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CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY

CRACKER JUMPER Knitting patternby Thomas B. Ramsden

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AbbreviationsK - Knit; P - Purl; st(s) - stitch(es);

st st - stocking stitch; inc - increase; dec - decrease; beg - beginning; alt - alternate; tog - together; rept - repeat; sl - slip; tbl - through back of loop; cm - centimetres; ins - inches.

Tension22 sts and 31 rows to 10cm, 4ins over st st on 4mm needles. If there are too many stitches to 10cm, then your tension is tight and you will need to change your needle to a larger size. If there are too few stitches to 10cm, then your tension is loose and you will need to change your needles to a smaller size.

NoteAs this design is given in 11 sizes, we suggest that you underline all the figures for the size you require before commencing.

When working from a picture chart use a separate ball of yarn for each colour and twist the yarns when changing form one colour to another to avoid leaving holes.

For 61, 66 and 71cm (24, 26 and 28ins) Chest Sizes use Child’s Chart.

For 76, 81, 86, 91, 97, 102, 107 and 112cm (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44ins) Chest Sizes use the Adult’s Chart.

Cracker sweater Back

Using 3¼mm needles and M, cast on 82 (86, 94, 98, 102, 110, 110, 122, 122, 134, 134) sts.

1st row (right side) - K2, *P2, K2, rept from *to end.

2nd row - P2, *K2, P2, rept from *to end.

These 2 rows form rib.

Work in rib for a further 10 rows, dec (inc, dec, inc,

CRACKER JUMPER knitting pattern

Measurements

To fit bust/chest sizes 61 66 71 76 81 86 91 97 102 107 112 cm

24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 ins

Actual measurement 68 73 78 83 92 101 101 112 112 123 123 cm

26½ 28½ 30½ 32½ 36 39¾ 39¾ 44 44 48¼ 48¼ ins

Length to shoulder 38 42 46 49 60 62 62 66 66 68 68 cm

15 16½ 18 19¼ 23½ 24½ 24½ 26 26 26¾ 26¾ ins

Sleeve seam 30 34 38 42 46 47 47 48 48 50 50 cm

11¾ 13¼ 15 16½ 18 18½ 18½ 19 19 19½ 19½ ins

Peter Pan or Wendy DK 50g

Main colour (M) 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 10 11 12 balls

Plus 1 Ball of each contrast colour. See chart for contrast colours used for Cracker motif.

2 - 3¼mm (UK 10 - US 3), and 2 - 4mm (UK 8 - US 6) Knitting needles. Stitch holders.

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dec, inc, inc, inc, inc, inc, inc) 1 st at end of last row and finishing on a wrong side row. 81 (87, 93, 99, 101, 111, 111, 123, 123, 135, 135) sts.

Change to 4mm needles.

Starting with a K row, now work in st st throughout as follows:-**

Work straight until Back measures 23 (26, 29, 31, 40, 41, 41, 42, 42, 43, 43cm, 9 (10¼, 11½, 12¼, 15¾, 16, 16, 16½, 16½, 17, 17)ins, from cast on edge, finishing on a wrong side row.

Shape armholes

Cast off 3 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 75 (81, 87, 93, 93, 103, 103, 115, 115, 127, 127) sts.

Dec 1 st at each end of next and foll 4 (4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6) alt rows. 65 (71, 77, 83, 79, 89, 89, 101, 101, 113, 113) sts.

***Continue straight until armhole measures 15 (16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 21, 22, 22, 23, 23)cm, 6 (6¼, 6½, 7, 7¾, 8¼, 8¼, 8½, 8½, 9, 9)ins, finishing on a wrong side row.

Shape shoulders and back neck

Cast off 6 (6, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9, 10, 10, 12, 12) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 53 (59, 63, 67, 65, 71, 71, 81, 81, 89, 89) sts.

Next row (right side) - Cast off 6 (6, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9, 10, 10, 12, 12) sts, K until there are 8 (10, 10, 10, 11, 11, 11, 14, 14, 14, 14) sts on right needle and turn, leaving remaining sts on a holder.

Work on this set of sts only for first side of neck.

Cast off 3 sts at beg of next row.

Cast off remaining 5 (7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 11, 11, 11, 11) sts. Return to sts left on holder, rejoin yarn with right side facing, cast off centre 25 (27, 29, 31, 29, 31, 31, 33, 33, 37, 37) sts, K to end.

Cast off 6 (6, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9, 10, 10, 12, 12) sts at beg of next row, then 3 sts at beg of foll row.

Cast off remaining 5 (7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 11, 11, 11, 11) sts.

FrontWork as given for Back to**.

Commence Chart

1st row - K 1 (4, 7, 1, 2, 7, 7, 13, 13, 19, 19) sts, work first row of chart (Child’s Chart for first three sizes and Adult’s Chart for all other sizes), K 1 (4, 7, 1, 2, 7, 7, 13, 13, 19, 19).

2nd row - P 1 (4, 7, 1, 2, 7, 7, 13, 13, 19, 19) sts, work second row of chart, P 1 (4, 7, 1, 2, 7, 7, 13, 13, 19, 19).

This sets the position of the chart. Working approriate rows of chart, work as given for Back from **to***.

Work straight until 16 (18, 18, 18, 22, 22, 22, 24, 24, 26, 26) rows less have been worked than on back to start of shoulder shaping, finishing on a wrong side row.

Shape front neck

Next row (right side) - K26 (29, 31, 33, 33, 37, 37, 43, 43, 48, 48) and turn, leaving remaining sts on a holder. Work on this set of sts only for first side of neck.

Dec 1 st at neck edge of next 6 rows, then on foll 3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6) alt rows.

For 81, 86, 91, 97, 102, 107 and 112cm, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44ins sizes only

Dec 1 st at neck edge on foll 4th row.

17 (19, 21, 23, 22, 26, 26, 31, 31, 35, 35) sts.

All Sizes

Work 3 rows, finishing on a wrong side row.

Shape Shoulder

Cast off 6 (6, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9, 10, 10, 12, 12) sts at beg of next and foll alt row.

CRACKER JUMPER knitting pattern

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Work 1 row.

Cast off remaining 5 (7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 11, 11, 11, 11) sts. Return to sts left on holder, rejoin yarn with right side facing, cast off centre 13 (13, 15, 17, 13, 15, 15, 15, 15, 17, 17) sts, K to end.

Dec 1 st at neck edge of next 6 rows, then on foll 3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6) alt rows.

For 81, 86, 91, 97, 102, 107 and 112cm, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44ins sizes only

Dec 1 st at neck edge on foll 4th row.

17 (19, 21, 23, 22, 26, 26, 31, 31, 35, 35) sts.

All Sizes

Work 3 rows, finishing on a right side row.

Shape Shoulder

Cast off 6 (6, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9, 10, 10, 12, 12) sts at beg of next and foll alt row.

Work 1 row.

Cast off remaining 5 (7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 11, 11, 11, 11) sts.

Sleeves (both alike)Using 3¼mm needles and M cast on 42 (46, 46, 50, 50, 50, 50, 54, 54, 58, 58) sts.

Starting with 1st row, work in rib as given for back for 12 rows, inc (dec, inc, dec, dec, inc, inc, inc, inc, dec, dec) 1 st at end of last row and finishing on a wrong side row. 43 (45, 47, 49, 49, 51, 51, 55, 55, 57, 57) sts.

Change to 4mm needles.

Starting with a K row, now work in st st throughout as follows:-

Inc 1 st at each end of 3rd and every foll 4th row to

63 (57, 53, 55, 57, 63, 63, 63, 63, 65, 65) sts, then on every foll 6th row until there are 73 (77, 81, 87, 89, 93, 93, 97, 97, 101, 101) sts.

Continue straight until sleeve measures 30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 47, 47, 48, 48, 50, 50)cm, 11¾ (13¼, 15, 16½, 18, 18½, 18½, 19, 19, 19½, 19½)ins, finishing on a wrong side row.

Shape Top

Cast off 3 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4) sts at beg of next 2 rows. 67 (71, 75, 81, 81, 85, 85, 89, 89, 93, 93) sts.

Dec 1 st at each end of next and foll 3 (3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5) alt rows, then on foll row, finishing on a wrong side row.

Cast off remaining 57 (61, 65, 71, 67, 71, 71, 75, 75, 79, 79) sts.

Making upJoin right shoulder seam by top sewing.

Neckband

With right side facing, using 3¼mm needles and M, pick up and knit 17 (18, 18, 19, 21, 21, 21, 24, 24, 25, 25) sts down left side of neck, 13 (15, 15, 17, 13, 15, 15, 15, 15, 17, 17) sts from front, 17 (18, 18, 19, 21, 21, 21, 24, 24, 25, 25) sts up right side of neck, and 32 (35, 35, 38, 35, 37, 37, 39, 39, 43, 43) sts from back. 79 (86, 86, 93, 90, 94, 94, 102, 102, 110, 110) sts.

Starting with 2nd row, work in rib as given for back for 7 rows, finishing on a wrong side row.

Next row (right side) - Knit.

Cast off knitwise (on wrong side).

Join left shoulder and Neckband seam by top sewing. Join side seams by top sewing. Insert sleeves into armholes.

We hope you enjoy knitting this woolly wonder. Once you’ve finished, share your selfies with us on social media using

#christmasjumperday

CRACKER JUMPER knitting pattern

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CRACKER JUMPER knitting pattern for children

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CRACKER JUMPER knitting pattern for adults