Gina's Brioche Hat and Cowl

Like all members of the Purl family, I live in a world where color rules. If you shop at our store in Soho, you've probably seen me restocking shelves and cutting fabric. I'm the one wearing a colorful dress (that I made myself, most likely out of lovely Liberty of London!) and the reddest red lipstick. In my view, nothing perks up a gray day more than a brightly hued ensemble. Top it all off with a handknit scarf or hat, and I'm happy!

But in all that colorific bliss hides a small problem. How to limit myself to just one color, especially when I'm surrounded by a veritable rainbow of temptation all day! Luckily, I recently discovered the Brioche Stitch (click here to find our 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? Yes, please!  And better still, Brioche fabric is truly as lofty and luxurious as its namesake, the light and buttery brioche bun, making it just right for cozy cold weather accessories. I'm completely obsessed!

For my perfectly simple Brioche Hat and Cowl, I chose Manos Del Uruguay's Maxima and Blue Sky's Suri Merino. I love how the vivid intensity of Maxima peeks out from between the soft, fuzzy clouds of Suri. A two color project that's twice as nice! 

Want to become obsessed too? Check out my Brioche Hat and Cowl Project Journal right here! --Gina

Comments

[MB@YarnUiPhoneAppv1.8]

The Blue Sky merino is in my app, Yarn U, but I have to try it, but I serously want to try the Maxima. It looks delish. And I love the white and green combo. It looks seriously cozy.

[kinesiskt horoskop]

Such a lovely colour!

[suesue]

Love this and I can imagine it in so many colors! I l love color too~thanks for sharing!!

[Deirdre]

What a terrific looking project! I especially like the look of the cowl. I'm afraid the Brioche Stitch in the Round Tutorial link is broken, though. Would love to try it out...

[Jenifer]

You always want to make me put down my current WIP and cast on for a new one ... right now!! This is lovely -- going to the top of the queue now (after I finish the current one, though!)!

[Janet K]

oooh.....I love the look of this!!!

[Nancy]

The link for the Brioche stitch in the round tutorial doesn't work. I would really love to see this. Could you please check it. Thank you.

[karen]

Gina, this looks like a wonderful, not-to-difficult pattern. I would love to try it but I'm allergic to wool!! Can you suggest a non-wool yarn that might work up well in this pattern? Thanks for any help you can give--Karen

[Missy Stevens]

the brioche stitch tutorial has gone missing !

[purl bee]

Hi Missy-

Thanks for pointing that out. It should be fixed now!

[Sarah @http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com/2011/03/]

You guys are one of the few places that incorporate the neon colors and really makes it look good. It opened a whole new word of color to me. I love it...REALLY love it =)


- Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com/

[Cathy]

Gina-
I know just who you are! I visited NYC and purlsoho over the weekend and picturing you brings a smile to an otherwise routine Monday.

[purl bee]

Hi Karen-

Blue Sky Cotton would work really well! The worsted weight, not the "skinny" cotton. You will need two skeins of each color you choose. Here is a link:
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/721-Blue-Sky-Blue-Sky-Cotton

The multi colored skeins of the same yarn are also a great choice but they have only 100 yards, so you would need three for the cowl. Here is a link to them: http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/6614-Blue-Sky-Blue-Sky-Multi-Cotton

Thanks for the question!

[sandy toe]

I am always amazed by other people's talent.

sandy toe

[Kimberly]

I just wanted to say thank you for all the kind & wonderful help I got when I visited your store last Sunday. I live in Pennsylvania & adore New York & now when I visit I know where to get all my yarny goodness. I was loving the yak braids in the basket fr spinning. I should've bought one!. Thank you again. Everyone was so kind & helpful! I love the yarn I purchased there too. Spud & Cloe sock :-)

[Kelli Frueh]

I love your site. Everything is so colorful and your work is gorgeous.

[April]

I love all of the projects you guys post, but am hesitant without seeing it modeled on a person. I would *love* to see accessories/sweaters/etc on a live human. xo-

[Louise]

Hi there,
I started this beautiful hat but subtituted the yarn. It wasn't successful. The hat was way too big. I used Bernat Roving, #5 bulky yarn with 5mm needles. My guage was 18x18 over 4" in the brioche. You would think that isn't far off the guage but it made a huge difference. Of course, I did not test guage, and should have for sure.
What could I have done to make this yarn work for the pattern?