Botan Yuki is Japanese for “Peony Snow,” those huge snowflakes that appear if we are particularly lucky. I’ve only seen them a couple of times in the past few years, and it just so happens one of those Botan Yuki snows came as I was knitting this scarf, with its giant snowflake motif.

The double thick scarf is knit in two pieces and grafted in the middle, allowing the knitter to use every bit of their precious hand-dyed yarn. Be sure to use well-matched skeins, as there is no easy way to alternate yarns to blend mismatched colors. Each end is bordered with a striking stranded motif, with soothing stockinette in-the-round in between. The snowflake motif does have some long floats, but they will be hidden on the inside of the work, so there is no need to worry about trapping them. Once the stranded part is finished, the scarf is perfect knitting for watching your favorite shows or taking to knit-night gatherings.

Techniques:
Turkish cast on
Two-color stranded knitting in the round
Kitchener stitch grafting

Materials Needed:
Yarn:
840 yards of background and 250 yards of motif colors in fingering weight yarn. Sample knit using Madelinetosh TML in Robin’s Egg (MC) and Spectrum (CC).

Needles:
Two size 3 US/3.25 mm and one size 4 US/ 3.5 mm 16” (40 cm) circular needles (or sizes needed to achieve gauge)

Notions:
Stitch markers (at least one for marking beginning of round and more if desired to mark pattern repeats)
Tapestry needle
Smooth waste yarn

Finished Measurements:
Gauge: 27 sts equals 4”/ 10 cm in stockinette on smaller needles and in stranded knitting on larger needles after light blocking
Width: 8” (20.5 cm)
Length: 61” (155 cm)

This pattern has been professionally tech edited and test knit. If you find a mistake, need pattern support, or are interested in private knitting lessons please write to info@theknittingtutor.net.