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# Kenzi Dog Bandana

A charming triangular bandana for a small dog, worked flat in warm worsted (aran) weight yarn. The pet's name — **KENZI** — is worked in a contrast colour straight across the centre band, using simple colourwork from the attached stitch chart. The bandana ties around the neck, so it adjusts easily for comfort. An ideal intermediate project to practise tapestry colourwork and symmetrical triangle shaping.

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## Skill Level
**Intermediate** — requires basic colourwork (carrying/changing colours) and consistent decreasing.

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## Finished Measurements (Small)
- **Neck edge (top, widest point):** approx. 35 cm
- **Depth (point):** approx. 31 cm
- **Tie length:** approx. 25 cm each side (adjustable)

> Suitable for a small dog with a neck circumference of roughly 25–33 cm. The ties wrap and tie, so there is flexibility.

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## Materials
- **Yarn:** Worsted / aran weight yarn (medium, 100% wool or wool blend recommended)
  - **Colour A (main):** approx. 70 m / 35 g
  - **Colour B (lettering):** approx. 15 m / 8 g
- **Hook:** 5.0 mm (UK metric) crochet hook
- **Notions:** Tapestry/yarn needle for weaving in ends; stitch markers (optional); small bobbins for managing Colour B (optional but helpful)

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## Tension (Gauge)
**14 tr × 8 rows = 10 cm** square in treble crochet, using 5.0 mm hook.

> Tension matters for fit. Make a small swatch and adjust hook size if needed. (Gauge note: tr = UK treble = US dc.)

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## Abbreviations (UK Terminology)
- **ch** — chain
- **dc** — double crochet (= US single crochet)
- **tr** — treble crochet (= US double crochet)
- **tr2tog** — treble two together (decrease over next 2 stitches)
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **sl st** — slip stitch
- **RS / WS** — right side / wrong side
- **A** — Colour A (main)
- **B** — Colour B (lettering)
- **rep** — repeat

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## Special Stitch Definitions
- **tr2tog (decrease):** [Yarn over, insert hook in next st, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops] twice (3 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through all 3 loops. (Reduces count by 1.)
- **Colour change in tr:** Work the final stitch before the change until 2 loops remain on the hook, then yarn over with the **new colour** and complete the stitch. This sets the new colour cleanly for the next stitch.

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## Pattern Notes
- The bandana is worked **flat in rows**, from the **top (neck) edge down to the point**.
- The **turning chain of 3 (ch-3) counts as the first tr** throughout.
- You will **decrease 1 st at each end of every row**, reducing the row count by 2 each row, forming a symmetrical triangle.
- Work in **both loops** unless otherwise stated.
- The lettering is worked using **intarsia/tapestry colourwork** across the centre rows (see Attached Stitch Chart). Stitch counts are given at the end of each row in parentheses.
- **Ties** are added last along the top neck edge.

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## Attached Stitch Chart

**Use the separate attached chart panel for the visual grid — do not look for a grid printed here.**

- **Placement:** The attached chart sits as its own panel immediately following this pattern document, labelled **"KENZI Lettering Chart."** It corresponds to **Rows 9–14** of the bandana (the centre band).
- **How to read it (crochet, worked flat):**
  - Each **square = 1 tr**. The chart is **31 squares wide × 6 rows tall**.
  - Because you work flat and turn each row, **read RS rows (odd: Rows 9, 11, 13) from RIGHT to LEFT**, and **WS rows (even: Rows 10, 12, 14) from LEFT to RIGHT**. This keeps the letters facing the right way on the RS.
  - **Empty/blank squares = Colour A**; **filled/shaded squares = Colour B** (the name).
- **Colour/yarn management:**
  - Use the **colour-change-in-tr** method (see Special Stitches): switch on the **last yarn-over of the stitch before** the new colour begins.
  - **Carry** the unused colour loosely along the WS behind the worked stitches, or use **small bobbins** for each colour block to avoid long floats. Keep carries loose to prevent puckering.
  - Drop and pick up colours at the **same edge of each colour block** for the neatest result.
- **Stitch-count integration math:** The chart is **31 sts wide and is centred** within the working row. At Row 9 you have **41 sts**; centring 31 chart sts leaves **(41 − 31) ÷ 2 = 5 sts of Colour A** at each side. As the rows decrease, the side margins shrink by 1 st each end per row, while the **31-st chart stays centred**. The chart designer has accounted for these decreases at the chart edges — follow the chart squares exactly for both colour and the edge decreases noted below.

> If your dog's name differs in length, ensure the chart width does not exceed the available stitches at Row 9 (41 sts).

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## Instructions

### Foundation
With **Colour A**, ch **50**.

**Row 1 (RS):** 1 tr in 4th ch from hook (the skipped 3 ch count as first tr), 1 tr in each ch to end, turn. **(49 sts)**
> Count check: 50 ch − 1 (turning allowance) = 49 tr. ✓

### Triangle Shaping — Plain Rows (Colour A)
The decrease pattern for **every** row from here is:

**Decrease row:** ch 3 (counts as first tr), tr2tog over next 2 sts, 1 tr in each st until 3 sts remain, tr2tog over next 2 sts, 1 tr in last st, turn.
> This removes 1 st at each end = **2 sts decreased per row**.

**Row 2 (WS):** Work decrease row in A. **(47 sts)**
**Row 3 (RS):** Work decrease row in A. **(45 sts)**
**Row 4 (WS):** Work decrease row in A. **(43 sts)**
**Row 5 (RS):** Work decrease row in A. **(41 sts)**

> Count check at end of Row 5: 49 − (4 rows × 2) = 41 sts. ✓

Wait — Rows 6–8 continue plain before the chart begins:

**Row 6 (WS):** Work decrease row in A. **(39 sts)**
**Row 7 (RS):** Work decrease row in A. **(37 sts)**
**Row 8 (WS):** Work decrease row in A. **(35 sts)**

> Count check: 49 − (7 × 2) = 35 sts. ✓

### Lettering Band (Colours A + B) — Follow Attached Chart
For Rows 9–14, work the **decrease row structure** (tr2tog each end) **AND** follow the **KENZI Lettering Chart** for colour placement across the centre stitches. The chart's outer columns include the edge decrease stitches.

**Row 9 (RS):** Work decrease row, changing between A and B per the chart (read right to left). **(33 sts)**
**Row 10 (WS):** Work decrease row per chart (read left to right). **(31 sts)**
**Row 11 (RS):** Work decrease row per chart (read right to left). **(29 sts)**
**Row 12 (WS):** Work decrease row per chart (read left to right). **(27 sts)**
**Row 13 (RS):** Work decrease row per chart (read right to left). **(25 sts)**
**Row 14 (WS):** Work decrease row per chart (read left to right). **(23 sts)**

> Count check: 35 − (6 × 2) = 23 sts. ✓
> Colour note: After Row 14, **fasten off Colour B** and weave in its ends. Continue in **Colour A** only.

### Triangle Shaping — Plain Rows to Point (Colour A)
Continue the decrease row in A each row:

**Row 15 (RS):** decrease row. **(21 sts)**
**Row 16 (WS):** decrease row. **(19 sts)**
**Row 17 (RS):** decrease row. **(17 sts)**
**Row 18 (WS):** decrease row. **(15 sts)**
**Row 19 (RS):** decrease row. **(13 sts)**
**Row 20 (WS):** decrease row. **(11 sts)**
**Row 21 (RS):** decrease row. **(9 sts)**
**Row 22 (WS):** decrease row. **(7 sts)**
**Row 23 (RS):** decrease row. **(5 sts)**
**Row 24 (WS):** decrease row. **(3 sts)**

**Row 25 (RS — final point):** ch 1, tr3tog over the 3 sts (yarn over, draw through all loops to gather), turn. **(1 st)**
> Count check: 49 sts decreasing by 2 over 24 rows = 1 st; gathered to a single point at Row 25. ✓

Fasten off, leaving a 10 cm tail.

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## Ties (Make 2 — one at each top corner)
With RS facing and **Colour A**:

1. Join A with a sl st to the **right-hand corner** of the top (neck) edge — the foundation-chain edge.
2. **ch 36** (this forms the tie; approx. 25 cm).
3. **Row 1:** Starting in 2nd ch from hook, dc in each ch to the corner, then sl st to secure at the corner. Fasten off. **(35 dc tie)**
4. Repeat at the **left-hand corner** for the second tie.

> Tip: For thicker, sturdier ties, work the dc in back loop only, or double the chain and slip-stitch back along it.

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## Finishing
1. Weave in all ends securely with the tapestry needle, especially around the colour changes on the WS of the lettering band.
2. Gently **block** the bandana flat to a triangle, pinning the neck edge straight and the point centred. Allow to dry fully — this sharpens the letter shapes and evens the tension.
3. Trim any remaining tails.

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## Care
Hand wash gently in cool water and lay flat to dry. If using superwash wool or acrylic, follow the yarn band instructions. Always supervise your dog while wearing the bandana; remove before unsupervised play or sleep.

**Enjoy your Kenzi bandana!**