purlJam

# Basset Hound Face Motif
**Designer:** Pattern Designer & Technical Editor Persona
**Difficulty:** Beginner
**Technique:** Intarsia or Duplicate Stitch

This pattern provides the colorwork instructions to add a Basset Hound face to a Christmas stocking. It is designed for worsted weight yarn.

### MATERIALS
*   **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Category 4) in three colors:
    *   **Color A:** White (approx. 20 yards) - for muzzle and blaze.
    *   **Color B:** Tan or Brown (approx. 30 yards) - for ears and head.
    *   **Color C:** Black (approx. 5 yards) - for nose and eyes.
*   **Needles:** Use the size required to match the gauge of your stocking (typically US 7 / 4.5 mm or US 8 / 5 mm).
*   **Tools:** Tapestry needle for duplicate stitching details and weaving in ends.

### SPECIFICATIONS
*   **Gauge:** 20 sts and 26 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.
    *   *Math Check:* (20 sts / 4" = 5 sts per inch).
*   **Finished Dimensions:** Approximately 5 inches (12.7 cm) wide and 5 inches (12.7 cm) tall.

### TERMINOLOGY & ABBREVIATIONS
*   **K:** Knit
*   **P:** Purl
*   **St(s):** Stitch(es)
*   **MC:** Main Color of your stocking (background)
*   **Color A:** White
*   **Color B:** Tan/Brown
*   **Color C:** Black
*   **RS:** Right Side
*   **WS:** Wrong Side

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### INSTRUCTIONS

The motif is 25 stitches wide. When working this into a stocking, find the center stitch of your stocking's front and count 12 stitches to the right to find your starting point for the motif.

**Note for Beginners:** For the cleanest look, knit the white (Color A) and tan (Color B) sections using the Intarsia method (twisting yarns at the color change). Use **Color C (Black)** at the very end to "Duplicate Stitch" (embroider) the nose and eyes over the existing knit stitches.

#### The Face (Bottom-Up)
**Row 1 (RS):** With Color A, K25. 
**Row 2 (WS):** With Color A, P25.
**Rows 3-6:** Repeat Rows 1-2. (This forms the bottom of the muzzle).
**Row 7 (RS):** (Begin Ears) With Color B, K8; With Color A, K9; With Color B, K8. (Total 25 sts).
**Row 8 (WS):** With Color B, P9; With Color A, P7; With Color B, P9.
**Row 9 (RS):** With Color B, K10; With Color A, K5; With Color B, K10.
**Rows 10-20:** Repeat Row 9, maintaining the 5-stitch white blaze in the center and 10-stitch tan ears on the sides.
**Row 21 (RS):** With Color B, K25. (Closing the blaze).
**Rows 22-28:** With Color B, Work in Stockinette stitch (K on RS, P on WS) for 7 rows.
**Row 29 (RS):** K2, K2tog, K17, ssk, K2. (23 sts).
**Row 30 (WS):** Purl.
**Row 31 (RS):** K2, K2tog, K15, ssk, K2. (21 sts).
**Row 32 (WS):** Purl.
Bind off or continue with stocking background color.

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### FINISHING (Duplicate Stitch Details)
Refer to a photo of a Basset Hound for placement, or follow these coordinates based on the motif stitches:

1.  **The Nose (Color C):**
    Locate Row 10. Center the nose on the 5 white stitches (Color A). Using a tapestry needle, duplicate stitch over 3 stitches wide and 2 rows high (Rows 10 and 11).
    *Math Check:* Center is stitch 13. Nose covers stitches 12, 13, and 14.

2.  **The Eyes (Color C):**
    Locate Row 18. The eyes should be placed at the inner edge of the Tan (Color B) sections to give that "droopy" look. 
    *   **Left Eye:** Duplicate stitch over 1 stitch at Row 18, Column 10.
    *   **Right Eye:** Duplicate stitch over 1 stitch at Row 18, Column 16.

3.  **The Eyelids (Optional - Color B):**
    To make the eyes look sadder, stitch a small horizontal line of Color B slightly overlapping the top half of the Black eye stitches.

**Technical Tip:** When weaving in ends, ensure you do not pull too tightly, as this will distort the "wrinkled" look characteristic of the Basset Hound's forehead.