Some time ago, someone wrote to me and requested that I consider authoring a book on double-knit lettering, specifically lettering that uses two-pattern charts.

On the face of it, this seemed like a good idea, but after a little thought, I uncovered one major issue with it.

If you knit a word using two-pattern lettering, each individual letter would be legible on both layers — but the word would be in reverse order on Layer 2.

Therefore, the only conceivable use of an alphabet like this would be for words which read the same in both directions: palindromes.

This is a scarf-length palindrome embellished with graphics that represent the subject matter; to wit: rats and stars. It’s a whimsical piece, perfect for your favorite English-language enthusiast or rodent fan.

The scarf is worked from the long edge, and most of it is in standard double-knitting. The only two-pattern sections are the letters that require it: R, S, L, E, and N.

If you would like a shorter/smaller scarf, this pattern is also easily worked on US 2 / 2.75 mm needles. This will also allow you to use the more easily-found 150g Kauni skeins.

Kauni Effektgarn is relatively easily found, but Kauni Solids are not. If you are struggling to find Color A, I recommend Rauma Finullgarn in colorway 401. You will need 4 of these 50g skeins, or 3 if you are using US 2 needles.