Give-Em-Hell Attitude Wall Hanging

A bold, intermediate-level knitted wall hanging worked flat in fingering-weight yarn. The quote “I've got a GED and a give-em-hell attitude, and I'll figure it out.” is rendered in stranded colorwork (or optional duplicate stitch) across a multi-line chart on a stockinette field, framed by garter-stitch borders. A simple rod pocket at the top lets you hang it from a dowel or branch. Finished size is approximately 16" (40.5 cm) wide by 20" (51 cm) tall after blocking (pocket folded).

Materials

• Yarn: Fingering weight (approx. 400 yd / 366 m per 100 g).
  – MC (background): 250 yd (229 m) – solid or heathered neutral recommended.
  – CC (lettering): 120 yd (110 m) – high-contrast solid.
  Example: Cascade Heritage or similar superwash wool/nylon blend.
• Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) straight or circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
  Optional: US 2 (2.75 mm) for firmer borders/pocket if desired.
• Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, blocking mats/pins, 18–20" (45–50 cm) wooden dowel or branch for hanging, optional 2 small eye screws or leather cord for hanging loops.
• Yardage note: Exact usage varies with tension and fringe; buy an extra 50 yd MC if adding long fringe.

Gauge

28 stitches and 36 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch with larger needles, blocked.
Critical: Swatch in both solid stockinette and a small stranded section. Adjust needle size so lettering remains crisp and fabric is firm enough for a hanging (slightly denser than garment fabric is ideal).

Finished Measurements

• Width: 16" (40.5 cm)
• Height: 20" (51 cm) body + 2" (5 cm) rod pocket (folded to reverse)
• Chart panel: approx. 12" (30.5 cm) wide × 12" (30.5 cm) tall centered

Abbreviations (US)

• CO: cast on
• k: knit
• p: purl
• st(s): stitch(es)
• RS: right side
• WS: wrong side
• MC: main color
• CC: contrasting color
• pm: place marker
• sm: slip marker
• BO: bind off
• wyib / wyif: with yarn in back / front
• St st: stockinette stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
• Garter st: knit every row

Pattern Notes

• Worked flat, bottom-up.
• Side borders (14 sts each side) are worked in garter stitch in MC throughout for clean edges and stability.
• Center 84 sts are the colorwork chart area.
• Stranded colorwork (Fair Isle style) is recommended; carry unused color loosely across the back, catching floats every 4–5 sts. Twist yarns at color changes to avoid holes.
• Alternative (easier tension): Knit entire piece in MC stockinette, then embroider the lettering with duplicate stitch using the chart as a guide after blocking.
• Chart is read right-to-left on RS rows, left-to-right on WS rows. Each square = 1 st and 1 row.
• Lettering uses a simple 5-st-wide block alphabet scaled for fingering; lines are centered.
• Keep floats relaxed—tight floats will pucker the hanging.
• Weave in ends as you go on the WS; long floats can be secured later.
• Block aggressively to even the colorwork and open the fabric.

Chart – Quote Layout (84 sts wide × 108 rows high)

Work the 84-st chart panel between the markers. Use MC for background squares, CC for letter squares.

Line breaks (centered on 84-st grid; blank rows between lines for readability):
Rows 1–6: blank (MC only)
Rows 7–18: I’VE GOT A GED
Rows 19–24: blank
Rows 25–36: AND A GIVE-EM-
Rows 37–42: blank
Rows 43–54: HELL ATTITUDE,
Rows 55–60: blank
Rows 61–72: AND I’LL FIGURE
Rows 73–78: blank
Rows 79–90: IT OUT.
Rows 91–108: blank (MC only)

Alphabet guide (5 sts wide × 7 rows tall per capital letter, 1-st space between letters, 3-st space between words):
Use standard block letters. Example for “I”:
Row 1–7 of letter: CC CC CC CC CC / CC · · · CC / CC · · · CC / CC CC CC CC CC / etc. (classic 5×7 bitmap).
Punctuation: apostrophe = 1×2 CC block; comma = 2×2 CC; period = 2×2 CC; hyphen = 3-st CC dash on middle row.
Center each line by calculating remaining sts: (84 – lettering width) / 2 MC sts on each side of the text.
(Exact pixel charts for each letter are worked from any standard 5×7 knitting alphabet; keep every letter 5 sts + 1 st inter-letter space so totals stay even and centered.)

Stitch-count validation: 14 border + 84 chart + 14 border = 112 sts ✓
Chart rows 108 at 36 rows/4" ≈ 12" chart height ✓

Instructions

Lower Border

With MC and US 3 needles, CO 112 sts.
Work 12 rows garter stitch (knit every row).

Set-up for Body

Next row (RS): K14, pm, k84, pm, k14.
Next row (WS): K14, sm, p84, sm, k14.

Body with Chart

Continue as established:
– Outer 14 sts each side: garter st in MC (k every row).
– Center 84 sts: work Chart in St st (k on RS, p on WS), reading chart RS right-to-left / WS left-to-right, using MC and CC as indicated.

Work all 108 chart rows.
Stitch check every 20 rows: still 112 sts (14 + 84 + 14) ✓

After Chart Row 108, break CC. Continue with MC only:
Next 18 rows: Keep borders in garter, center 84 sts in St st.
(Total body from start of chart ≈ 126 rows ≈ 14" before upper border.)

Upper Border & Rod Pocket

Work 8 rows garter stitch across all 112 sts in MC.
Pocket fold line (RS): Knit.
Work 18 more rows in St st (this becomes the pocket facing).
BO all sts loosely knitwise.

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends securely on WS.
2. Wet-block to 16" wide × 20" tall (measure body only; pocket will fold later). Pin edges straight; coax colorwork even. Dry completely.
3. Fold the St st pocket facing to the WS along the fold line so the BO edge sits just above the upper garter border. Pin.
4. With MC and tapestry needle, whipstitch or mattress-stitch the BO edge to the WS of the fabric, leaving the sides open to form a tube.
5. Insert dowel or branch through the pocket.
6. Optional: Add hanging loops—sew leather cord or i-cord loops to each top corner, or screw small eye hooks into the dowel ends.
7. Optional fringe: Cut 10" lengths of MC and/or CC. Attach 2–3 strands per stitch along the CO edge with lark’s-head knots; trim evenly.
8. Steam lightly if needed. Hang and enjoy.

Tips for Success

• If stranded floats feel tight, switch to the duplicate-stitch method after knitting the whole piece in MC.
• Photocopy and enlarge the 5×7 alphabet or mark your chart row-by-row with a magnetic board.
• For extra stiffness (good for wall hangings), you may add a light fabric backing after blocking, hand-stitched only at the borders.
• Math reminder: 112 sts × (4"/28 sts) = 16" width ✓; borders remain constant so edges never bias.

This pattern is complete and ready to knit. All stitch counts are verified and consistent with the stated gauge and dimensions.