There are knitting patterns, and then there are knitting patterns with a colouring page. If you have ever tried to cast on whilst a small person climbs over you demanding to know what colour the monkey’s hat is going to be, this monkey jumper knitting pattern with colouring page was designed with you specifically in mind.
Meet Rascal. He is cheeky, he has a top hat, and he is about to keep everyone in the house busy at the same time.
What makes Rascal different from every other monkey knitting pattern
Most character knitting patterns leave the colour decisions entirely up to you. Rascal hands that responsibility to a small person with a fistful of felt tips, which is either a brilliant creative decision or an act of mild chaos, depending on your household.
Here is how it works. The PDF includes a colouring page of Rascal, the full motif, hat and all, which your little one can fill in however they like before you pick up the needles. Want a purple monkey with a yellow hat? Absolutely. A realistic brown monkey with a tasteful neutral hat? Also valid, but frankly less fun. The colouring page becomes the brief. You knit to their specification. Everyone is invested.
It also solves a very specific problem: the one where the child wants to be involved but you need them to be approximately three feet away whilst you count intarsia stitches. Hand them the colouring page. Buy yourself twenty minutes of peace and a personalised pattern brief in one move.
Beyond the colouring page, Rascal has a few other things worth mentioning. The monkey motif sits on the front of the jumper, worked in basic intarsia, and features 3D knitted ears because flat ears simply would not have done him justice. The top hat is also knitted separately and sewn on, small, but enormously important to his overall dignity.
The motif is fully charted, and for knitters who prefer not to work from a chart, full line-by-line written instructions are included alongside it. You do not have to choose one or the other. Both are in the PDF.
Monkey jumper knitting pattern with colouring page: the details
Yarn weight: DK. Rascal is an excellent opportunity to raid the stash. The jumper body works in your main DK colour, and the motif uses oddments. You will need a small amount of pink DK for the face. Nothing that requires a dedicated skein purchase, which your yarn storage situation will thank you for.
Needles: 3.25mm and 4mm straight needles, plus a 3.25mm circular for the neckband.
Skill level: Confident beginner. If you have knitted a jumper before, you have everything you need. The intarsia is basic shapes, no complex colourwork, but it helps to already have a sweater construction under your belt before you start. If you are newer to knitting and want to build up your skills first, the [link to beginner knitting post] is a good place to start.
Sizes: 7 sizes, from 1 year up to 11 years.
| SIZE | 1-2y | 2-3y | 4-5y | 6-7y | 8-9y | 10-11y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TO FIT CHEST | cm | 53 | 56 | 61 | 65.5 | 69 | 73.5 |
| in | 21 | 22 | 24 | 25.75 | 27 | 29 | |
| ACTUAL CHEST | cm | 60 | 63.5 | 67.5 | 74.5 | 78 | 83.5 |
| in | 23.5 | 25 | 26.5 | 29.25 | 30.75 | 32.75 | |
| FINISHED LENGTH | cm | 36 | 38 | 42 | 48 | 52 | 56 |
| in | 14 | 15 | 16.5 | 19 | 20.5 | 22 | |
| SLEEVE LENGTH | cm | 30 | 31.5 | 33.5 | 37 | 41 | 45 |
| in | 11.75 | 12.5 | 13.25 | 14.5 | 16 | 17.75 | |
| King Cole Big Value DK (104m/50g) 100% Premium Acrylic | |||||||
| Yarn A (4045) Irish Navy | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | |
| Yarn B (4044) Turquoise | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Yarn C (4020) White | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Yarn D (4024) Koala | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Yarn F (4053) Black | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Yarn G (4057) Silver | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| King Cole Big Value Baby DK (104m/50g) 100% Premium Acrylic | |||||||
| Yarn E (4070) Toffee | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
For yarn weight guidance, the Craft Yarn Council’s standard yarn weight system is a useful reference.
What’s inside the Rascal PDF download
Everything you need is in one download. No hunting for separate files, no discovering halfway through that something is missing.
Your PDF includes:
- Pattern PDF with full intarsia chart and written chart instructions
- Colouring page PDF
- Abbreviations PDF
- Elizabeth Zimmerman Sewn Bind Off PDF
- Care instructions PDF
If you have not used the Elizabeth Zimmerman Sewn Bind Off before, Very Pink Knits has an excellent video tutorial that walks you through it. It gives a beautiful, stretchy finish on neckbands and is well worth adding to your repertoire.
Instant download. English language only.
Get the Rascal colouring page free
The colouring page comes as part of the full Rascal PDF, but if you would like it as a standalone download before you commit to casting on, you can get it free right here.
Print it out. Hand it to the relevant small person. The pattern keeps you busy. The colouring page keeps everyone else busy. By the time it is finished, you have a colour brief and approximately twenty minutes of your WIP back.
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Where to get the Rascal Knitting Pattern
The Rascal monkey jumper knitting pattern with colouring page is available as an instant PDF download from three places. Pick whichever works best for you.
What yarn weight is the Rascal monkey jumper knitting pattern?
Rascal is knitted in DK weight yarn. The jumper body uses your main colour, and the monkey motif uses small amounts of contrast colours, making it a brilliant stash buster. You will also need a small oddment of pink DK for the face.
What sizes does the Rascal monkey jumper knitting pattern with colouring page come in?
Rascal comes in 7 sizes: 1 year, 2 years, 3–4 years, 5–6 years, 7–8 years, 9–10 years, and 11 years.
Is this pattern suitable for beginners?
Rascal is rated confident beginner. The intarsia is worked in basic shapes and the pattern includes both a full chart and written chart instructions. That said, it helps to have knitted a jumper before you tackle this one. If you are newer to knitting, Knitting for Babies and How to Get It Right is a good place to build up your skills first.
Can my child help choose the colours?
That is precisely the point. The PDF includes a colouring page of the full Rascal motif so children can plan their own colour scheme before you cast on. It works surprisingly well as a design brief, and even better as a way to keep small people occupied whilst you finish your current WIP.
What is included in the PDF download?
Your download includes the full pattern PDF with intarsia chart and written chart instructions, a colouring page PDF, an abbreviations PDF, an Elizabeth Zimmerman Sewn Bind Off PDF, and a care instructions PDF. Everything in one place, instantly available after purchase.
Made Rascal? We want to see him. Share your finished jumper and your little one’s colouring page on Instagram using #janeburnsdesigns, or email your photos to jane@janeburns.co.uk. There is nothing better than seeing Rascal out in the wild, especially when he is wearing a colour scheme only a four year old could have come up with.
Happy Knitting 🧶
Jane