Learn Brioche Knitting
What is Brioche Knitting? Apparently the earliest Brioche patterns were written in the mid-1800s England for cushions and footstools that very much resembled the puffs of brioche pastry most of us are familiar with. The cushions used the brioche stitch that we still use today; however, throughout time we’ve experimented with our knitting to be able to make more than just pillows and cushions with the stitch.
So let's get experimenting , starting with the Simple Brioche Headband free pattern in the list below. You'll need to familirise yourself with 2 new knitting abbreviations SL1YO and BRK before you start. Once you've mastered the headband, why not knit a matching scarf.
SL1YO
Slip 1 Yarn Over - This isn’t your typical SL1YO that you’d see in a lace pattern.
- Hold the working yarn in front.
- Slip the next stitch purlwise.
- As you’re slipping the stitch from the left needle to the right needle, wrap the yarn over the needle and to the back.
BRK
Brioche Knit - This stitch is kind of like a k2tog, and it’s super easy!
- make sure working yarn is to the back of the work.
- Insert the needle knitwise into the next stitch and the yarn over, as if to knit.
- Knit the stitch and yarn over together.
Sandra's designs using just 1 colour
Name (click on name to get to the pattern) | Pattern / Kit | Flat / Round | Increases / Decreases | Easy/Difficult | Price |
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Simple Brioche Headband | Free Pattern | Worked Flat | None | 1 - Easy | £0.00 |
2 Coloured Brioche worked flat
Now you have learnt the basic SL1YO and BRK stitches and worked the simple headband (or other 1 coloured pattern) you'll be yearning to explore working with 2 colours. The process is similar, but to bring in the other colour you have to work each row of your knitting twice, one in the main color working BRK's and again in the contrast colour working BRP's (Brioche Purl's) . It will all become clear once you start knitting!
5 minute video explaining the 2 coloured Brioche process. Janet Collins (Chairperson of the Knitting & Crochet Guild) is following the “Swivel Gloves” Brioche Knitting pattern ( the 1st pattern in the list below). She explains how to perform 2 rows of the 2 coloured Brioche. This was a totally unscripted recording taken in the middle of one of Wild About Wools yarn markets, so excuse the background noise. I think she explains the process very well. Thanks Janet x
Sandra's designs using 2 colours
Name (click on name to get to the pattern) | Pattern / Kit | Colour / Flat / Round | Increases / Decreases | Easy/Difficult | Price |
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2 Coloured Brioche worked in the round
To work cowls , hats etc it's easier (as it is in normal knitting) to work in the round & when working 2 colours its easier to see exactly where you are. Working in the round you don't have to worry about the edge stitches (do you knit, purl or slip stitches, always a confusion!).
Start off with the Simple Brioche Cowl free pattern below
Sandra's designs using 2 colours
Name (click on name to get to the pattern) | Pattern / Kit | Colour / Flat / Round | Increases / Decreases | Easy/Difficult | Price |
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Increases and decreases
Once you have mastered the basic Brioche stitches , SL!YO , BRK's and BRP's to create some scrunchy knits then you will want to venture into creating intricate patterns from increasing and decreasing stitches. Some videos & instructions will help you through the process.

This video shows all the decreases and increases performed in the heat wave cowl. The Right Slant decrease, then the 4 stitch increases and then the Left slant decrease.
Happy knitting x