Portal Aperture Illusion Scarf
This is a pattern I designed for my son who is an avid Portal fan. Translating the ‘Aperture’ logo into a knitting chart and then into an illusion chart was a challenge and I was so pleased that it worked out. It was my first Illusion project and I'm still fascinated by it. I am therefore sharing it for free but obviously, this is not official merchandise, just inspired by, so please don't sell the pattern or the scarf. It wouldn't be fair. The yarn, needles, materials and gauge detailed below will give you a scarf the same as mine. Obviously, you can use anything you want as a scarf does not need to ‘fit'. If you find any errors please let me know and I'll try to help. SIZE: The internet told me a good winter scarf length is the same as the wearers' height. Each 60 row motif measures about 7%"(18.5cm) so I did 10 repeats to reach a finished length of approx 6ft (1.85m). You can do more or less to achieve the length you require. It is 8"(20cm) wide.
GAUGE:
4"(10cm） = 19 stitches x 33 rows Illusion Knitting works best with a firm tension so the garter stitch bumps really stand out. Use thicker wool with smaller needles than you usually would.
MATERIALS:
Pair 4mm straight knitting needles 130g (280 yds) Stylecraft Special Aran in Black (background) and 130g (280 yds） Stylecraft Special Aran Emperor Purple (contrast) Yardage entirely dependent on how long you make it and if you substitute other yarns
ABBREVIATIONS:
RS: Right side (the front) WS: Wrong side (the back) K: Knit P: Purl
Start:
Using the black yarn cast on 38 stitches. Work 4 rows in garter stitch (knit every row). Main: Follow the 60 row chart as many times as required to reach the desired scarf length ending after a full pattern repeat. Don't forget to start in the bottom right hand corner, working all RS rows right to left and all ws rows left to right. I have also included a row by row numerical pattern if you don't like charts.
End:
Work rows 1-4 of the chart. Work rows 1-2 of the chart. Change to black and work 4 rows in garter stitch (knit every row). Cast off and weave in ends.
Finishing:
Block as yarn type requires to hopefully alleviate some of the curling. I used 100% acrylic so steam blocked it with my iron taking care not to touch it.
Chart for Portal Aperture Illusion Scarf
Row by row numerical chart for Portal Aperture Illusion Scarf
| Row | K | P | K | P | K | P | K | P | K | Row | K | P | K | P | K | P | K | P | K | ||
| 1 | 38 | 31 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 32 3 | 32 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 6 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| 3 | 38 | 33 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 38 | 34 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | 38 | 35 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 3 | 12 8 | 12 | 3 | 36 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||||
| 7 | 38 | 37 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||
| 9 | 38 | 39 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 40 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | ||||
| 11 | 38 | 41 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 42 | 3 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 3 | ||||||||
| 13 | 38 | 43 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 44 | 25 | 4 | 9 | ||||||||
| 15 | 38 | 45 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 46 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | ||||
| 17 | 38 | 47 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 48 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 19 | 38 | 49 | 38 | 6 8 | 3 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 | 7 38 3 38 9 38 3 38 5 38 3 | 6 6 4 2 2 2 | 2 4 25 2 4 4 | 2 22 4 2 18 | 3 2 12 6 | 4 | 10 12 8 2 | 7 8 5 3 | 2 | 3 | 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 | 3 38 9 38 3 38 11 38 3 38 15 | 6 6 8 2 12 8 | 6 4 2 4 8 15 | 4 4 4 6 12 | 4 2 6 2 3 | 2 4 4 9 2 2 2 11 |
