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.

simple brioche headband pattern

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
Simple Brioche Headband	Free Pattern	Worked Flat	None	1 - Easy	£0.00
Checkerboard infinity Scarf	Kit	Worked Flat	Garter st	2	£13.00
Rhombile Scarf	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	3	£4.00
2 Brioche Hats	Kit	Worked in the Round	Stripes	3	£11.00
Madison Childs Jacket	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	3	£4.50
Astilbe Scarf	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec & Cables	4	£4.50

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
Swivel Gloves	Pattern & Kit	Worked Flat	Cables	3	£3.00
Bevel Shawlette	Kit	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	4	£7
Centre of my Heart	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	4	£3.00
Confluence Scarf	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	4	£3.50
Brioche Blossom Shawl	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	5	£5.00
Stepping Stones Cowl	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	5	£4.00
Lodore Falls	Kit	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	5	£32.00
Poison Ivy Scarf	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	5	£4.50
Lollipop Baby Cardigan	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	5	£4.00
Trollius Shawl	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	5	£4.50
Filigrana	Pattern	Worked Flat	Inc & Dec	6	£5.00
Delphic Wrap	Pattern	Worked flat	inc , Dec & Garter St	7	£5.00

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

simple brioche cowl pattern

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
Simple Brioche Cowl	Free Pattern	Worked in the Round	None	3 - Easy	£0.00
Swirl Drop Beanie Hat	Pattern	Worked in the Round	Inc & Dec	5	£4.00
Eddy Cowl	Kit	Worked in the Round	Inc & Dec	5	£22.00
Heatwave Cowl	Pattern	Worked in the Round	Inc & Dec	5	£4.50
Flower Garden Mandala	Pattern	Worked in the Round	Inc & Dec	6	£4.00
Carrageen Hat & Gloves	Pattern	Worked Flat & in the Round	Inc , Dec & Garter st	7	£5.00

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