This christmas car jumper knitting chart is inspired by one of the most recognisable images of Christmas.
There is something about a little red car with a Christmas tree strapped to the roof that stops people in their tracks. You have seen it in real life, probably smiled at it, possibly driven past one and pointed it out to whoever was in the passenger seat. If you have ever watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you will know exactly the scene I mean. The Griswold family, a very large tree, and a station wagon that was not entirely built for the job.
It is one of those images that says Christmas without needing to say a single word.
This free christmas car jumper knitting chart puts that image on the front of a children’s jumper, using the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater as the base pattern.
The Chart
About the Little Red Christmas Car Jumper
The Little Red Christmas Car is a children’s intarsia knitting chart worked in stocking stitch. The motif shows a small red car with a Christmas tree strapped to the roof, worked in a simple colour section technique with a few small details added in duplicate stitch at the end.
This christmas car jumper knitting chart is one of the first motifs in the Blank Canvas Motif Library, a growing collection of free charts designed to work with the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater. The base pattern gives you the full jumper construction, including the back, sleeves, neckband, and finishing instructions. This post gives you the chart, the full written row-by-row instructions, the yarn requirements for the motif colours, and the placement instructions so you know exactly where to position the car on the front.
Worked in Stylecraft Special DK, this is a practical, washable, easy-care choice for a children’s Christmas jumper. The yarn is widely available, affordable, and comes in exactly the shades you need for a little red car with a green tree on top.
Sizes
This pattern is sized to fit children from 0–6 months up to 4–5 years.
| Size | 0–6m | 6–12m | 12–18m | 18–24m | 2–3y | 4–5y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To fit chest | cm | 41 | 46 | 51 | 53 | 56 | 61 |
| in | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | |
| Actual chest | cm | 48 | 54 | 59 | 61 | 63 | 68 |
| in | 19 | 21.75 | 23.25 | 24 | 24.75 | 26.75 | |
| Finished length | cm | 27 | 29 | 32 | 35 | 37 | 39 |
| in | 10.5 | 11.5 | 12.5 | 13.75 | 14.5 | 15.25 | |
| Sleeve length | cm | 16 | 18 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 36 |
| in | 6.5 | 7 | 10.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 14.25 |
Materials
Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic, 295m per 100g ball)
| Yarn | 0–6m | 6–12m | 12–18m | 18–24m | 2–3y | 4–5y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yarn A | Silver (1203) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Yarn B | Claret (1123) | 1 ball for all sizes | |||||
| Small amounts only — great stash busters | |||||||
| Bottle | Stylecraft Special DK (1009) — Christmas tree | ||||||
| Leaf | Stylecraft Special DK (2176) — tree highlights | ||||||
| Walnut | Stylecraft Special DK (1054) — tree trunk | ||||||
| Charcoal | Stylecraft Special DK (1128) — car windows and bumpers | ||||||
| Black | Stylecraft Special DK (1002) — wheels and details | ||||||
If you do not have the stash buster shades to hand, a single ball of each will give you far more than you need and leave you with plenty for future projects.
Needles:
Straight 3.25mm and 4mm.
Circular 3.25mm useful for the neckband, but straight needles will work.
Also needed:
Darning needle
Stitch markers
Stitch holder
Tension:
22 sts x 30 rows = 10cm x 10cm using 4mm needles and stocking stitch. To save time, take time to check your tension.
Abbreviations
This pattern uses standard UK knitting abbreviations. You can download the free Knitting Abbreviations Guide from the shop here: Knitting Abbreviations Guide
How to work the intarsia chart
The car and Christmas tree motif is worked using the intarsia technique. This means each section of colour uses a separate small ball or bobbin of yarn, with no yarn carried across the back of the work.
If you have not tried intarsia before, it is more manageable than it looks. Very Pink Knits has a clear video guide to intarsia that is well worth watching before you cast on.
How to read the chart: Start at the bottom right-hand corner. Read right-side rows from right to left. Read wrong-side rows from left to right. Each square represents one stitch. Each row of squares represents one row of knitting. Why not add the small sections of colour using duplicate stitch (Swiss darning), this will reduce the number of bobbins you are working with.
The Base Pattern
This chart is designed to be used with the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater. You will need the base pattern for the back, sleeves, neckband, and finishing instructions. The Blank Canvas Baby Sweater is free on the blog and available as a PDF in the shop.
Working the Front including the Christmas Car Motif
You will find full instructions for the sweater, including Back, Sleeves, Neckband and making up in the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater here
Front
*Cast on 52 (56: 64: 68: 72: 76) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.
Repeat row 1 a further 7 (7: 9: 11: 13: 13) times.
Change to 4mm needles
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.**
Repeat rows 1–2 until 6 (8: 10: 14: 16: 18) rows have been worked in stocking stitch.
Start working from Chart
Row 1: K9 (11: 15: 17: 19: 21) using Yarn A, work row one from Chart, knit to end using Yarn A.
Row 2: P9 (11: 15: 17: 19: 21), using Yarn A, work row two from Chart, purl to end using Yarn A.
Continue working Chart as set to end. AT THE SAME TIME WHEN PIECE MEASURES 16 (18:
19.5: 20: 20: 21.5) cm from cast-on edge, place markers at beg and end of row to mark sleeve placement.
Next: Continue in stocking stitch until piece measures 27 (29: 32: 35: 37: 39)cm from cast-on edge, ending with a RS row.
Shape shoulders:
Next row: P15 (17: 19: 20: 22: 24), PM, p22 (22: 26: 28: 28: 28), PM, p15 (17: 19: 20: 22: 24).
Cast off, keeping markers in place.
The chart
Written line by line Chart
If you prefer to work from written instructions rather than from a Chart you can work line by line from the instructions below. You will need to remember to work the stitches either side of the Chart according to the size you have chosen.
For Example
Row 1: K9 (11: 15: 17: 19: 21) using Yarn A, work row one from Written Chart Instructions, knit to end using Yarn A.
Row 2: P9 (11: 15: 17: 19: 21), using Yarn A, work row two from Written Chart Instructions, purl to end using Yarn A.
Row 1: (Silver) x 34 stitches
Row 2: (Silver) x 7, (Black) x 3, (Silver) x 16, (Black) x 3, (Silver) x 5
Row 3: (Silver) x 6, (Black) x 5, (Silver) x 14, (Black) x 5, (Silver) x 4
Row 4: (Silver) x 5, (Black) x 3, (Silver) x 1, (Black) x 3, (Silver) x 2, (Claret) x 8, (Silver) x 2, (Black) x 3, (Silver) x 1, (Black) x 3, (Silver) x 3
Row 5: (Silver) x 3, (Charcoal) x 1, (Silver) x 1, (Black) x 2, (Silver) x 1, (Black) x 1, (Silver) x 1, (Black) x 2, (Silver) x 1, (Claret) x 10, (Silver) x 1, (Black) x 2, (Silver) x 1, (Black) x 1, (Silver) x 1, (Black) x 2, (Silver) x 1, (Charcoal) x 1, (Silver) x 1
Row 6: (Silver) x 3, (Charcoal) x 2, (Black) x 3, (Silver) x 1, (Black) x 3, (Charcoal) x 1, (Claret) x 10, (Charcoal) x 1, (Black) x 3, (Silver) x 1, (Black) x 3, (Charcoal) x 2, (Silver) x 1
Row 7: (Silver) x 3, (Charcoal) x 1, (Claret) x 1, (Charcoal) x 1, (Black) x 5, (Charcoal) x 1, (Claret) x 12, (Charcoal) x 1, (Black) x 5, (Charcoal) x 1, (Claret) x 1, (Charcoal) x 1, (Silver) x 1
Row 8: (Silver) x 4, (Claret) x 2, (Charcoal) x 1, (Black) x 3, (Charcoal) x 1, (Claret) x 14, (Charcoal) x 1, (Black) x 3, (Charcoal) x 1, (Claret) x 2, (Charcoal) x 1, (Silver) x 1
Row 9: (Silver) x 4, (Claret) x 3, (Charcoal) x 3, (Claret) x 2, (Charcoal) x 1, (Claret) x 13, (Charcoal) x 3, (Claret) x 3, (Charcoal) x 1, (Silver) x 1
Row 10: (Silver) x 3, (Claret) x 9, (Charcoal) x 2, (Claret) x 18, (Charcoal) x 1, (Silver) x 1
Row 11: (Silver) x 3, (Claret) x 9, (Charcoal) x 1, (Claret) x 19, (Silver) x 2
Row 12: (Silver) x 3, (Claret) x 3, (Silver) x 5, (Claret) x 1, (Charcoal) x 1, (Claret) x 1, (Silver) x 7, (Claret) x 11, (Silver) x 2
Row 13: (Silver) x 1, (Bottle) x 2, (Claret) x 3, (Silver) x 5, (Claret) x 1, (Charcoal) x 1, (Claret) x 1, (Silver) x 7, (Claret) x 4, (Silver) x 9
Row 14: (Silver) x 1, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 1, (Claret) x 3, (Silver) x 5, (Claret) x 3, (Silver) x 7, (Claret) x 2, (Silver) x 11
Row 15: (Silver) x 1, (Bottle) x 2, (Claret) x 3, (Silver) x 5, (Claret) x 3, (Silver) x 6, (Claret) x 2, (Silver) x 12
Row 16: (Silver) x 1, (Bottle) x 2, (Leaf) x 1, (Claret) x 3, (Silver) x 4, (Claret) x 3, (Silver) x 5, (Claret) x 3, (Silver) x 12
Row 17: (Silver) x 1, (Bottle) x 1, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 2, (Claret) x 16, (Bottle) x 3, (Silver) x 10
Row 18: (Walnut) x 2, (Bottle) x 10, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 7, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 3, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 3, (Silver) x 6
Row 19: (Walnut) x 2, (Bottle) x 5, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 3, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 7, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 3, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 6, (Silver) x 4
Row 20: (Walnut) x 2, (Bottle) x 1, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 2, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 3, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 4, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 2, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 3, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 5, (Silver) x 6
Row 21: (Silver) x 1, (Bottle) x 1, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 2, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 3, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 4, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 9, (Silver) x 10
Row 22: (Silver) x 1, (Bottle) x 3, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 8, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 7, (Silver) x 13
Row 23: (Silver) x 1, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 5, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 4, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 4, (Silver) x 17
Row 24: (Silver) x 1, (Bottle) x 3, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 1, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 5, (Silver) x 22
Row 25: (Silver) x 1, (Bottle) x 2, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 4, (Silver) x 26
Row 26: (Silver) x 1, (Bottle) x 1, (Leaf) x 1, (Bottle) x 2, (Silver) x 29
Row 27: (Silver) x 34
Row 28: (Silver) x 34
Row 29: (Silver) x 34
Row 30: (Silver) x 34
Row 31: (Silver) x 34
Mix it up: Variations
Add stripes to the sleeves
The Blank Canvas Baby Sweater sleeve instructions include a stripe sequence worked in two contrast colours, and it works beautifully with this jumper too. You can keep the body in solid silver and let the sleeves do the talking, or pick up the claret from the car for a more coordinated look. Full sleeve instructions, including the stripe sequence, are in the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater base pattern.
Use duplicate stitch for the smaller details
The wheels, windows, and fine details on the car are worked in small amounts of black and grey. If you prefer not to manage multiple bobbins for these, you can knit the chart in the main colours and add the smaller details afterwards using duplicate stitch. It gives exactly the same finished result with a little less juggling on the needles.
Personalise it with a name
Embroidering a child’s name above the car motif in a contrast colour turns a lovely Christmas jumper into something with their name on it, which is a different thing entirely. Swiss darning works well for this. There are plenty of free alphabet charts available online to use as a guide. Even just an initial makes it feel considered.
Not a jumper person? Try a cushion
The chart works just as well on a knitted cushion cover as it does on a jumper front. A simple stocking stitch cushion with the car motif centred on the front makes a lovely piece of Christmas home decor.
Change the car colour
Claret is the obvious choice for a little red car, but there is no rule that says it has to be red. A midnight blue car, a deep mustard, a forest green, all of these would look striking against a silver or cream background. The chart instructions are the same regardless of the colours you choose.
More Christmas knitting patterns for children
If you are planning your Christmas gift knitting, you might also enjoy the full collection of Christmas patterns in the shop. There are over 44 designs for babies and children, from classic snowmen and robins to character jumpers, hooded blankets, and accessories. Browse the full Christmas collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is this christmas car jumper knitting chart suitable for a beginner?
The stocking stitch construction is straightforward and the pattern is clearly written. The intarsia chart adds a small amount of complexity, but the car motif uses only a few colour sections and is a manageable first intarsia project. If you are new to intarsia, the Very Pink Knits video guide is a good starting point.
What yarn do I need for this pattern?
The pattern uses Stylecraft Special DK, which is widely available in the UK and internationally. It is machine washable, which makes it a practical choice for children’s knitwear. Any DK yarn that knits to a tension of 22 sts x 30 rows to 10cm on 4mm needles can be substituted.
Can I use a different colour for the car?
Absolutely. The chart works in any two contrasting colours. A blue car with a yellow tree on top would be just as striking. The pattern notes refer to the original colourway but the instructions are the same regardless of the colours you choose.
What sizes does the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater pattern come in?
The chart is designed to work with the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater, which covers six sizes from 0-6 months up to 4-5 years.
Where do I get the full pattern?
This blog post gives you the christmas car jumper knitting chart and the front panel placement instructions. For the full jumper, including the back, sleeves, neckband, and finishing, you need the Blank Canvas Baby Sweater base pattern, which is free on the blog and available as a PDF in the shop.
Can I use this chart on a cushion instead of a jumper?
Yes, the chart works on any stocking stitch project. A knitted cushion cover with the car centred on the front is a lovely alternative.
This pattern is for personal use only. Finished items may be sold in small quantities with credit given to Jane Burns for the design. Pattern designed by Jane Burns, with 18 years of experience creating exclusive knitting and crochet patterns for babies and children.
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About Jane
I’ve been creating knitting and crochet patterns for 18 years, designing characterful pieces for babies and children that are as fun to knit as they are to wear. You can find all of my patterns at shop.janeburns.co.uk, follow along on Instagram and Facebook, or pin your favourites over on Pinterest.
