purlJam

---

# 🃏 THE PSYCHOTIC JOKER
### A Black & White Decorative Knit Wall Panel

---

**Description:**
*Why so serious?* This striking black and white wall hanging captures the manic energy of the iconic Joker with a bold, graphic grinning face rendered in high-contrast duplicate stitch embroidery over a clean stockinette canvas. Worked as a simple flat rectangle with all the expressive detail added afterward via duplicate stitch, this project is perfect for a beginner knitter who wants to create something genuinely dramatic. Hang it framed, stretch it over a canvas, or display it on a dowel — it's a statement piece that laughs back at you.

**Finished Measurements:**
- Width: approximately **11" (28 cm)**
- Height: approximately **10" (25.5 cm)**

---

## MATERIALS

| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| **Yarn (MC)** | White worsted weight — approx. **130 yards (120 m)** |
| **Yarn (CC)** | Black worsted weight — approx. **35 yards (32 m)** |
| **Needles** | US 8 / 5 mm straight or circular needles |
| **Tapestry needle** | Blunt tip, for duplicate stitch and weaving ends |
| **Scissors** | — |
| **Blocking mat and pins** | For finishing |
| **Optional: Wooden dowel** | 12–13" (30–33 cm) for hanging |
| **Optional: Stretcher frame** | 11" × 10" (28 × 25.5 cm) artist canvas |

**Yarn Suggestions (worsted weight):**
- Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool (White / Black)
- Cascade 220 (White / Black)
- Paintbox Simply DK (go up a needle size if substituting DK)
- Any smooth worsted weight yarn will show duplicate stitch clearly — **avoid fuzzy or bouclé yarns.**

> 💡 **Beginner Tip:** For duplicate stitch to show up crisp and bold, choose yarns of the same weight and fiber content for both MC and CC. A smooth, plied worsted is ideal.

---

## GAUGE

**18 stitches × 24 rows = 4" × 4" (10 cm × 10 cm)**
Worked in stockinette stitch on US 8 / 5 mm needles.

> ⚠️ **Gauge matters here.** The duplicate stitch chart is designed for this specific gauge. If your gauge is significantly different, your panel will be a different size and the face proportions will be distorted. Please swatch!

**To check your gauge:**
Cast on 24 stitches. Work 28 rows in stockinette. Bind off. Block. Measure the center 18 stitches across and the center 24 rows vertically. Adjust needle size as needed.

---

## SIZES

One size: **11" × 10" (28 × 25.5 cm)**

This is a flat decorative panel with no sizing variations. The chart is fixed at 50 stitches × 60 rows.

---

## ABBREVIATIONS

| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **MC** | Main Color (White) |
| **CC** | Contrast Color (Black) |
| **CO** | Cast on |
| **BO** | Bind off |
| **k** | Knit |
| **p** | Purl |
| **RS** | Right side |
| **WS** | Wrong side |
| **St(s)** | Stitch(es) |
| **St st** | Stockinette stitch (k on RS, p on WS) |
| **Rep** | Repeat |
| **Approx** | Approximately |
| **DS** | Duplicate stitch (embroidery technique) |

---

## PATTERN NOTES

1. **Construction Overview:** The white stockinette panel is knitted first — start to finish. The black Joker face design is then embroidered onto the finished, blocked fabric using duplicate stitch. This means your knitting is entirely in one color (white), making the knitting portion very beginner-friendly.

2. **What is Duplicate Stitch?** Duplicate stitch is an embroidery technique where you use a tapestry needle and yarn to "trace over" existing knit stitches, effectively painting with yarn. Each duplicate stitch covers one knit stitch. Full instructions are included at the end of this pattern.

3. **Reading the Chart:** The chart reads from bottom to top (Row 1 is the bottom row). Right-side (RS) rows read from right to left; wrong-side (WS) rows read from left to right. However, since all your knitting is in white, you don't need to read the chart while knitting — only when doing duplicate stitch afterward.

4. **Selvedge Edges:** On every RS row, slip the first stitch purlwise with yarn in front, then move yarn to back before knitting. On every WS row, slip the first stitch purlwise with yarn in back. This creates a neat chain edge, which is helpful if you are hanging the panel from a dowel through the stitches.

5. **Blocking is Essential:** Block the panel before doing duplicate stitch. This evens out your stitches and gives you a smooth, stable canvas to embroider on.

6. **The Face Design:** The Joker face features a wide, distorted grin with upward-slashed corners, hollow dark eyes with dark circles underneath, a narrow angular nose, and a furrowed chaotic brow — evoking the painted, manic aesthetic of the character. The design is intentionally bold and graphic to read clearly in only two colors.

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### PART 1: KNIT THE BASE PANEL

**Cast On:**
Using MC (white) and US 8 / 5 mm needles, CO **50 stitches** using the long-tail cast on method.

> 💡 **Long-tail cast on** creates a neat, even edge that looks professional. If you don't know it yet, the backward loop cast on works too — just know it may be slightly looser.

---

**Setup Row (WS — this is your first row after casting on):**
Slip 1 purlwise wyib, p to last st, p last st. *(50 sts)*

---

**Body of Panel:**
Work in stockinette stitch as follows, slipping the first stitch of every row for a neat edge:

- **RS rows:** Sl 1 wyif, move yarn to back, k to end.
- **WS rows:** Sl 1 wyib, p to end.

Repeat these two rows until your panel measures **10" (25.5 cm)** from the cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.

> 📏 **Row count check:** At gauge (24 rows = 4"), 10" = approximately **60 rows** of stockinette after the setup row. Count your rows as you go — 60 rows of stockinette body gives you the correct height.

> 💡 **Tip for counting rows:** Place a locking stitch marker or small piece of contrasting yarn after Row 10, Row 20, Row 30, etc. to keep track easily.

---

**Bind Off:**
On a RS row: Sl 1 wyif, move yarn to back, *k2, pass first st over second st; rep from * to end.
Cut yarn, leaving an 8" (20 cm) tail. Pull tail through last stitch to secure.

**Stitch Count Verification:** Throughout the entire panel body, stitch count remains constant at **50 stitches.** No increases or decreases are worked. ✅

---

### PART 2: FINISHING THE PANEL BEFORE EMBROIDERY

**Weave in ends:**
Using the tapestry needle, weave in the cast-on and bind-off tails securely on the wrong side.

**Block the panel:**
1. Soak the panel in cool water with a drop of wool wash for 10–15 minutes.
2. Gently squeeze out water (do not wring).
3. Lay flat on a blocking mat.
4. Pin the panel to dimensions: **11" wide × 10" tall (28 × 25.5 cm)**, placing pins every inch along all four edges.
5. Allow to dry completely (12–24 hours).

> ⚠️ Do NOT proceed to duplicate stitch until the panel is fully dry. Embroidering on damp fabric causes puckering.

---

### PART 3: THE DUPLICATE STITCH CHART

The chart below is **50 stitches wide × 60 rows tall.** Each square = 1 stitch / 1 row.

- **White square (□)** = MC (white) — no embroidery needed, leave as is.
- **Black square (■)** = CC (black) — work duplicate stitch over this stitch.

> 📐 **Chart Orientation:** Row 1 is the **bottom** of the chart (cast-on edge). Row 60 is the **top** (bind-off edge). Work duplicate stitch from the bottom of the design upward, moving from right to left on odd-numbered rows (RS) and left to right on even-numbered rows (WS) of the chart if it helps you track — but you can also work duplicate stitch in any order that feels comfortable.

---

#### THE PSYCHOTIC JOKER CHART
*50 stitches wide × 60 rows tall*
*(■ = Black / CC duplicate stitch | □ = White / MC — leave)*

```
Row 60: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 59: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 58: □□□■■□□□□□■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□
Row 57: □□■■■■□□■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■□□■■■■□□□□□□□□
Row 56: □■■■■■■■■■■□□■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■□□■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□
Row 55: □■■□□□■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■□□□■■□□□□□□□
Row 54: □□■□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□□□□■□□□□□□□□
Row 53: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 52: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 51: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 50: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
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Row 39: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 38: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 37: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 36: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 35: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 34: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 33: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 32: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 31: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 30: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 29: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 28: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 27: □□□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□
Row 26: □□□□□□■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■□□□□□□□□
Row 25: □□□□□■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■□□□□□□□
Row 24: □□□□□■■□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 23: □□□□□■■□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 22: □□□□□■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■□□□□□□□
Row 21: □□□□□□■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■□□□□□□□□
Row 20: □□□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■□□□□□□□□□□
Row 19: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 18: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 17: □□■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■□□
Row 16: □■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■□
Row 15: ■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■
Row 14: ■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■
Row 13: ■■□□■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■□□■■
Row 12: ■□□□□■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■□□□□■
Row 11: □□□□□□■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■□□□□□□□
Row 10: □□□□□□□■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□
Row 9:  □□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□
Row 8:  □□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□
Row 7:  □□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 6:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 5:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 4:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 3:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 2:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Row 1:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
         Stitch: 1                   13        19   24  26         38        44 50
```

> 📌 **Chart Key:**
> - **■** = Work duplicate stitch in CC (Black)
> - **□** = Leave as knitted (MC White)
> - Stitch 1 is at the RIGHT edge on RS rows (as you look at the work from the front)
> - Row 1 is at the BOTTOM (cast-on edge)

---

#### CHART DESCRIPTION (for those who prefer written descriptions)

The design creates a bold, stylized Joker face:

**ROWS 1–5 (blank):** Plain white — bottom border/chin area.

**ROWS 6–11 (The Grin):** A wide, upward-curving dark mouth that spans roughly stitches 13–38, tapering to narrow curved slashes at each corner that angle sharply upward toward the cheeks, reaching nearly the outer edges of the panel by Row 11. This gives the iconic "carved smile" appearance of the Joker's disturbing grin.

**ROWS 12–17 (Cheek Slashes):** The outer slash marks extend upward and outward toward the panel edges, creating the slashed-cheek scars — stitches 1–6 on the left side and stitches 44–50 on the right, representing the mutilated grin scars associated with the character.

**ROWS 18–19 (blank):** White space — lower face.

**ROWS 20–27 (Eyes):** Two oval/circular hollow eye shapes, left eye centered around stitches 7–14, right eye centered around stitches 37–44. Each eye is a dark oval ring (hollow center), giving a sunken, shadowed look.

**ROWS 28–32 (blank):** White space between eyes and nose.

**ROWS 33–37 (Nose):** A narrow angular V-shaped nose bridge, centered around stitches 21–26, tapering to a single stitch point at the top and widening to two stitches at the base — sharp and angular, not rounded.

**ROWS 38–50 (blank):** White space — upper face.

**ROWS 41–48 (Eye Shadow/Brow Area detail):** Dark, heavy circles/shadow beneath a chaotic brow — two thick irregular dark clusters, left around stitches 8–14, right around stitches 37–43, representing the heavy painted eye shadows of the Joker makeup.

**ROWS 51–55 (blank):** White space — forehead.

**ROWS 56–58 (Brow):** Erratic, fragmented angular brow marks — dark jagged lines across the upper face: left cluster stitches 2–13, right cluster stitches 38–49, with uneven broken shapes suggesting wild, painted chaos.

**ROWS 59–60 (blank):** Top border.

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> 💡 **How to Use the Chart vs. the Description:** The symbol chart above is your primary guide for placement. The written description helps you understand what each section is *meant to look like* so you can make small adjustments if your gauge varies slightly. The Joker's face should feel asymmetrical and slightly unhinged — slight irregularities add to the character, not away from it!

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### PART 4: WORKING THE DUPLICATE STITCH

#### What You Need:
- CC yarn (black)
- Tapestry needle (blunt tip)
- Your blocked, dry white panel
- The chart above

#### How to Work Duplicate Stitch — Step by Step:

**Understanding the stitch:**
Each knit stitch on stockinette looks like a V. Duplicate stitch traces the two legs of that V, completely covering the white stitch with black.

**Step 1 — Thread your needle.**
Cut an 18" (46 cm) length of black yarn. Thread through your blunt tapestry needle. Do not knot the end.

**Step 2 — Anchor your yarn.**
On the WS (back of panel), weave the tail under 3–4 stitches of existing knitting to secure. Bring needle to RS at the base of your first stitch to be covered (at the bottom point of the V).

**Step 3 — Work the duplicate stitch.**
1. Insert needle from right to left under *both strands of the stitch directly above* (the V of the stitch in the row above). Pull yarn through.
2. Insert needle back into the base point of the V (where you started), going to the WS.
3. One duplicate stitch is complete!

**Step 4 — Move to the next stitch.**
Travel along the WS to the next stitch to be covered. Bring needle back to RS at that stitch's base point.

**Step 5 — Secure ends.**
When you reach the end of a yarn length, draw the needle to the WS and weave the tail under 4–5 stitches. Trim.

> ⚠️ **Do not pull duplicate stitch too tight** — this will distort the panel. The black yarn should sit *on top of* the white stitch, not compress it.

> 💡 **Work in sections** — complete each feature of the face (grin, eyes, nose, brow) as a separate section using separate yarn lengths. This keeps the WS tidy and prevents long floats pulling the panel.

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## FINISHING

### Option A: Dowel Hanging
1. After duplicate stitch is complete, lightly re-block the panel if needed (a light steam with an iron held 1" above the surface, or re-pin and dry).
2. Fold the top edge (bind-off edge) over a 12" (30 cm) wooden dowel approximately ½" (1.25 cm) and whipstitch the folded edge to the WS of the panel using MC yarn.
3. Tie a length of black yarn or twine to each end of the dowel for hanging.

### Option B: Canvas/Frame Mounting
1. Stretch the blocked panel over an 11" × 10" (28 × 25.5 cm) artist stretcher frame or canvas.
2. Secure the edges to the frame back using a staple gun or lacing method.
3. Display as wall art.

### Option C: Display as-is
Block once more after duplicate stitch is complete. The panel will hold its shape on a flat surface or can be pinned to a fabric-covered board.

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## FINISHING CHECKLIST

- [ ] Panel measures 11" × 10" (28 × 25.5 cm) after blocking
- [ ] All ends woven in on WS
- [ ] Duplicate stitch covers all black squares on chart
- [ ] No pulled or puckered areas in duplicate stitch
- [ ] Panel lies completely flat
- [ ] Display method chosen and executed

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## QUICK REFERENCE SUMMARY

| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Yarn weight | Worsted |
| Needle size | US 8 / 5 mm |
| Gauge | 18 sts × 24 rows = 4" |
| Cast on | 50 sts in MC (White) |
| Total rows | 60 rows stockinette |
| Finished size | 11" × 10" (28 × 25.5 cm) |
| MC yardage | ~130 yds (120 m) White |
| CC yardage | ~35 yds (32 m) Black |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Techniques | Long-tail CO, stockinette, duplicate stitch |

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## GAUGE MATH TRANSPARENCY

*(For technical reference)*

- **Width:** 50 sts ÷ (18 sts ÷ 4") = 50 ÷ 4.5 = **11.1" ≈ 11" wide** ✅
- **Height:** 60 rows ÷ (24 rows ÷ 4") = 60 ÷ 6 = **10" tall** ✅
- **MC yardage:** 50 sts × 60 rows = 3,000 stitch-rows; at worsted gauge, approx. 1 yard per 23 sts = ~130 yds ✅
- **CC yardage (duplicate stitch):** Approximately 25% of stitches covered in black = ~750 stitch-equivalents = ~35 yds ✅

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*Pattern designed for personal use. Feel free to share finished objects but please credit the pattern. Why so serious? Happy knitting!* 🃏

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