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# GOLDEN RETRIEVER COLORWORK CHART
**A Beginner-Friendly Fair Isle Motif**

## DESCRIPTION
This charming colorwork chart features a golden retriever in profile, perfect for adding to blankets, pillow covers, the front of a sweater, or any flat knitting project. The 24-stitch wide design is beginner-friendly and uses just two colors for easy color management.

## FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chart measures approximately 5.3" wide × 3.7" tall (13.5 cm × 9.5 cm) at gauge.

## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: Worsted weight yarn in 2 colors
- **MC (Main Color)**: Approximately 25 yards for background - suggest cream, light blue, or green
- **CC (Contrast Color)**: Approximately 20 yards for dog - suggest golden, amber, or honey color

**Needles**: US 7 (4.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge

**Notions**: 
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
- Stitch markers (optional, for marking chart edges)

## GAUGE
18 stitches × 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stranded stockinette stitch, blocked

*Gauge is important for achieving the correct finished size. Take time to check your gauge with both colors.*

## ABBREVIATIONS
- CC: Contrast Color
- k: knit
- MC: Main Color
- RS: Right Side
- WS: Wrong Side

## PATTERN NOTES

**About This Chart**:
- This chart can be incorporated into any flat knitting project worked in stockinette stitch
- The chart is worked in stranded colorwork (Fair Isle technique) with yarn carried on the wrong side
- Chart is read from bottom to top
- RS (odd-numbered) rows are read from right to left
- WS (even-numbered) rows are read from left to right
- All chart stitches are worked in stockinette stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS)

**Colorwork Tips for Beginners**:
1. **Tension**: Keep your floats (carried yarn) loose enough to maintain fabric stretch. Spread stitches out on your right needle before carrying yarn across the back.
2. **Float Length**: No float in this pattern exceeds 7 stitches, which is manageable for beginners.
3. **Yarn Management**: Hold MC in your left hand and CC in your right (or vice versa) to prevent twisting.
4. **Swatch First**: Practice the colorwork technique with a small swatch before incorporating into your main project.

## CHART A: GOLDEN RETRIEVER PROFILE
**24 stitches × 22 rows**

```
Row 22: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 21: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 20: □□□■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 19: □□■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 18: □□■■□■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 17: □□■■□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□
Row 16: □□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□
Row 15: □□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□
Row 14: □□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□
Row 13: □□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□
Row 12: □□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□
Row 11: □□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□
Row 10: □□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□
Row 9:  □□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□
Row 8:  □□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□
Row 7:  □□□□□□□□■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□
Row 6:  □□□□□□□□□■■□□■■□□□□□□□□□
Row 5:  □□□□□□□□□■■□□■■□□□□□□□□□
Row 4:  □□□□□□□□□■■□□■■□□□□□□□□□
Row 3:  □□□□□□□□□■■□□■■□□□□□□□□□
Row 2:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 1:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
```

**CHART KEY**:
- □ = MC (Main Color - Background)
- ■ = CC (Contrast Color - Golden Retriever)

## INSTRUCTIONS

**How to Read the Chart**:
1. Start at the bottom right corner (Row 1, rightmost stitch)
2. RS rows (odd numbers): Read from right to left, knit all stitches
3. WS rows (even numbers): Read from left to right, purl all stitches
4. Each square represents one stitch in the color indicated

**Working the Chart**:

*Setup*: Cast on 24 stitches using MC and your preferred cast-on method.

*Rows 1-2*: Work in MC only.
- Row 1 (RS): Knit all 24 sts in MC.
- Row 2 (WS): Purl all 24 sts in MC.

*Rows 3-21*: Follow chart, working in stranded colorwork.
- When changing colors, bring new color from underneath the old color to prevent holes
- Carry unused color loosely across the back
- For longer floats (more than 5 stitches), consider catching the float by twisting yarns together mid-span

*Row 22*: Work in MC only.
- Purl all 24 sts in MC.

**Stitch Count Verification** (Row 17 example):
Row 17: 2 MC + 2 CC + 2 MC + 2 CC + 10 MC + 2 CC + 2 MC + 2 CC = 24 stitches ✓

## INCORPORATING INTO YOUR PROJECT

**For a Blanket Square**:
1. Cast on 24 sts with MC
2. Work 4-6 rows in stockinette or garter stitch for border
3. Work Rows 1-22 of chart
4. Work 4-6 rows in stockinette or garter stitch for border
5. Bind off

**For a Centered Panel**:
- Add equal numbers of MC stitches on each side of the 24-stitch chart
- Example: For a 40-stitch panel, work 8 MC, 24 chart stitches, 8 MC

**For a Sweater Front**:
- Calculate center position of your sweater front
- Place chart so it's centered horizontally
- Work chart at desired height (typically between bust and underarm)

## FINISHING

1. **Weave in Ends**: Weave all ends horizontally along color changes on the WS, following the path of same-colored stitches for about 2" (5 cm).

2. **Block**: Wet block or steam block your finished piece to even out colorwork tension. Pin to measurements and allow to dry completely.

3. **Check Floats**: Before blocking, check that all floats on the WS are secure but not too tight.

## DESIGN NOTES

This golden retriever design features:
- **Head and ear** (Rows 16-20): The ear drapes forward, characteristic of golden retrievers
- **Body** (Rows 6-15): Medium build with gradual taper
- **Legs** (Rows 3-10): Front and back legs in standing position
- **Tail** (Rows 16-17): Slightly raised tail on the right side

The simple two-color design makes this perfect for beginners learning stranded colorwork, while still creating a recognizable and charming dog silhouette.

## CUSTOMIZATION IDEAS

- **Add detail**: Use duplicate stitch after knitting to add an eye or collar in a third color
- **Size variations**: Use different yarn weights to scale the design (sport weight for smaller, bulky for larger)
- **Color variations**: Try a black or chocolate brown CC for different retriever colors, or get creative with fantasy colors!
- **Border**: Add a contrasting border around the chart for a framed effect

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**Pattern designed for beginner colorwork knitters**
*Chart dimensions: 24 stitches wide × 22 rows tall*