JCB digger sweater

JCB Digger Sweater by Linda Moorhouse

Project Overview

This is a child's round neck raglan sweater featuring a JCB digger motif, designed by Linda Moorhouse as a downloadable knitting pattern. The sweater is suitable for intermediate knitters and offers five size options ranging from 24 to 32 inches chest measurement, making it adaptable for children at different stages of growth.

What Is Being Made

A classic children's pullover sweater with a crew neckline and raglan sleeves. The design incorporates a prominent JCB digger motif that measures 11½ inches wide by 6¼ inches high (64 stitches by 47 rows), making it a striking visual feature on the finished garment. The sweater is worked in five graduated sizes: 24 inch, 26 inch, 28 inch, 30 inch, and 32 inch chest circumference.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Raglan construction: The sweater is shaped using raglan sleeves, which decrease gradually from the underarm to the neckline, creating a distinctive diagonal seam line from the armpit to the shoulder
• Motif integration: The JCB digger design is incorporated into the body of the sweater, likely using intarsia or chart-based colorwork techniques with oddments of contrasting yarn
• Contrast color details: The pattern offers the option to cast on with a contrast color before switching to the main color, and the neck is cast off in a contrast color for a finished detail
• Decreasing shaping: Strategic decreases are worked at both the neck edge and armhole edges on alternating rows to achieve proper fit and garment shaping
• Stitch holder technique: Stitches are placed on holders during construction, allowing for later pickup and finishing of the neckline

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch: The primary stitch forming the fabric structure
• Purl stitch: Used in combination with knit stitches, likely for texture or as part of the stocking stitch pattern
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used for shaping at the armholes and neckline
• Stocking stitch: The main fabric texture, created by alternating knit and purl rows, which provides a smooth, classic finish ideal for displaying the JCB digger motif

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Stylecraft Life double knitting (DK weight) in a main color with oddments for the motif. Yardage requirements vary by size: 600 yards for sizes 24, 26, and 28 inches chest; 900 yards for sizes 30 and 32 inches chest. Yarn quantities are also provided in grams: 200g for the smallest size, 300g for sizes 26 and 28 inches, and 400g for the largest sizes.

Needles: Metric size 3.25mm and 4mm needles are required. The 4mm needles are used for the main fabric, while the 3.25mm needles are typically used for ribbing and other edgings.

Tension: 22 stitches by 30 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when working stocking stitch on 4mm needles. Achieving correct tension is essential for the sweater to fit properly across all five size options.

Pattern Format and Instructions

This is a downloadable PDF pattern with instructions written in full rather than using standard abbreviations, making it accessible to knitters who may be less familiar with pattern shorthand. The pattern includes detailed row-by-row guidance for constructing the raglan sleeves and shaping the neckline, with specific stitch counts provided for each of the five sizes in brackets throughout the instructions.