purlJam

# Lightning McQueen Collared Pullover (Men's)
**Ka-chow!** A bold race-car inspired men's pullover in classic Lightning McQueen red, featuring the iconic **#95** motif on the chest (worked from the attached stitch chart), yellow lightning-bolt stripe accents on the sleeves, and a smart folded collar. Worked flat in pieces using UK crochet terminology, then seamed.

**Skill level:** Intermediate
**Construction:** Bottom-up, flat pieces, seamed; collar picked up and worked in the round.

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## Sizes
| Size | To fit chest | Finished chest |
|------|-------------|----------------|
| S    | 86–91 cm (34–36") | 96 cm (38") |
| M    | 96–101 cm (38–40") | 106 cm (42") |
| L    | 106–111 cm (42–44") | 116 cm (46") |
| XL   | 116–121 cm (46–48") | 126 cm (50") |
| 2XL  | 127–132 cm (50–52") | 137 cm (54") |

Instructions are written for size **S**, with **(M, L, XL, 2XL)** in brackets.

**Finished measurements (S/M/L/XL/2XL):**
- Chest: 96 / 106 / 116 / 126 / 137 cm
- Body length (hem to shoulder): 65 / 67 / 69 / 71 / 73 cm
- Sleeve length (cuff to underarm): 50 / 50 / 51 / 51 / 52 cm

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## Materials
- **Main colour (MC) — Race Red:** Sport-weight 100% acrylic or wool blend, approx. 900 (1000, 1100, 1200, 1350) m
- **Contrast 1 (C1) — Sunshine Yellow:** approx. 120 m (for #95 motif and sleeve stripes)
- **Contrast 2 (C2) — Jet Black:** approx. 80 m (outlines and lightning bolt)
- **Contrast 3 (C3) — Bright White:** approx. 60 m (for the "95" digits)
- **Hook:** 3.5 mm (UK 9 / US E) and 3.0 mm (for ribbing and collar)
- Tapestry needle, stitch markers, 4–6 small bobbins for colourwork

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## Tension (Gauge)
**20 tr × 11 rows = 10 cm (4")** in tr fabric using 3.5 mm hook.
Take time to check your tension — fit depends on it.

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## Abbreviations (UK terms)
- **ch** — chain
- **ss** — slip stitch
- **dc** — double crochet (US: sc)
- **htr** — half treble (US: hdc)
- **tr** — treble crochet (US: dc)
- **dc-blo** — dc in back loop only
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **sk** — skip
- **rep** — repeat
- **tch** — turning chain (counts as 1 tr unless stated)
- **MC / C1 / C2 / C3** — main / contrast colours

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## Attached Stitch Chart
**A separate stitch chart panel is attached to this pattern** showing the **Lightning McQueen "95" chest motif**.

- **Placement in pattern:** The chart is referenced in the **FRONT piece**, beginning at Row 18 from the start of tr fabric (after the ribbing) and centred horizontally on the front. Do **not** look for an inline grid — use the attached chart asset.
- **How to read the chart:** The chart is read **bottom to top**. Right-side rows (odd-numbered) are read **right to left**; wrong-side rows (even-numbered) are read **left to right**. Each square = 1 tr. The chart is **30 sts wide × 22 rows tall**.
- **Colour key on chart:** MC (red) = background, C2 (black) = outline of the number roundel, C3 (white) = digits "95", C1 (yellow) = small accent border.
- **Colour management:** Use the **intarsia method** — wind a small bobbin for each block of colour. Do not carry yarn across more than 4 sts on the wrong side; twist yarns at colour changes to avoid holes. Complete the final yarn-over of the stitch *before* a colour change with the new colour.
- **Centring math:** Total front sts = 96 (106, 116, 126, 137). Chart = 30 sts. Plain MC sts each side = **(front sts − 30) ÷ 2** = 33 (38, 43, 48, 53.5 → use 53/54) sts of MC, then 30-st chart, then remaining MC sts to end of row.

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## BACK
**Ribbing**
With 3.0 mm hook and MC, ch 11.
- **Row 1:** dc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch to end. Turn. **(10 sts)**
- **Rows 2–53 (58, 64, 69, 75):** ch 1 (does not count), dc-blo in each st to end. Turn. **(10 sts)**

Do not fasten off. Rotate to work along the long edge of the ribbing — you should pick up **96 (106, 116, 126, 137)** sts evenly along the edge (roughly 1 dc in every row-end, adjusting evenly).

**Set-up row:** ch 1, work 96 (106, 116, 126, 137) dc evenly along ribbing edge. Turn.
*Math check: 53 ribbing rows × ~1.8 sts/row ≈ 96 sts ✓*

**Body**
Switch to 3.5 mm hook.
- **Row 1 (RS):** ch 2 (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr in each dc to end. Turn. **(96 (106, 116, 126, 137) sts)**
- **Rows 2–42 (43, 44, 45, 46):** ch 2, 1 tr in each st to end (final tr in top of tch). Turn.

Piece should measure approximately **38 (39, 40, 41, 42) cm** from cast-on.

**Armhole shaping**
- **Row 1:** ss across first 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) sts, ch 2, tr in each st until 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) sts remain. Turn. **(86 (94, 102, 110, 119) sts)**
- **Rows 2–27 (28, 29, 30, 31):** ch 2, tr to end. Turn.

Armhole measures ~25 cm. Fasten off.

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## FRONT
Work as for BACK through ribbing and the first 17 rows of tr body.

**Row 18 — begin chart:**
ch 2, tr in next 33 (38, 43, 48, 53) sts in MC, **work Row 1 of attached chart over next 30 sts**, tr in remaining 33 (38, 43, 48, 54) sts in MC. Turn.

*Note for size 2XL: distribute the extra stitch as 53 sts before / 54 sts after the chart, or vice versa.*

Continue Rows 2–22 of chart while working all background sts in MC. After chart Row 22 is complete, fasten off C1/C2/C3 and continue in MC only.

Continue in MC tr until front matches back to underarm (Row 42 (43, 44, 45, 46) total of body).

**Armhole shaping** — work as Row 1 of back armhole shaping. **(86 (94, 102, 110, 119) sts)**

Continue straight in tr for **17 (18, 19, 20, 21) rows** — armhole now ~16 cm.

**Front neck shaping**
- **Next row (RS):** ch 2, tr in next 30 (33, 36, 39, 43) sts. Turn — leave remaining sts unworked.
- **Dec row:** ss across first 3 sts, ch 2, tr to end. Turn.
- **Dec row:** ch 2, tr to last 3 sts; leave unworked. Turn.
- Rep last 2 rows once more. **(22 (25, 28, 31, 35) shoulder sts)**
- Work 2 rows straight. Fasten off.

**Right shoulder:** Rejoin MC, sk centre 26 (28, 30, 32, 33) sts, tr to end. Mirror neck shaping. Fasten off.

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## SLEEVES (make 2)
**Cuff ribbing:** With 3.0 mm hook and MC, ch 13. Work in dc-blo as for back ribbing for 36 (38, 40, 42, 44) rows. **(12 sts wide)**

Rotate; pick up **44 (46, 48, 50, 52)** dc evenly along long edge.

Switch to 3.5 mm hook.

**Set-up row:** ch 2, tr in each st. Turn. **(44 (46, 48, 50, 52) sts)**

**Lightning stripe sequence** (worked while shaping):
- Rows 1–4: MC
- Rows 5–6: C1 (yellow)
- Row 7: C2 (black)
- Rows 8–onwards: MC

**Increase pattern:** Inc 1 st each end every 4th row 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) times by working 2 tr in first st and 2 tr in last st of the row.

After all increases: **68 (72, 76, 80, 84) sts.**

Continue straight until sleeve measures **50 (50, 51, 51, 52) cm** from cuff. Fasten off.

*Math check: 12 incs × 2 sts = 24 added; 44+24 = 68 ✓*

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## FINISHING

**Blocking:** Wet-block all pieces to schematic measurements; allow to dry flat.

**Seaming:**
1. Join shoulder seams using ss or whip stitch with MC and tapestry needle.
2. Set in sleeves: centre top of sleeve to shoulder seam; ease and seam.
3. Sew side and underarm seams in one continuous line.

**Collar (worked in the round):**
With RS facing, 3.0 mm hook, and MC, join at right shoulder seam.
- **Rnd 1:** dc evenly around neckline — aim for approximately **88 (92, 96, 100, 104)** sts, a multiple of 4. Adjust on rnd 2 if needed. ss to first dc.
- **Rnds 2–14:** ch 1, dc-blo in each st around. ss to join.
- **Rnds 15–20:** Switch to 3.5 mm hook; ch 1, dc-blo in each st around (this widens the top of the collar so it folds neatly).
- Fasten off and weave in ends.

The collar will fold over to sit ~5 cm deep — classic sporty look.

**Optional embroidery:** Using C2, surface-chain a small lightning bolt outline beside the "95" motif if desired, or on the upper sleeve over the yellow stripe.

**Weave in all ends. Steam lightly to set the colourwork.**

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### Schematic summary
- Back & Front width: 48 / 53 / 58 / 63 / 68.5 cm
- Total length: 65 / 67 / 69 / 71 / 73 cm
- Sleeve cuff: 22 cm circumference; upper sleeve: 34 / 36 / 38 / 40 / 42 cm
- Collar: ~10 cm tall folded (5 cm visible)

Ka-chow! Enjoy your race-day pullover. 🏁