Knitting Brioche Stitch in the Round - Tutorial

Brioche knitting is a simple multicolor technique that creates a beautiful fabric of ridges and valleys. The color play of fair isle or intarsia without the bother of tangled balls of yarn and pesky tails. Brioche fabric is truly as lofty and luxurious as its namesake, the light and buttery brioche bun.

For a pattern for the two-colored Brioche hat and scarf pictured above, click here!

Below you will find a tutorial for Knit 1, Purl 1, two-colored Brioche, in the round. The piece below was started with 5 rounds of knitting in color B.

Pattern Notes

• For "Yarn A", I used the Highlighter color of Maxima, and for "Yarn B", I used the Snow colored Suri Merino.
• After working a round with Yarn A,  leave yarn hanging at front of work. After working a round with Yarn B, leave yarn hanging at the back of work.
• How to Yarn Over Slip or YOS: Bring yarn to front of work, slip one as if to purl, carry yarn to back of work over right needle.

Round 1A (Using Yarn A): *YOS (see Pattern Notes), p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Leaving yarn A hanging at front of work, continue working in yarn B.

Round 1B (Using Yarn B): *K2tog (yarn over from previous round + following stitch), YOS, repeat from * to end of round

Leaving Yarn B hanging at back of work, continue working with Yarn A. 

Round 2A (Using Yarn A): *YOS, p2tog (yarn over from previous round + next stitch), repeat from * to end of round. Leave yarn A in front of work.

Round 2B (Using yarn B): *K2tog (yarn over from previous round + following stitch), YOS, repeat from * to end of round. Leave Yarn B in back of work.

Repeat Rounds 2A and 2B until desired length.

Comments

[SImone]

OK in dutch we call this "patent-steek". It should be noted that while using this stitch is more labor intensive per stitch, however per inch you need less stitches. I once made a hat for my daughter that I ended up wearing myself (it's even too big for me) because of that.

[Katie]

Thanks so much for this great tutorial. Love your blog!

[Strix]

Hi,
does this require an even number of stitches for the cast on?

[purl bee]

Strix, yes is does! It requires an even number. Great question. Thanks for writing in. --Laura

[Noga]

Hi: This may seem obvious but could you explain how you would knit this with just a single color yarn? I am confused as to where to position the yarn in each of the rounds.... Thanks so much! n

[purl bee]

Hi Hoga,
Unfortunately we do not have a pattern written for single color brioche stitch in the round at the moment. Here is a link to a pattern for single color brioche stitch knit flat: http://purlbee.squarespace.com/berlin-scarf/
Laura

[Noga]

Hi Laura: Thanks so much for your response! I will check it out! Best, n

[Ally]

If you wanted to follow this pattern exactly, I am guessing you could use two skeins of the same color yarn to achieve the texture of brioche, but resulting in a solid color piece.

[purl bee]

Hi Ally-

For the exact pattern click on the link in the intro or here: http://purlbee.squarespace.com/brioche-hat-cowl/

Good luck with it!

Molly