purlJam

# PROTECT YA NECK — Wu-Tang Tribute Scarf (Intarsia Remix)

*"Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuthin' ta… freeze around the neck in."* A fingering-weight intarsia scarf featuring the iconic W emblem at each end, worked in classic black and bright yellow. Intermediate-level intarsia practice in a wearable, head-nodding package.

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn:** Fingering weight (sock weight / 4-ply), 100% wool or wool blend recommended for crisp intarsia color blocks.
- **Color A (Black / MC):** approx. 350 yds (320 m) — ~75 g
- **Color B (Bright Yellow / CC):** approx. 100 yds (92 m) — ~25 g
- Suggested: any superwash merino fingering at ~400 yds / 100 g per skein. One skein of each color is plenty.

**Needles:** US 3 / 3.25 mm straight or circular needles (work flat).

**Notions:**
- Tapestry needle
- 6–10 small yarn bobbins (for managing intarsia color blocks)
- Stitch markers (optional)
- Scissors
- Blocking mat and pins

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## GAUGE

**28 sts × 36 rows = 4" (10 cm)** in stockinette stitch, after blocking, on US 3 / 3.25 mm needles.

*Take time to check gauge. Intarsia tightens fabric — swatch with a small two-color block to confirm your color-change tension is even.*

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## FINISHED SIZE

- **Width:** 8" (20.5 cm)
- **Length:** 60" (152 cm), excluding optional fringe

*Math check: 56 sts ÷ (28 sts / 4") = 8" ✓ — 540 rows ÷ (36 rows / 4") = 60" ✓*

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **CC** — contrast color (yellow)
- **k** — knit
- **MC** — main color (black)
- **p** — purl
- **rep** — repeat
- **RS** — right side
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **St st** — stockinette stitch (k on RS, p on WS)
- **WS** — wrong side

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## ATTACHED STITCH CHART

A separate **W Emblem Intarsia Chart** is provided as an attached panel with this pattern. **Do not look for a chart grid in this text** — use the attached chart for the visual reference.

**Where it is used:** The chart is worked twice — once at the beginning of the scarf (after the bottom border) and once at the end of the scarf (before the top border). The center section between the two charts is worked plain.

**How to read the chart (flat knitting, intarsia):**
- The chart is **40 sts wide × 48 rows tall**.
- Each square = 1 stitch. Each row of squares = 1 row of knitting.
- **Read RS rows (odd-numbered) from RIGHT to LEFT.**
- **Read WS rows (even-numbered) from LEFT to RIGHT.**
- Two colors are shown: blank/light square = **MC (black)**; filled/dark square = **CC (yellow)**.
- RS rows are knit; WS rows are purled (St st throughout the charted area).

**Color-change handling (intarsia rules):**
- At every color change, **bring the new color UNDER the old color** before working the next stitch. This twists the strands and prevents holes.
- Do **not** carry yarns across the back. Use a separate bobbin for each isolated block of color.
- Bobbin count for the W chart: 1 bobbin of MC on each side of the motif + 1 bobbin of CC for the W (plus extra CC bobbins if the W shape splits into separate columns on a given row — typically 2–3 CC bobbins).

**Stitch-count integration math:**
- Total scarf width = 56 sts
- Side margins around chart = 8 sts of MC on each side (worked as 6 sts garter border + 2 sts MC St st)
- Chart panel = 40 sts centered
- **Check: 8 + 40 + 8 = 56 sts ✓**

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## PATTERN

### Bottom Border (Garter)

With MC, cast on **56 sts** using a long-tail cast-on.

**Rows 1–8:** Knit every row (8 rows garter). End with a WS row complete.

### Bottom W Emblem Section (Intarsia, 48 rows)

Prepare bobbins: 1 large bobbin/skein-end of MC (right side of chart), 1 large bobbin of MC (left side of chart), and 2–3 small bobbins of CC for the W shape.

**Row 1 (RS):** K6 (MC, garter border), k2 MC, **work Row 1 of attached W Chart over next 40 sts** (reading right to left), k2 MC, k6 MC (garter border). *(56 sts)*

**Row 2 (WS):** K6 MC, p2 MC, **work Row 2 of attached W Chart over next 40 sts** (reading left to right), p2 MC, k6 MC.

**Rows 3–48:** Continue as established, working the 6-st garter border at each edge, 2 sts of MC in St st on either side of the chart, and the next row of the attached chart over the center 40 sts. Twist colors at every change.

*Section length check: 48 rows ÷ 36 rows/4" ≈ 5.3" of motif*

### Center Plain Section

Continue with MC only (cut all CC bobbins, leaving 6" tails to weave in later).

**Row 1 (RS):** K6, k44, k6. *(56 sts — the center 44 sts will be St st; full row is knit on RS)*

**Row 2 (WS):** K6, p44, k6.

**Rep Rows 1–2** until piece measures **54½" (138.5 cm)** from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row complete.

*Plain section length: 60" total − 8 rows border (~0.9") − 48 rows motif (~5.3") − 48 rows top motif (~5.3") − 8 rows top border (~0.9") ≈ 47.6" of center plain section. Work plain section until total piece reaches 54½" before starting the top motif.*

### Top W Emblem Section (Intarsia, 48 rows)

Re-join CC bobbins as needed.

**Rows 1–48:** Work as for Bottom W Emblem Section, repeating Rows 1–48 of the attached chart.

After Row 48, cut CC, leaving 6" tails.

### Top Border (Garter)

**Rows 1–8:** With MC, knit every row.

**Bind off** all 56 sts knitwise on a RS row. Cut MC, leaving an 8" tail.

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## FINISHING

**Weave in ends:** Turn scarf to WS. Weave in all tails along color-change boundaries, traveling 1–1.5" through stitches of matching color. Tug gently on each color-change point to close any small gaps; if a hole remains, use the tail to cinch it closed from the back.

**Blocking (essential for intarsia):**
1. Soak scarf in cool water with a no-rinse wool wash for 20 minutes.
2. Gently squeeze out water (do not wring). Roll in a towel and press.
3. Lay flat on blocking mats. Pin to **8" × 60"**, keeping edges straight and the W motif squared up.
4. Allow to dry completely (24–48 hours).

**Optional Fringe (Wu-Tang style):**
- Cut 80 strands of MC and 20 strands of CC, each 12" long.
- At each short end, fold 2 strands together and use a crochet hook to pull the folded loop through every other stitch along the cast-on / bind-off edge. Pull tails through the loop and tighten.
- Trim fringe evenly to 5".

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*Wear it loud. C.R.E.A.M. (Cozy Rules Everything Around Me).*