Texture series #2: Brioche
I love a good texture. Don’t get me wrong, stockinette stitch has its time and place but being able to create interesting details with knitting gives me great satisfaction. So, in my Texture series, I am collating modern and inclusive knitting patterns that use specific techniques and create textures. Last time we looked at bobbles, this time it’s brioche!
The brioche stitch produces a squishy chunkiness in our knits with its elongated lines of knit stitches and deep ridges of purl stitches adding beautiful and elegant volume. Brioche is very closely related to the fisherman’s rib stitch. While they give the same end result, they are worked differently. (I know, right? Isn’t knitting the most mind blowing thing ever?) I found this article very useful in understanding the difference.
Copyright: Susanne Sommer
Planet A scarf by Sosu Knits
Susanne Sommer’s free pattern Planet A turns climate data into a knitted accessory as it visualizes how much each month’s temperature differs from the long-time average. Fighting climate change *and* knitting? I am here for it. This beautiful fingering weight design comes in two sizes: scarf (40 x 200 cm / 15 ½ x 78 ½″) and shawl (60 x 185 cm / 23 ½ x 73″). It is available in English and German.
Quiet Delight Beanie by Kutovakika
Described as ‘possibly the cosiest beanie ever’, the sumptuous brioche stitch makes it both airy and light while keeping you warm. Kutovakika’s Quiet Delight beanie is a lovely project to practice the brioche stitch- if you know how to make a yarn over and knit or purl two stitches together, you can do it! There are two sizes available and it’s designed for worsted weight yarns.
Copyright: Kutovakika
Copyright: Lavanya Patricella
Garter Snake Cowl by Lavanya Patricella
This unisex cowl pattern uses the two colour brioche technique, so you can play with all kinds of colour combinations. The pattern is worked both in 2 color brioche and garter stitch to create a fun geometric and reversible design. Fingering weight yarn and needles 3.25mm / US 3 are suggested for this great layering accessory.
Sizzle Pop Sweater by Knit Graffiti
Lesley Anne Robinson of Knit Graffiti designed a fitted circular yoke sweater that is knitted from the top down and uses a two-colour brioche to accentuate the beautiful design details. The pattern includes 12 sizes and suggests DK weight yarn. It’s certainly recommended to have some brioche experience before, however, Lesley also offers online courses focusing on different levels and details of brioche knitting. Check out her website for more details.
Copyright: Lesley Anne Robinson