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# PROTECT YA NECK — Wu-Tang Tribute Scarf

A long, lean stranded-colorwork scarf knit lengthwise in classic black and yellow. "PROTECT YA NECK" runs horizontally along the full length of the scarf, flanked by two Wu-Tang "W" symbols rotated 90° from the iconic logo so they read upright when the scarf is worn. Finished with knotted fringe at both short ends. C.R.E.A.M.

**Finished Measurements:** approximately 8" (20.5 cm) wide × 40" (101.5 cm) long, excluding fringe. Fringe adds approximately 4" (10 cm) at each end.

**Skill Level:** Intermediate (stranded colorwork over long rows, chart reading, managing floats).

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## Materials

**Yarn:** Fingering weight (CYC #1) — smooth, round, plied wool or wool blend recommended for crisp colorwork.
- **MC (Black):** approximately 380 yds (348 m)
- **CC (Yellow):** approximately 220 yds (201 m)

*Suggested yarns:* Cascade Heritage, Knit Picks Stroll, Malabrigo Sock, or similar fingering weight at ~430 yds / 100 g.

**Needles:**
- US 3 / 3.25 mm — long circular needle (32" / 80 cm or longer), used flat to accommodate the 280-stitch cast-on
- US 2 / 2.75 mm — same length, for borders (optional, for tidier edges)

**Notions:**
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers (optional, to mark chart sections)
- Scrap yarn or spare needle for provisional CO (optional)
- 4" (10 cm) cardboard or fringe maker for fringe
- Scissors
- Blocking pins and mats

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## Gauge

**28 sts × 32 rows = 4" (10 cm)** in stranded stockinette stitch on US 3 / 3.25 mm needles, blocked.

24 sts × 32 rows = 4" in plain stockinette (for reference — colorwork tightens gauge slightly; swatch in pattern).

*Gauge is critical. Swatch in stranded colorwork to verify both width and float tension.*

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## Abbreviations

- **CO** — cast on
- **BO** — bind off
- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **RS** — right side
- **WS** — wrong side
- **MC** — main color (black)
- **CC** — contrast color (yellow)
- **rep** — repeat
- **sl** — slip (purlwise unless stated)

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## Pattern Notes

**Construction:** The scarf is knit flat and *lengthwise*. The cast-on edge runs along the entire 40" length of the scarf, and rows are worked across the 8" width. This orientation allows the lettering and the Wu-Tang "W" symbols to appear upright along the length of the scarf as worn.

**Colorwork technique:** Use stranded (Fair Isle) knitting, holding MC and CC simultaneously. Catch floats every 5 sts on the WS to prevent snagging — there are long MC-only stretches between motifs. Keep floats relaxed; stretch work on the needle before changing colors to avoid puckering.

**Edge treatment:** A 4-st garter border is worked at each long edge to prevent curl. A 4-row garter band is worked at each short end (before/after the chart) for the same reason.

**Reading rows:** Because the scarf is knit lengthwise, RS rows are worked from the bottom long edge of the scarf to the top long edge. The chart is read accordingly (see Attached Stitch Chart section).

**Wu-Tang symbol orientation:** The "W" motifs in the chart are rotated 90° clockwise from the reference photo so that when the scarf hangs vertically around the neck, the "W"s read upright.

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## Attached Stitch Chart

A separate stitch chart panel is attached to this pattern. **Do not attempt to recreate it from the pattern text** — refer to the attached chart for the complete visual grid.

**Where the chart is placed in the pattern:** The attached chart is worked once, in its entirety, across the **Main Colorwork Section** (between the lower garter border setup and the upper garter border setup). It represents all 280 stitches across and all 56 rows of the colorwork section.

**How to read the chart:**
- Each square = 1 stitch. Each horizontal line = 1 row.
- **MC (black) squares** = knit (RS) / purl (WS) in MC.
- **CC (yellow) squares** = knit (RS) / purl (WS) in CC.
- **RS rows** are read **right to left**, starting at the bottom of the chart.
- **WS rows** are read **left to right**.
- The chart shows, from right to left: Wu-Tang "W" symbol (rotated 90°), the word "PROTECT YA NECK" reading horizontally, and a second Wu-Tang "W" symbol (rotated 90°).
- The garter edge stitches (4 sts at each long edge) are **not** included on the chart — work them in MC garter on every row, outside the charted area.

**Color/yarn management:**
- Carry both colors across each row in stranded fashion.
- Catch floats longer than 5 sts by twisting the unused yarn around the working yarn on the WS.
- When working long MC-only sections between letters, you may drop CC and rejoin, but stranding produces a more even fabric — recommended.
- Letters are 16 rows tall (2" at gauge); allow approximately 4 sts of MC between each letter and at least 8 sts of MC between the "W" symbols and the text.

**Stitch-count integration:** 280 sts total = 4 sts garter edge + 272 sts charted + 4 sts garter edge. Verify after CO: 4 + 272 + 4 = **280 sts** ✓.

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## Instructions

### Cast On

With MC and US 3 / 3.25 mm needles, **CO 280 sts** using a long-tail cast-on. *Math check: 280 sts ÷ 28 sts per 4" = 40" length ✓.*

### Lower Garter Border (short-end border at one end of scarf)

**Rows 1–4:** Knit all sts in MC. (280 sts)

### Setup Row

**Row 5 (RS):** K4 (MC garter edge), join CC and begin Row 1 of attached chart across next 272 sts, k4 in MC (garter edge). (280 sts)

### Main Colorwork Section

**Rows 6–60 (55 rows):** Continue working from attached chart:
- **RS rows:** K4 MC, work next chart row from right to left across 272 sts, k4 MC.
- **WS rows:** K4 MC, work next chart row from left to right across 272 sts (purling charted sts), k4 MC.

You will work **56 chart rows total** (Rows 5–60 of the scarf = Chart Rows 1–56).

*Math check: 56 rows ÷ 32 rows per 4" = 7" of colorwork.*

After completing the final chart row, cut CC, leaving a 6" tail.

### Upper Garter Border

**Rows 61–64:** With MC only, knit all sts. (280 sts)

*Math check: 4 rows garter + 56 rows colorwork + 4 rows garter = 64 rows total. 64 rows ÷ 32 rows per 4" = 8" width ✓.*

### Bind Off

With MC, BO all 280 sts loosely knitwise. Cut yarn, leaving a 6" tail.

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## Finishing

### Weave in Ends

Turn scarf to WS. Weave in all ends along color-change boundaries, working ends into matching-color areas where possible so they disappear. Trim.

### Blocking (essential for colorwork)

Soak the scarf in cool water with wool wash for 20 minutes. Gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring). Lay flat on blocking mats and pin to exact finished dimensions: **8" × 40"**. Pin every 2" along all edges, keeping edges straight and corners square. Allow to dry completely (24–48 hours). Blocking will even out stranded gauge and dramatically improve fabric drape and motif clarity.

### Fringe

1. Cut a piece of cardboard 4" (10 cm) tall. Wrap CC (yellow) yarn around it many times, then cut along one edge to produce 8" (20 cm) strands. Repeat with MC if a mixed fringe is desired (the reference photo shows primarily yellow fringe with some black — adjust to taste).
2. For each fringe tassel: gather **4 strands** together, fold in half to form a loop.
3. Using a crochet hook, draw the folded loop through a stitch along the short end of the scarf (from RS to WS). Pull the cut ends through the loop and snug to form a lark's head knot.
4. Place fringe tassels every **2 sts (approximately every ½")** along each short end. With 56 rows at each end, you will place approximately **28 tassels per end** (56 rows ÷ 2). Adjust spacing as needed for an even appearance.
5. Once all fringe is attached, trim ends to an even 4" length.

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## Final Measurements Check

- Width: 64 rows ÷ 32 rows/4" = **8" ✓**
- Length: 280 sts ÷ 28 sts/4" = **40" ✓**
- Total fabric: 8" × 40" plus ~4" fringe at each end (~48" total length with fringe)

Wear it proud. Wu-Tang forever.