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# "Knit Fast, Die Warm" — Knitted Wall Sign

A cheeky chunky-knit wall hanging: a crisp white stocking-stitch panel framed by a tidy garter border, with the slogan **KNIT FAST DIE WARM** added afterwards in black embroidery (duplicate stitch). Because the lettering is embroidered on top of the finished knitting, this is a genuinely beginner-friendly make — no colourwork, no carrying yarns, just plain knitting plus a little stitching at the end.

**Finished size:** approx. 40 cm wide × 40 cm tall (15¾" × 15¾"), unstretched after blocking.

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## Materials

- **Main colour (MC – white):** Chunky weight yarn, approx. 120 m (130 yds) / roughly 100–110 g. Choose a smooth, light-coloured chunky yarn so the black lettering reads clearly.
- **Contrast colour (CC – black):** Small amount of chunky or aran weight yarn for embroidery, approx. 25 m (28 yds). A slightly thinner yarn (aran) can give neater letters; chunky gives bolder ones.
- **Needles:** 6 mm (UK old size 4 / US 10) straight or circular needles, used flat.
- **Notions:**
  - Blunt-tipped tapestry/darning needle (for embroidery and weaving in)
  - Stitch markers (optional)
  - A length of dowel or a thin branch, approx. 50 cm, for hanging (optional)
  - Scrap yarn or ribbon for a hanging loop (optional)
  - Rust-proof pins and a blocking surface

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## Tension (Gauge)

**14 sts and 20 rows = 10 cm (4")** over stocking stitch on 6 mm needles, after blocking.

Tension matters here for the lettering to sit squarely — please knit a small swatch and adjust needle size if needed.

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## Size

One size: **56 sts × 80 rows**, giving approx. **40 cm × 40 cm**.

*Width check:* 56 sts ÷ 14 sts/10 cm × 10 = **40 cm** ✓
*Height check:* 80 rows ÷ 20 rows/10 cm × 10 = **40 cm** ✓

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## Abbreviations (UK terminology)

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **RS** – right side
- **WS** – wrong side
- **st st** – stocking stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
- **g st** – garter stitch (k every row)
- **MC** – main colour (white)
- **CC** – contrast colour (black)
- **rep** – repeat

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## Pattern Notes

- The sign is worked **flat in one piece**, from the bottom up.
- A **5-stitch garter border** is worked at each side, plus **6 garter rows** top and bottom, framing a central **46-st × 68-row** stocking-stitch panel.
- The lettering is **NOT knitted in** — it is added afterwards using **duplicate stitch (Swiss darning)** embroidery in black. This keeps the knitting simple and lets beginners place the letters precisely.
- Centre panel maths: 56 total sts − (5 + 5 border sts) = **46 sts** of stocking stitch available for lettering. ✓
- Keep an even tension and don't pull the embroidery yarn tight, or the fabric will pucker.

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## Attached Stitch Chart

**Use the separate attached chart panel** for the visual letter grid — do not look for a grid drawn inside these written instructions; it is supplied as its own asset.

- **Placement:** The attached chart corresponds to the **central 46-stitch-wide × 64-row-tall embroidery area** of the panel. It is positioned to sit centred within the stocking-stitch field, leaving a 2-row stocking-stitch margin top and bottom inside the body and the 5-st garter frame at each side.
- **How to read it (for embroidery / duplicate stitch):** Each square on the chart = **one knitted stitch (one "V")** on your finished white panel. Read the chart the same way you read your knitting: **start at the bottom-left** square and work the bottom row of letters first, moving **upward** row by row. Because this is embroidery rather than knitting, there is no need to alternate direction — simply match each filled (black) square on the chart to the corresponding V on your fabric.
- **Colour handling:** Filled squares = **CC (black) duplicate stitch**; blank squares = leave as **MC (white)** background, no stitching. There is no stranding or carrying of yarn through the knitting itself.
- **Yarn management:** Work each letter (or each short colour run) with a comfortable length of CC (about 60–80 cm at a time) to avoid tangling. Secure starts and ends on the **wrong side** with a couple of small stitches; do not carry long floats across the back where they may show through a light background.
- **Stitch-count integration:** Centre your chart by counting in **5 garter sts + 0–1 plain sts** from each edge so that 46 chart columns align with your 46 stocking-stitch columns. Vertically, begin the chart on **body row 3** (i.e. after the lower garter border + 2 st st margin rows) so the 64 chart rows finish with a 2-row margin before the top garter border. (6 + 2 + 64 + 2 + 6 = 80 rows ✓.)

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## Instructions

### Lower border
With MC and 6 mm needles, **cast on 56 sts.**

Work **6 rows in garter stitch** (k every row), ending after a WS row.
*Row count so far: 6.*

### Main panel
Set up the side borders with garter stitch and a stocking-stitch centre:

- **Row 1 (RS):** k5, k46, k5. (56 sts)
- **Row 2 (WS):** k5, p46, k5. (56 sts)

Repeat Rows 1–2 until you have worked **68 rows** of the main panel, ending after a WS (Row 2) row.

*Centre panel maths check:* 5 + 46 + 5 = **56 sts** every row ✓.
*Row count so far: 6 + 68 = 74.*

### Upper border
Work **6 rows in garter stitch** (k every row), ending after a WS row.

*Total rows: 74 + 6 = 80 ✓ → 40 cm tall.*

**Cast off** all 56 sts loosely knitwise.

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## Embroidering the Lettering (Duplicate Stitch)

1. **Block first.** Pin the finished piece to 40 × 40 cm, mist with water, and leave to dry. Blocking flattens the Vs and makes them easy to follow.
2. **Find your grid.** With the RS facing, identify the 46-stitch-wide stocking-stitch field. Lightly mark, with removable pins or contrast scrap thread, the lower-left corner of the chart area: **5 sts in from the left edge, and 2 st st rows up from the lower garter border.**
3. **Thread** the tapestry needle with CC (black). Anchor on the WS.
4. **Work each filled square as a duplicate stitch:** bring the needle up at the base of the V you are covering, pass it under the two legs of the stitch one row above, then back down where you came up. This lays a new black "V" exactly over the white one.
5. **Follow the attached chart**, working bottom-to-top, one row of letters at a time, until **KNIT FAST DIE WARM** is complete.
6. Keep tension relaxed and even. Weave ends into the WS.

*Tip:* If you prefer, the slogan can instead be worked in simple **backstitch / chain stitch** following the same chart outline — duplicate stitch gives the crispest "knitted-look" letters.

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## Finishing

1. **Weave in** all loose ends (MC and CC) neatly on the wrong side.
2. **Re-block** gently if the embroidery has distorted the fabric; pin square and allow to dry.
3. **Hanging (optional):**
   - **Dowel method:** Fold the top garter border to the WS to form a casing and slip-stitch in place, leaving the ends open; insert the dowel and tie a length of yarn to each end for hanging.
   - **Loop method:** Make a twisted cord or plait from MC, fold into a loop, and stitch securely to the two top corners on the WS.
4. Display your finished sign with pride — and knit responsibly.

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**Verification summary:** 56 sts cast on = 40 cm wide ✓ · 80 total rows = 40 cm tall ✓ · borders 5 + 46 + 5 = 56 sts every body row ✓ · chart area 46 × 64 sits centred (6+2+64+2+6 = 80 rows; 5+46+5 = 56 sts) ✓.