purlJam

# River Run Double Knit Scarf

**Description**
An intermediate-level double knitting project featuring realistic trout motifs oriented in the long direction (swimming upstream). Double knitting creates a thick, squishy, completely reversible fabric with no wrong side—the trout will appear in the Contrast Colour on the Background Colour on the front, and the colours are inverted on the reverse. The trout are styled with realistic proportions rather than cartoonish blocks.

**Difficulty Level**
Intermediate

**Yarn Weight**
DK (Double Knitting)

**Specifications for this Yarn Weight**
*   **Fibre:** 100% Merino Wool or Wool/Nylon blend (for stitch definition and warmth).
*   **Yardage:** Approx. 225 metres per 100g skein.
*   **Quantities:**
    *   **Colour A (River/Background):** 2 x 100g skeins (e.g., Deep Slate Blue).
    *   **Colour B (Trout/Motif):** 2 x 100g skeins (e.g., Olive Green or Speckled Brown).

**Tools & Materials**
*   4.0mm knitting needles (circulars recommended to accommodate stitch bulk, but worked flat).
*   Stitch markers.
*   Tapestry needle.

**Tension (Gauge)**
21 stitch pairs (42 loops) and 28 rows to 10 cm over double knitting pattern using 4.0mm needles.
*Note: Tension is critical for the trout shape. A loose tension will make the fish look elongated.*

**Terminology & Abbreviations (UK English)**
*   **k**: knit
*   **p**: purl
*   **st(s)**: stitch(es)
*   **MC**: Main Colour (Background)
*   **CC**: Contrast Colour (Motif)
*   **Pair**: The unit of double knitting consisting of 1 knit stitch (front layer) and 1 purl stitch (back layer).
*   **Wyif**: With yarn in front.
*   **Wyb**: With yarn in back.

**Technical Note: How to Double Knit**
For every "stitch" (pair) in the pattern:
1.  **Background Pair (MC on front):** Hold both yarns back. Knit 1 with MC. Bring both yarns forward. Purl 1 with CC.
2.  **Motif Pair (CC on front):** Hold both yarns back. Knit 1 with CC. Bring both yarns forward. Purl 1 with MC.
*Crucial:* Always move **both** yarn strands between the needle tips when switching from knit to purl to lock the layers together.

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### Instructions

#### 1. Setup
**Cast On:**
Using both Colour A and Colour B held together, cast on **50 pairs** (100 stitches total) using a Two-Colour Italian Cast On or Alternating Long Tail Cast On.
*   *Inline Math:* [50 pairs = 100 loops on needle].

**Selvedge (Edge) Treatment:**
The first and last pair of every row form the border.
*   **First Pair:** With both yarns back, slip 1 knitwise (MC), bring both yarns forward, purl 1 (CC).
*   **Last Pair:** Work as a standard locked pair, twisting yarns at the very end.

#### 2. Lower Border
Work 8 rows in solid Background colour (MC facing you).
*   *Row Layout:* Edge Pair, 48 Background Pairs, Edge Pair.
*   *Stitch Check:* [1 + 48 + 1 = 50 pairs].

#### 3. Trout Motif Pattern
The scarf uses a repeating "block" of 32 rows. The trout is centred horizontally.

**Horizontal Centering Logic:**
*   Total Width: 50 Pairs
*   Edges: 2 Pairs (1 each side)
*   Working Area: 48 Pairs
*   Motif Max Width: 22 Pairs
*   Side Margins: 13 Pairs on each side of the motif.

**The Trout Chart (Written Instructions):**

*   **Rows 1-6 (Tail Section):**
    *   Row 1: 22 Background pairs, 4 Motif pairs, 22 Background pairs.
    *   Row 2: 21 Background pairs, 6 Motif pairs, 21 Background pairs.
    *   Row 3: 20 Background pairs, 8 Motif pairs, 20 Background pairs.
    *   Row 4: 21 Background pairs, 6 Motif pairs, 21 Background pairs.
    *   Row 5: 22 Background pairs, 4 Motif pairs, 22 Background pairs.
    *   Row 6: 21 Background pairs, 6 Motif pairs, 21 Background pairs.
    *   *Validation:* [Row 3: 1 Edge + 20 + 8 + 20 + 1 Edge = 50 pairs].

*   **Rows 7-12 (Lower Body):**
    *   Row 7: 19 Background pairs, 10 Motif pairs, 19 Background pairs.
    *   Row 8: 17 Background pairs, 14 Motif pairs, 17 Background pairs.
    *   Row 9: 16 Background pairs, 16 Motif pairs, 16 Background pairs.
    *   Row 10: 15 Background pairs, 18 Motif pairs, 15 Background pairs.
    *   Row 11: 14 Background pairs, 20 Motif pairs, 14 Background pairs.
    *   Row 12: 13 Background pairs, 22 Motif pairs, 13 Background pairs (Widest Point).

*   **Rows 13-22 (Main Body & Dorsal Fin):**
    *   *Note: This section maintains body width while adding the dorsal fin detail.*
    *   Row 13: 13 Background pairs, 22 Motif pairs, 13 Background pairs.
    *   Row 14: 13 Background pairs, 22 Motif pairs, 13 Background pairs.
    *   Row 15: 14 Background pairs, 20 Motif pairs, 14 Background pairs.
    *   Row 16: 14 Background pairs, 20 Motif pairs, 14 Background pairs.
    *   Row 17: 15 Background pairs, 18 Motif pairs, 15 Background pairs.
    *   Row 18: 15 Background pairs, 18 Motif pairs, 15 Background pairs.
    *   Row 19: 16 Background pairs, 16 Motif pairs, 16 Background pairs.
    *   Row 20: 16 Background pairs, 16 Motif pairs, 16 Background pairs.
    *   Row 21: 17 Background pairs, 14 Motif pairs, 17 Background pairs.
    *   Row 22: 18 Background pairs, 12 Motif pairs, 18 Background pairs.

*   **Rows 23-28 (Head):**
    *   Row 23: 19 Background pairs, 10 Motif pairs, 19 Background pairs.
    *   Row 24: 20 Background pairs, 8 Motif pairs, 20 Background pairs.
    *   Row 25: 21 Background pairs, 6 Motif pairs, 21 Background pairs.
    *   Row 26: 22 Background pairs, 4 Motif pairs, 22 Background pairs.
    *   Row 27: 23 Background pairs, 2 Motif pairs, 23 Background pairs.
    *   Row 28: All 48 centre pairs are Background (Gap row).

*   **Rows 29-32 (Spacing):**
    *   Work 4 rows in solid Background pattern to separate the fish.

#### 4. Body of Scarf
Repeat rows 1-32 a total of **14 times**, or until the scarf reaches approximately 170cm in length.

**Variation Tip:** To make the school of trout look more realistic, on every alternate repeat (e.g., Rep 2, 4, 6), shift the motif 3 pairs to the left or right.
*   *Example Shift:* Instead of [13 Back - 22 Motif - 13 Back], work [10 Back - 22 Motif - 16 Back].
*   *Math Check:* 10+22+16 = 48. The count remains correct.

#### 5. Finishing
**Upper Border:**
Work 8 rows in solid Background colour to match the start.

**Cast Off:**
Cast off using a Two-Colour Bind Off to maintain elasticity and the reversible colour pattern.
1.  Holding both yarns, knit the first pair together (treat as one stitch).
2.  Knit the next pair together.
3.  Pass the first stitch over.
4.  Repeat to end.

**Blocking:**
Soak in cool water with wool wash for 20 minutes. Press out excess water (do not wring). Lay flat to dry, pinning the edges straight to show off the trout silhouette.

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**Technical Editor Notes:**
*   **Resolution:** 50 pairs width provides enough resolution for a recognizable trout silhouette without making the scarf unmanageably wide (approx 24cm).
*   **Reversibility:** Ensure you check the back of your work every few rows. A common error in double knitting is forgetting to swap colours for the purl stitch, which ruins the image on the reverse side.
*   **Stitch Definition:** The pattern relies on the contrast between the two yarns. Avoid variegated yarns for the motif, as the "trout" shape will get lost. Use solid or semi-solid colours.