Irish + British Flags Scarf (knit, flags at each end)

Two-flag scarf worked flat: an intarsia Irish tricolor panel at one end and a duplicate-stitch Union Jack panel worked on a navy background at the other end. Scarf is written for worsted weight yarn, beginner-friendly techniques: garter selvedge, intarsia, duplicate stitch. Finished look is neat and wearable; flags are scaled to the scarf width so each end is a clear, recognizable panel.

Finished measurements

• Width: ~9.25 in (23.5 cm)
• Length (without fringe): ~68 in (173 cm)
• Flag panel height (each end): 8 in (20.5 cm)

Materials

• Yarn: worsted/aran weight (category 4). Suggested fiber: wool or wool-blend for stitch definition. Approx total:
• Blue (background for Union Jack): 150 g (~300 yd / ~275 m)
• Green (Irish): 100 g (~200 yd / ~183 m)
• White: 100 g (~200 yd / ~183 m)
• Orange (Irish) and Red (Union Jack): 50 g each (~100 yd / ~91 m each)
• Note: yardage per 100 g assumed ~200 yd / 183 m; adjust for your yarn brand.
• Needles: Straight or circular (for flat knitting). Recommended sizes (choose size to obtain gauge): US 8 (5.0 mm), US 7 (4.5 mm) or US 9 (5.5 mm). UK (old) approx equivalents: 6 (approx for 5.0 mm), 7 (approx for 4.5 mm), 5 (approx for 5.5 mm). Metric: 4.5 mm / 5.0 mm / 5.5 mm. Use the size that gives the stated gauge.
• Tapestry needle, stitch holders or waste yarn (for intarsia bobbins), small scissors, optional blocking tools, stitch markers.

Gauge

18 sts x 24 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in stockinette using US 8 (5.0 mm). Always swatch and adjust needle size to match gauge.

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• k = knit
• p = purl
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• k2tog = knit 2 together
• wyib = with yarn in back
• dpn = double-pointed needle (only if making small samples)

Notes on technique

• Irish flag: worked with intarsia across the row as three vertical stripes across the full width of the scarf. You will use three separate yarn bobbins (or lengths) and twist yarns where colors meet to avoid holes.
• Union Jack: worked by knitting a solid navy panel then adding white and red markings with duplicate stitch/embroidery. This yields crisp crosses and keeps patterning manageable. Alternatively, experienced knitters can intarsia or stranded-knit the simpler diagonal shapes but duplication stitch is recommended for a clean finish.
• Selvedge: slip first stitch of every row purlwise for a neat edge, or work garter selvedge of 3 sts (k on every row) depending on preferred finish.

Pattern overview

CO 42 sts. Work garter selvedge 3 sts at each edge (optional) or slip 1 selvedge. Work center body in stockinette. Work 48 rows (8 in) for first flag panel, then continue body plain for middle section, then final 48 rows for the other flag panel. Block, then add Union Jack details with duplicate stitch on the navy panel.

Instructions

Cast on and borders

1. CO 42 sts using your preferred cast-on. (This yields ~9.25 in width at gauge.)
2. Row 1 (RS): k1 (selvedge), k across (or if using 3-st garter selvedge, k3, knit across to last 3 sts, k3).
3. Establish pattern: Work in stockinette for body: RS rows knit, WS rows purl, maintaining selvedge stitches.

Flag panel 1 — Irish tricolor (first end)

Panel height: 48 rows (approx 8 in). Color placement across width: 42 sts total = 3 stripes of 14 sts each (Green | White | Orange).

1. Prepare three small bobbins/lengths of yarn: green, white, orange.
2. Row 1 of panel (RS): With green bobbin, join at left edge and work first 14 sts in green; twist (tangling method) to join white and work next 14 sts in white; twist to join orange and work final 14 sts in orange. If you use a selvedge stitch, start after selvedge or include in first color as you prefer.
3. Continue stockinette maintaining 14 sts per color across each row. When switching colors at the vertical stripe boundary, twist the two yarns together (untangled) to prevent holes: bring new yarn up under old yarn and continue knitting.
4. On WS rows, purl in the current color for its allocated stitches.
5. Work 48 rows total for the flag panel.
6. When panel is complete, drop colors and leave tails long enough to weave in, or wind bobbins neatly and secure for weaving. Alternatively, join a single color for the center section (recommended: navy or white) and move on.

Middle section (body of scarf)

1. After completing the Irish panel, join your chosen main body color (we suggest navy if you want the look to tie into the Union Jack end; alternatively keep the three-color theme by working stripes). For a clean Union Jack end, use navy here.
2. Work stockinette (RS knit, WS purl) until the scarf measures from the start approx (68 in - 2*8 in) = 52 in from the end of the first flag to the start of the second flag. Given panel heights are 8 in each, you will knit the middle until your total length before final panel equals approx 52 in. At gauge (6 rows per inch), 52 in -> ~312 rows. Adjust length to personal preference.

Flag panel 2 — Union Jack (last end)

Panel height: 48 rows (same as Irish end). Work 48 rows in navy as a plain stockinette panel; the Union Jack detail will be added afterward with duplicate stitch.

1. Work 48 rows in navy as before—this forms the background for the Union Jack.
2. After completing the 48 rows, bind off in pattern (purlwise or knitwise as appropriate to maintain edge).

Optional fringe

If adding fringe, cut yarn lengths double the desired fringe length, fold in half, and attach evenly along both short edges. Typical fringe length 2-3 in (5-7.5 cm).

Union Jack duplicate-stitch diagram & instructions

Use a removable marker to find center of the navy panel (center across width = between sts 21 and 22 for a 42-st piece). The Union Jack scales to fill the 42 x 48 grid. The general construction: white broad cross (St George) vertically and horizontally, white diagonal saltires (St Andrew) narrower banding, and red central crosses (St George red cross narrower inside the white) and red diagonal crosslets (St Patrick) inside the white diagonals. Because knitting exact geometry is tricky at this small scale, follow the simplified chart below and use duplicate stitch to fill red and white on the navy background.

Legend: B=navy (knit ground), W=white duplicate stitch, R=red duplicate stitch
Columns: 42 (1..42) rows: 48 (top..bottom)
(Chart scaled; row 1 = top of panel)
Example simplified center rows (excerpt):
Column numbers above for reference (1..42):
 1         11        21        31        41
123456789012345678901234567890123456789012
BBBBBWWWBBBBWWWB...WWWB BBBBB   (use chart in attached file for exact mapping)

Because rendering a full 42x48 ASCII chart in-line is long, follow these practical steps:
1) Mark the center and quarter-lines: vertical center at stitch 21/22; horizontal center at row 24.
2) Work the white central cross: duplicate-stitch a band 4 sts wide centered vertically and horizontally (i.e., 2 sts either side of center). For example, duplicate-stitch white over 4 stitches high across the central horizontal band and 4 stitches wide down the central vertical band.
3) Add red central cross: duplicate-stitch a 2-st wide red cross centered inside the white cross.
4) Diagonals: duplicate-stitch white diagonals from corners toward center, making the white diagonal bands approximately 3 sts wide. Inside those white diagonals, add red diagonal accents approximately 1-2 sts wide offset toward the center to mimic the Union Jack pattern. Use photos of the Union Jack as reference and step back frequently to judge scale.
5) Work duplicate stitch neatly: carry the colored yarn across the back only if you will weave it in, otherwise use a new length for each section to avoid long floats. Duplicate stitch follows the knit 'V' shape and preserves fabric elasticity better than embroidery stitches that pull through multiple rows.

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends from intarsia and duplicate stitch securely on the wrong side. Trim excess.
2. Block lightly to even out stitches and flatten duplicate-stitch areas; steam-block carefully for your yarn type or wet block and pin to measurements.
3. If desired, add fringe to both ends by folding strands and knotting; trim evenly.

Tips & troubleshooting

• Intarsia: use balls/bobbins for each color segment; never carry colors across a large number of sts — twist at color joins to prevent holes.
• Duplicate stitch: practice on a scrap swatch to match the scale. Duplicate stitch looks best when the background is stockinette and the stitches are placed following the knit rows exactly.
• Gauge variation: if your gauge differs, change needle size and recalc stitches. To keep stripe proportions for the Irish flag, maintain 1:1:1 stripe stitch counts across the width.

Variations

• Swap techniques: knit the Union Jack as intarsia for a fully knitted flag (advanced; requires many color joins) or knit the Irish flag as longitudinal stripes along the length of the scarf instead of across the width.
• Make a reversible version by designing mirror-image panels and double-thick fabric (advanced double-knit).

Questions about techniques or specific adjustments? Contact support: team@verde.uk or visit https://purljam.verde.uk. Share finished projects with #purljam on socials.

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