Baisha Scarf Knitting Pattern

Baisha Scarf in Juniper Moon Farm Zooey Aran

What is Being Made

The Baisha Scarf is a lightweight, textured knit accessory designed by Tabetha Hedrick. This finished scarf measures 4½ inches wide by 56½ inches long, making it an ideal length for draping around the neck or wearing as a versatile layering piece. The scarf showcases a sophisticated two-color colorwork design that creates visual depth and interest through strategic color changes and slip-stitch patterning.

Techniques Used

This project employs several key knitting techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance. The primary construction method uses slip-stitch colorwork, a technique where stitches are slipped rather than knitted to create color patterns without carrying yarn across large sections. This approach produces a fabric with excellent drape while minimizing bulk. The pattern alternates between two yarn colors—the main color and a contrasting color—across multiple rows, with color changes occurring strategically throughout the 12-row repeat pattern. Additionally, the scarf begins and ends with garter stitch (knit every row), which provides a finished edge and helps prevent curling at the top and bottom of the piece.

Stitches Used

The Baisha Stitch forms the foundation of this design and operates on a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2 edge stitches. The stitch pattern combines several fundamental knitting techniques:

• Knit stitch (k): The basic forward stitch used throughout
• Purl stitch (p): Creates texture variation on the wrong side
• Slip stitch (sl): Stitches are slipped either with yarn in back (wyib) or with yarn in front (wyif) to create the colorwork effect without adding bulk
• Garter stitch: Used for the 2-row borders at the beginning and end

The 12-row Baisha Stitch repeat is worked 42 times throughout the scarf length, with the slip-stitch positions shifting between rows to create a dynamic, woven appearance. Rows alternate between knit and purl rows on the wrong side, while the right side features primarily knit stitches with strategic slips that showcase the contrasting color beneath.

Materials

This project requires two 100-gram skeins of Juniper Moon Farm Zooey Aran yarn: one skein in color #1004 Sel Gris (the main color) and one skein in color #1001 Toasted Coconut (the contrasting color). Zooey Aran is a worsted-weight yarn suitable for the gauge requirements of this pattern. The project calls for US size 8 (5 mm) needles or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge of 20 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches in Baisha Stitch. A tapestry needle is needed for weaving in ends during finishing.

Pattern Overview

Construction begins with casting on 22 stitches using the main color and working 2 rows of garter stitch to establish a stable foundation. The Baisha Stitch pattern is then worked repeatedly for the full length of the scarf. After completing 42 pattern repeats, the scarf measures approximately 56¼ inches long. The final 2 rows are worked in garter stitch using the main color to create a matching top edge, and all stitches are bound off loosely to maintain flexibility at the edge. Finishing involves blocking the scarf to measurements and weaving in all yarn ends with a tapestry needle.