purlJam

<planning>
1. **Design Strategy**: 
- Requested: a rounded, tapered scarf in worsted-weight yarn, moss stitch, finished size 15 cm x 76 cm (6" x 30").  
- Technique selection: use the crochet linen/moss stitch (often called linen stitch in crochet; in UK terms worked with dc and ch1) because it produces the textured, woven look of moss stitch while remaining a crochet fabric.  
- Construction: work flat, starting from one narrow end, increase symmetrically to a full width at the centre, maintain full width for the centre length, then mirror decreases to the opposite narrow end. This yields a tapered scarf with soft, rounded ends.

2. **Construction Plan**:
- Work in rows across, using a foundation chain that allows the linen/moss stitch pattern (chain = multiple of 2, plus 1).  
- Begin with a narrow foundation chain (5), increase one stitch at each end at spaced intervals to reach the full width (25), continue straight for the central section, then decrease symmetrically.  
- Use increases and decreases at row ends (2 dc in one stitch to increase; dc2tog at ends to decrease) and keep the linen pattern intact by paying attention to dc / ch1 placement after a shaping row.

3. **Quality Assurance**:
- Pain points to check and address: stitch pattern shift after increases/decreases, counting rows for symmetrical shaping, gauge variation affecting width/length.  
- To avoid confusion, I provide explicit counts (how many rows in each section), exact increase/decrease spacing and clear, step-by-step shaping notes. I also provide a short troubleshooting note for gauge adjustments.

4. **Final Calculations**:
- Gauge (tension): 16 dc (UK) and 18 rows = 10 cm using worsted-weight yarn and a 5.0 mm hook (reasonable standard starting point).  
- Width calculation: 10 cm → 16 dc, so for 15 cm: 16 * (15/10) = 24 dc; linen stitch requires a foundation chain of (stitches + 1) when using multiple-of-2 +1 rule → choose 25 as working stitch count. (Inline math: 16 * 1.5 = 24 → +1 → 25.)  
- Length calculation: 76 cm → 18 rows per 10 cm gives 18 * 7.6 = 136.8