End-of-the-Season Baktus Scarf

Pattern: Lacy Baktus by Terhi Montonen, a variation of the original Baktus by Strikkelise (both are free patterns)
Yarns: North Loop Yarn Silky Merino Sock Yarn and a small amount of Dream in Color Smooshy
Needle: US 3/3.25mm

Baktus starts on 4 stitches and grows gradually in width thanks to an increase every few rows. When it's about the width you want, or you've used half your yarn, you begin working decreases and it dwindles back to its original few stitches. The pattern is simple to work, easy to memorize, and amenable to endless variations.



Most people are using fingering weight yarns for Baktus. I worked the lacy version with a lovely green merino and silk sock yarn from North Loop Yarn. Though I weighed the skein beforehand and stopped increasing when the scale said I'd used a bit less than half, towards the very end I ran out of yarn! My solution was to knit the final bit in some Chinatown Apple Dream in Color Smooshy. The color combination reminds me of the way leaves are just now beginning to change color, so I'm calling it my End-of-the-Season Baktus.



I worked mine somewhat differently than Terhi Montonen's lacy version. Hers "grows" leftwards, which works fine but felt backwards to me; I wanted mine to grow to the right. If you're interested, here's how I worked it (though the last few inches were plain garter stitch, due to the aforementioned running-out-of-yarn problem).

Set-up (work twice):
Row 1: k1, kfb, k to end
Rows 2, 3, 4: knit all sts

Lace pattern, first half of scarf:
Row 1: k1, kfb, k to end
Row 2: knit all sts
Row 3: k2, (yo, k2tog), rep (yo, k2tog) until last st, k1
Row 4: knit all sts
Row 5: k1, kfb, k to end
Rows 6, 7, 8: knit all sts

Repeat rows 1-8 until half the yarn is used or scarf is half the desired length. I increased until there were 80 sts, then began the decreases.

Lace pattern, second half of scarf:
Row 1: k1, ssk, k to end
Row 2: knit all sts
Row 3: k2, (yo, k2tog), rep (yo, k2tog) until last st, k1
Row 4: knit all sts
Row 5: k1, ssk, k to end
Rows 6, 7, 8: knit all sts

I almost wore my Baktus this morning, but it didn't quite match my outfit. It also felt like a bit too much scarf for early September. Instead, I chose my Honeybunch, which is knit in some gorgeous Jade Sapphire Silk/Cashmere. Nothing like a bit of cashmere around your neck on a nippy morning--it's the perfect way to start the work day!