purlJam

# The Little Engine Pullover
**Pattern Type:** Custom Basic Crew Neck Pullover (Child Size)
**Difficulty Level:** Intermediate (Requires Intarsia/Colourwork)

## Description
A classic crew neck pullover designed for a 4-year-old, featuring a geometric train motif on the front. This garment is constructed flat in pieces (Back, Front, and Sleeves) to allow for easy Intarsia colourwork, then seamed together. The ribbed neckband is worked in the round.

**Note on Construction:** Although you requested circular needles, the Body and Sleeves are worked **back and forth (flat)**. Circular needles are recommended because they hold the stitches comfortably and prevent wrist strain, but you will turn the work at the end of every row.

## Specifications
*   **Size:** Custom Child (4 Years)
*   **Finished Chest Width:** 35 cm (70 cm circumference)
*   **Finished Length:** 44 cm
*   **Sleeve Length:** 38 cm
*   **Yoke Depth:** 18 cm

## Materials
*   **Yarn:** Worsted / Aran weight wool or wool blend.
    *   Main Colour (MC - e.g., Blue or Grey): approx. 500 meters.
    *   Contrast Colours (CC) for Train: Small amounts of Red (Engine), Black (Wheels/Funnel), Yellow (Window).
*   **Needles:**
    *   4.0 mm (UK 8 / US 6) circular needles (60 cm length) for ribbing.
    *   4.5 mm (UK 7 / US 7) circular needles (60 cm length) for main body.
*   **Notions:** Tapestry needle for seaming, stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn, bobbins for colourwork.

## Tension (Gauge)
**20 stitches and 28 rows = 10 cm x 10 cm** in Stockinette Stitch using 4.5 mm needles.
*Check your tension carefully. If you have more stitches per 10 cm, switch to larger needles. If fewer, switch to smaller needles.*

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## Instructions

### 1. Back
**Hem:**
Using 4.0 mm needles and Main Colour (MC), cast on **70 stitches**.
**Row 1 (RS):** K2, *P2, K2; repeat from * to end.
**Row 2 (WS):** P2, *K2, P2; repeat from * to end.
Repeat these 2 rows until work measures **5 cm** from cast-on edge. End on a WS row.

**Body:**
Switch to 4.5 mm needles.
Work in Stockinette Stitch (Knit on RS, Purl on WS) until piece measures **26 cm** from cast-on edge. End on a WS row.
*(Math Check: Total length 44 cm - Yoke 18 cm = 26 cm to underarm)*.

**Shape Armholes:**
Bind off (cast off) **4 stitches** at the beginning of the next 2 rows. [62 sts remaining]
Continue straight in Stockinette Stitch until the armhole measures **18 cm** (Total length 44 cm). End on a WS row.

**Shape Shoulders:**
Bind off **18 stitches** at the beginning of the next 2 rows.
Slip the remaining **26 stitches** onto a stitch holder for the back neck.

### 2. Front
**Hem:**
Work exactly as for Back until the piece measures **5 cm** in ribbing.

**Body & Intarsia:**
Switch to 4.5 mm needles.
Work in Stockinette Stitch in MC until piece measures **10 cm** from cast-on edge. End on a WS row.

**Begin Train Motif:**
*Note: Use the Intarsia method. Use separate balls/bobbins of yarn for each block of colour. Twist yarns on the wrong side when changing colour to prevent holes.*

**Placement:** The train is 30 stitches wide.
**Setup Row (RS):** K20 (MC), Work Row 1 of Train Chart over next 30 sts, K20 (MC).

**[Text Chart for Train - 30 sts wide x 24 rows high]**
*   **Rows 1-4 (Wheels):** K5 (MC), K4 (Black), K4 (MC), K4 (Black), K4 (MC), K4 (Black), K5 (MC).
*   **Rows 5-14 (Base Engine):** K2 (MC), K26 (Red), K2 (MC).
*   **Rows 15-22 (Cab & Funnel):**
    *   *Sts 1-10:* MC (Background)
    *   *Sts 11-18:* Red (Cab) -- *Optional: Make center 4 sts Yellow for a window on rows 17-20*
    *   *Sts 19-22:* MC (Gap)
    *   *Sts 23-26:* Black (Funnel)
    *   *Sts 27-30:* MC (Background)
*   **Rows 23-24 (Smoke - Optional):** Work small puffs of Grey/White above the funnel, or continue in MC.

After completing the motif, return to working fully in MC.
Continue until piece measures **26 cm** from cast-on edge.

**Shape Armholes:**
Bind off **4 stitches** at the beginning of the next 2 rows. [62 sts remaining]
Work straight until armhole measures **12 cm** (Total length approx 38 cm). End on a WS row.

**Shape Neck:**
**Next Row (RS):** K23, turn. (Leave remaining 39 sts on hold).
**Left Shoulder Side:**
Work back on these 23 sts.
Decrease 1 st at the neck edge on every row for 5 rows. [18 sts remaining].
Work straight until armhole measures **18 cm** (same as Back).
Bind off 18 shoulder stitches.

**Right Shoulder Side:**
With RS facing, slip center **16 stitches** onto a holder. Join yarn to remaining 23 sts.
Knit to end.
Work back.
Decrease 1 st at the neck edge on every row for 5 rows. [18 sts remaining].
Work straight until armhole matches Back depth.
Bind off 18 shoulder stitches.

### 3. Sleeves (Make 2)
Using 4.0 mm needles and MC, cast on **36 stitches**.
Work **4 cm** in K2, P2 rib.

Switch to 4.5 mm needles.
**Inc Row (RS):** K1, M1L, Knit to last st, M1R, K1. [38 sts]
Work 5 rows in Stockinette Stitch.
Repeat these 6 rows (Inc row + 5 straight rows) **13 more times**.
Total stitches: **64 sts**.
*(Math Check: 36 start + 28 increased = 64 sts).*

Continue straight until sleeve measures **38 cm** from cast-on edge.
Place a marker at each end of the last row (to mark the sew-in point).
Bind off all stitches loosely.

### 4. Finishing
1.  **Block Pieces:** Wet block the pieces to the measurements (35cm width, 44cm length). This is crucial to make the Intarsia lie flat.
2.  **Shoulders:** Seam the right and left shoulders using mattress stitch.
3.  **Neckband:**
    *   With RS facing and 4.0 mm needles, start at the right shoulder seam.
    *   Pick up and knit stitches evenly around the neck:
        *   Pick up 4 stitches for every 5 rows along the vertical neck slopes.
        *   Knit the 16 stitches from the front holder.
        *   Knit the 26 stitches from the back holder.
    *   Total should be approx **72-76 stitches** (ensure number is divisible by 4).
    *   Place marker and join to work in the round.
    *   Work in K2, P2 rib for **3 cm**.
    *   Bind off loosely in pattern.
4.  **Assembly:**
    *   Sew the top of the sleeve (the bound-off edge) to the vertical edge of the body armhole (between the underarm bind-off and the shoulder seam).
    *   Sew side seams and sleeve seams in one continuous line.
5.  **Weave in ends:** Secure all colourwork ends on the wrong side.