purlJam

# LE BELGE INTARSIA SCARF

A striking 5-foot scarf featuring bold intarsia lettering in classic black and red. This intermediate project combines stockinette stitch with intarsia colorwork to create a statement piece perfect for showing your Belgian pride.

## MATERIALS

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight yarn (4)
  - Color A (Black): 300 yards
  - Color B (Red): 100 yards
- **Needles:** US 8 (5.0 mm) straight or circular needles
- **Notions:** Tapestry needle, stitch markers, bobbins for intarsia work
- **Gauge Tools:** Ruler or tape measure

## GAUGE

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch
*Gauge is critical for proper sizing - always make a gauge swatch*

## FINISHED SIZE

Width: 8" (20 cm)
Length: 60" (152 cm)

## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** - knit
- **p** - purl
- **RS** - right side
- **WS** - wrong side
- **st(s)** - stitch(es)
- **CO** - cast on
- **BO** - bind off

## PATTERN

### Cast On
With Color A (Black), CO 36 sts.

### Border
Rows 1-6: Knit all sts (garter stitch border).

### Body Setup
Row 7 (RS): K3, place marker, k30, place marker, k3.
Row 8 (WS): K3, p30, k3.

*Note: Maintain 3-stitch garter borders throughout. Only the center 30 stitches will be worked in stockinette and intarsia.*

### Plain Section 1
Continue in established pattern (garter borders with stockinette center) for 96 rows total from cast on, ending with a WS row.

### Intarsia Section - "LE BELGE"

**Preparation:** Wind small bobbins of Color B for each red section. Twist yarns when changing colors to prevent holes.

**Chart Instructions:** Work rows 97-144 following the intarsia chart below, reading RS rows from right to left and WS rows from left to right.

```
LE BELGE INTARSIA CHART (48 rows x 30 stitches)
□ = Color A (Black)  ■ = Color B (Red)

Row 144: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 143: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 142: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 141: □□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□
Row 140: □□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□
Row 139: □□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□
Row 138: □□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□
Row 137: □□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□
         [continues for "E" of "BELGE"]

Row 136-132: [Letter "G" pattern in Color B]
Row 131-127: [Letter "L" pattern in Color B] 
Row 126-122: [Letter "E" pattern in Color B]
Row 121-117: [Letter "B" pattern in Color B]
Row 116-114: [Space between words]
Row 113-109: [Letter "E" pattern in Color B]
Row 108-104: [Letter "L" pattern in Color B]

Row 103: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 102: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 101: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 100: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 99:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 98:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 97:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
```

**Detailed Letter Patterns (each letter is 5 stitches wide x 9 rows tall):**

**Letter "L":** 
```
■■■□□
■■■□□
■■■□□
■■■□□
■■■□□
■■■□□
■■■□□
■■■■■
■■■■■
```

**Letter "E":**
```
■■■■■
■■■■■
■■■□□
■■■■■
■■■■■
■■■□□
■■■□□
■■■■■
■■■■■
```

**Space between words:** 2 stitches of Color A

### Plain Section 2
Rows 145-240: Continue in established pattern with Color A only for 96 rows.

### Border
Rows 241-246: Knit all sts.
BO all sts knitwise.

## FINISHING

1. **Weave in ends:** Carefully weave in all yarn ends on the wrong side, securing intarsia color changes.

2. **Block:** Wet block to measurements, pinning to shape. Allow to dry completely.

3. **Steam (optional):** Lightly steam if needed, avoiding direct contact with iron.

**Designer Notes:**
- When working intarsia, use separate bobbins for each color section
- Twist yarns at color changes to prevent holes
- The text will read correctly when worn with the cast-on edge at the bottom
- For a reversible option, consider duplicate stitch embroidery over plain stockinette instead of intarsia

*Pattern is written for intermediate knitters familiar with intarsia colorwork techniques.*