purlJam

# ⚡ Lightning McQueen Men's Collared Pullover ⚡
### A Crochet Pattern (UK Terminology)
**Difficulty:** Easy | **Style:** Classic Pullover with Folded Collar | **Theme:** Lightning McQueen (Cars)

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## Sizes
Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2XL)
- **To fit chest:** 86–91 (96–101, 106–111, 116–121, 126–132) cm / 34–36 (38–40, 42–44, 46–48, 50–52) inches
- **Finished chest:** 92 (102, 112, 122, 132) cm / 36 (40, 44, 48, 52) inches
- **Finished length:** 66 (68, 70, 72, 74) cm
- **Sleeve length (underarm to cuff):** 48 (49, 50, 51, 52) cm

*Numbers given as S (M, L, XL, 2XL). When only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.*

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## Materials

### Yarn (Sport weight / 5-ply)
- **Colour A – Race Red (MC):** 800 (900, 1000, 1100, 1200) g
- **Colour B – Sunshine Yellow (CC1):** 150 g (all sizes)
- **Colour C – Jet Black (CC2):** 200 g (all sizes)
- **Colour D – White (CC3):** 50 g (all sizes)

### Hooks
- **4.0 mm** crochet hook (main fabric)
- **3.5 mm** crochet hook (ribbing & collar)

### Notions
- Tapestry/yarn needle
- Stitch markers (4–6)
- Scissors
- Optional: bobbins for colourwork

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## Tension (Gauge)
**18 tr × 10 rows = 10 cm × 10 cm** in double crochet fabric (UK tr) using 4.0 mm hook.
**22 dc × 22 rows = 10 cm × 10 cm** in dc back-loop ribbing using 3.5 mm hook.

> ⚠️ **Check your tension** before starting — fit depends on it!

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## Abbreviations (UK Terms)
- **ch** – chain
- **dc** – double crochet (US sc)
- **tr** – treble crochet (US dc)
- **htr** – half treble (US hdc)
- **sl st** – slip stitch
- **BLO** – back loop only
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **sk** – skip
- **rep** – repeat
- **RS / WS** – right side / wrong side
- **MC / CC** – main colour / contrast colour

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## Construction Notes
This pullover is worked **flat in four pieces** (back, front, two sleeves) from the bottom up, then seamed. The collar is picked up and worked in the round at the end.

The Lightning McQueen theme is created through:
1. **Red main body** (Colour A)
2. **Yellow lightning bolt** worked in intarsia or added by duplicate stitch on the front-left chest
3. **Number "95"** on the back centre, in white outlined in black
4. **Black-and-yellow chequered collar** for the iconic racing flag look

For ease, beginners can work the entire body in red and add the lightning bolt and "95" using **duplicate stitch (Swiss darning)** after assembly.

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## BACK PIECE

### Bottom Ribbing (Colour C – Black)
With 3.5 mm hook and Colour C, ch 9.

**Row 1:** dc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across — **8 dc**.
**Rows 2–N:** ch 1, turn, dc BLO in each st across — **8 dc**.

Repeat Row 2 until the ribbing measures **92 (102, 112, 122, 132) cm** when slightly stretched. Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Block lightly.

> *Math check:* Ribbing is worked sideways. Each ribbing row equals ~0.45 cm. You'll need approximately **204 (226, 248, 271, 293) rows**.

### Body of Back (Colour A – Red)
With RS facing, 4.0 mm hook, and Colour A, work along the long edge of the ribbing:
**Set-up Row (RS):** ch 2 (counts as 1st tr now and throughout), work tr evenly along the edge to total **166 (184, 202, 220, 238) tr**.

> *Math check:* 166 sts ÷ 1.8 sts/cm = 92.2 cm ✓ (matches finished chest of 92 cm).

**Rows 2 onwards:** ch 2, turn, tr in each st across — **166 (184, 202, 220, 238) tr**.

Continue in tr until piece measures **42 (43, 44, 45, 46) cm** from beginning of red body, ending with a WS row.

### Armhole Shaping
**Next Row (RS):** sl st across first **6 (7, 8, 9, 10)** sts, ch 2, tr in next st and each st until **6 (7, 8, 9, 10)** sts remain, turn — **154 (170, 186, 202, 218) tr**.

Continue straight in tr until armhole measures **24 (25, 26, 27, 28) cm**, ending with a WS row.

### Shoulder & Back Neck Shaping
**Next Row (RS):** ch 2, tr in next **44 (49, 54, 59, 64)** sts (right shoulder), turn — leave remaining sts unworked.
**Next Row:** sl st across first 6 sts, tr to end — **38 (43, 48, 53, 58) sts**. Fasten off.

Rejoin yarn to skip centre **66 (72, 78, 84, 90)** sts for back neck; work mirror image for left shoulder.

> *Math check:* 44 + 66 + 44 = 154 ✓ (S size).

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## FRONT PIECE

Work exactly as Back through end of armhole shaping until armhole measures **18 (19, 20, 21, 22) cm**.

### Front Neck Shaping
**Next Row (RS):** ch 2, tr in next **52 (58, 64, 70, 76)** sts, turn (right side of neck) — leave remaining sts unworked.
**Row 2 (WS):** sl st across first 4 sts, ch 2, tr to end — **48 (54, 60, 66, 72) sts**.
**Row 3 (RS):** ch 2, tr to last 3 sts, tr2tog (decrease), tr in last st — **47 (53, 59, 65, 71) sts**.
**Row 4 (WS):** ch 2, tr2tog, tr to end — **46 (52, 58, 64, 70) sts**.

Repeat decreases each row until **38 (43, 48, 53, 58) sts** remain. Continue straight until armhole matches Back. Fasten off.

Skip centre **50 (54, 58, 62, 66) sts** at front neck; rejoin yarn and work mirror image for left side.

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## SLEEVES (make 2)

### Cuff Ribbing (Colour C – Black)
With 3.5 mm hook and Colour C, ch 9. Work dc BLO ribbing as for back, until ribbing measures **22 (23, 24, 25, 26) cm**. Fasten off.

### Sleeve Body (Colour A – Red)
With RS facing, 4.0 mm hook, and Colour A, work along long edge:
**Set-up Row (RS):** ch 2, work **48 (52, 54, 58, 62) tr** evenly along edge.

**Increase Row:** ch 2, turn, 2 tr in 1st st, tr to last st, 2 tr in last st — increases by 2 sts.

Work increase row every **4th row** until you have **74 (80, 84, 90, 96) tr**.

> *Math check:* (74 − 48) ÷ 2 = 13 increase rows × 4 = 52 rows ≈ 47 cm. Adjust spacing for size if needed.

Continue straight in tr until sleeve measures **48 (49, 50, 51, 52) cm** from top of cuff.

### Sleeve Cap Shaping
**Next Row (RS):** sl st across first **6 (7, 8, 9, 10)** sts, ch 2, tr to last **6 (7, 8, 9, 10)** sts, turn.
Work tr2tog at each end of every row until **20** sts remain. Fasten off.

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## LIGHTNING MCQUEEN MOTIFS

### ⚡ Lightning Bolt (Front Left Chest)
Approx. **12 cm tall × 8 cm wide**, placed 8 cm below shoulder seam, 6 cm in from armhole.

**Method 1 (Easy – Duplicate Stitch):** With Colour B (yellow) and tapestry needle, duplicate-stitch the bolt directly onto finished red fabric using the chart below. Outline in Colour C (black) for definition.

**Lightning Bolt Chart (each square = 1 tr):**
```
. . . ■ ■ ■ . .
. . ■ ■ ■ ■ . .
. ■ ■ ■ ■ . . .
. ■ ■ ■ . . . .
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ . .
. . . ■ ■ ■ . .
. . ■ ■ ■ . . .
. ■ ■ ■ . . . .
. ■ ■ . . . . .
■ ■ . . . . . .
```
(■ = yellow, . = red background)

### Number "95" (Centre Back)
Approx. **15 cm tall**, placed centred on back, 10 cm below back neck.

Work the digits "9" and "5" in **Colour D (white)** via duplicate stitch over a 20 sts × 17 rows area. Outline each digit with **Colour C (black)** chain stitch embroidery for the racing-decal effect.

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## ASSEMBLY

1. **Block all pieces** to schematic measurements. Pin and steam (or wet block) gently.
2. **Seam shoulders** using whip stitch or sl st seam with Colour A.
3. **Set in sleeves:** centre sleeve cap at shoulder seam, ease and pin, then seam.
4. **Seam side and underarm** in one continuous line using whip stitch.
5. Add motifs by duplicate stitch if not worked in intarsia.

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## COLLAR (Chequered Black & Yellow)

With 3.5 mm hook, Colour C, RS facing, join at left shoulder seam. Work dc evenly around neckline, ensuring a multiple of **4 sts**, aiming for approx. **96 (100, 104, 108, 112) sts**. Join with sl st to first dc.

**Round 1:** ch 1, dc in each st around, sl st to join.

**Round 2 (Chequerboard pattern – RS):** ch 1, *2 dc in Colour C, 2 dc in Colour B; rep from * around. Join.

**Round 3:** ch 1, working in colour established by stitch below, *2 dc same colour as below; rep from *. Join. (Maintains vertical chequer columns.)

**Rounds 4–5:** Switch colour blocks every 2 rounds to create 2×2 chequered squares (alternate which colour appears in each column every 2 rounds for the racing-flag chequer pattern).

Continue in pattern until collar measures **15 cm** from pick-up round.

**Final Round:** ch 1, dc BLO in each st in Colour C, sl st to join. Fasten off and weave in ends. The collar will fold over naturally to a finished height of ~7 cm.

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## FINISHING

1. Weave in all ends securely on WS.
2. Steam-block collar to encourage even fold-over.
3. Optional: embroider a small **"Cars"-style** rust/orange flame detail at lower hem with Colour B.
4. Wear and channel your inner Kachow! 🏁

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## Schematic Summary

| Measurement | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest (cm) | 92 | 102 | 112 | 122 | 132 |
| Length (cm) | 66 | 68 | 70 | 72 | 74 |
| Armhole depth (cm) | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Sleeve length (cm) | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 |
| Upper arm (cm) | 41 | 44 | 47 | 50 | 53 |

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**⚡ Ka-chow! Enjoy your finished Lightning McQueen pullover. ⚡**