing
**Row 1 (RS):** dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc across — 30 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts.
**Rows 2–8:** ch 1, turn, dc blo across.

Cuff measures approx. 7 cm / 2.75 in.

### Sleeve Body
Switch to 5 mm hook.

**Row 1 (RS):** ch 2, turn, tr in each st across — 30 (32, 34, 36, 38) sts.

**Inc Row:** ch 2, turn, 2 tr in first st, tr to last st, 2 tr in last st — 2 sts increased.

**Increase pattern:** Work Inc Row every 4th row 8 (8, 9, 9, 10) times — 46 (48, 52, 54, 58) sts.

*Check (S): 30 + (8 × 2) = 46 ✓*
*Check (M): 32 + 16 = 48 ✓*
*Check (L): 34 + 18 = 52 ✓*
*Check (XL): 36 + 18 = 54 ✓*
*Check (2XL): 38 + 20 = 58 ✓*

Work straight in tr until sleeve measures 46 cm / 18 in from cast-on.

### Sleeve Cap
**Row 1:** ss across first 4 sts, ch 2, tr until 3 sts remain, turn — 40 (42, 46, 48, 52) sts.
**Rows 2–8:** ch 2, turn, tr2tog at each end of every row — 26 (28, 32, 34, 38) sts after row 8.
**Final row:** ss across all sts. Fasten off, leaving long tail.

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## FINISHING

1. **Block all pieces** to schematic measurements. This is especially important for the colourwork front to even out tension.
2. **Seam shoulders:** With tapestry needle and MC, whip stitch or ss-seam shoulder edges together.
3. **Set in sleeves:** Centre top of sleeve at shoulder seam; pin and seam around armhole.
4. **Side and underarm seams:** Seam from cuff to underarm, then continue down side of body to bottom hem.
5. **Weave in all ends**, paying special attention to colourwork ends on the WS.

### Neckband
With RS facing, 4.5 mm hook and MC, join yarn at right shoulder seam.

**Round 1:** ch 1, work dc evenly around neck opening — approx. 72 (76, 80, 84, 88) dc, ensuring a multiple of 2. Join with ss to first dc.
**Rounds 2–5:** ch 1, dc blo in each st around, ss to first dc.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

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## Schematic Summary

| Measurement | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest (cm) | 91 | 101 | 112 | 122 | 132 |
| Length (cm) | 58 | 60 | 62 | 64 | 66 |
| Sleeve length (cm) | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 |
| Upper sleeve (cm) | 33 | 34 | 37 | 39 | 41 |

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## Beginner Tips

- **Colourwork first time?** Practise the intarsia colour change on a small swatch before starting the front. Wind 30–50 g butterflies of each contrast colour to keep tangles minimal.
- **Counting rows on the chart:** Place a sticky note above the row you're working on the attached chart and move it up as you progress.
- **Floats vs. bobbins:** For colour blocks more than 4 sts wide, use bobbins (intarsia). For narrow details, you may carry the yarn loosely behind the work (tapestry crochet).
- **Centring:** Count twice before starting the chart row — getting the side stitch counts right is the key to a centred motif.

Enjoy your retro arcade jumper — high score guaranteed! 🎮👊