Brioche Knitting Workshop: A beginner's guide to brioche techniques with 15 modern patterns

by Lavanya Patricella

In the winter of 2003 I asked my Grandmother to teach me how to knit. I took to it quickly and began knitting my own sweaters and accessories almost immediately. I started teaching beginner knitting at local yarn shops and art spaces a few years later. I also did yarn bombing, exhibited in galleries, sold my hand-knit accessories at local boutiques, and worked part time at local yarn shops helping people with their own knit projects. It wasn’t until the spring of 2013, after I had my first son, that I decided to try my hand at pattern writing in an effort to work from home.

In the winter of 2015 I came across a dress pattern by Stephen West that would change my life. I’d never seen the stitch before and knew as soon as I saw the fabric that I had to learn how to make it. I had no idea how much this magic little stitch would influence my creativity. The fabric was it had a clear background and foreground, there were two colors and it was reversible. I made it my mission to learn how to make it and went on to knit my dream dress using the brioche technique. After finishing, I was hooked. I was inspired to design simple patterns, then more complex ones. I started teaching my first brioche classes at Conversational Threads Fiber Arts Studio in the summer of 2015. Before I knew it I was traveling around the country teaching knitters my favorite new stitch.

Here we are, almost a decade later, and not much has changed. I’m still in love with the stitch and still teaching dozens of people how to knit it every month. It’s not a terribly hard stitch to learn but there are certain knitting rules that get broken or bent with brioche. Understanding the dynamics of how this fabric is made can really speed the learning process along. My hope with this book is to share with you what I’ve learned, through years of teaching both beginner and advanced knitters, about how to navigate the unique construction and terminology needed to knit this beautiful fabric successfully. You’ll find clear written instructions with accompanying photographs, along with a collection of 15 patterns designed to follow you through your journey from mastering the beginning steps to more advanced skills. I also hope this book serves as a good reference for those who know how to work brioche but need a refresher, or are just looking for some inspiration.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts

115 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2024

Reviews

[Savannah]

I've always wanted to try knitting brioche, but it looks intimidating and difficult. Having a large, full color book of instructions is the perfect way to learn and ease into it. There's a whole section of brioche basics, including choosing colors, the basic stitches, increasing, decreasing, variations, and troubleshooting. Then there's fifteen beautiful patterns organized from easy to more advanced to help you become confident. This book has everything you need to become proficient in brioche!

Thank you, David & Charles Publishing, for the review copy!

[Elianastar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to *learn* Brioche Knitting?

I would start with this book. Excellent illustrations. VERY clear instructions, warnings, what to do when.

As someone working in Brioche for the first time, I would work my way through this book, each pattern, in sequence, from first to last. Gift - or sell - anything you have no use for yourself.

Each pattern is presented in a logical sequence advancing one step at a time through each project. Working almost entirely in bulky or chunky weight yarns, making it easier to SEE what you are doing - or not doing - and also letting the project go more quickly, minimizing stress and fatigue finishing projects… successfully.

I agree that starting with Two-Color Brioche in the round makes the most sense and creates the least frustration.

I, however, did not *know* that when my first Brioche project was a nice two color Brioche *scarf*. It was finished successfully and I was very pleased with the project. If I had known working something in the *round* would have been MUCH easier, that would have eliminated a lot of my frustration with my first project. I learned a lot… the *hard* way. 😆

In spite of that, I really enjoyed both the project and the scarf and was very pleased I chose to tackle Brioche knitting.

The very next Yarn Knitting group I went to, we were taught one-color flat Brioche… and it was a *breeze”… *because* I had already learned *everything* to NOT do with my just completed project. 😆

If I had had this book, my first… and second… Brioch projects would have been much less stressful.

Once you have worked through this book, I highly suggest your next book in Brioche be “Knitting Brioche: the Essential Guide to the Brioche Stitch” by Nancy Marchant. It is as its title states. You will have pretty well mastered all the essentials of Brioche knitting and be well prepared to tackle many of the projects you find there.

Brioche LOOKS intimidating. Do not permit the *looks* of it deter you. Once you *understand* the process and what you are doing why - which this books explains and demonstrates very clearly - it is as “complicated” as Stockinette Stitch. Seriously.

Then go find yourself a loaf of Brioche bread or a nice Brioche roll… and squeeze your Brioche whatever you’ve worn. You will have a new appreciation for its moniker❣️

Many knit Brioche projects have a tendency to “hug” you because of the texture of the fabric… a wonderfully “smooshy” cuddly fabric. Not unlike the bread from which it earned its name.

[Beverley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tricky technique but this book gives step by step instructions in both continental and English knitting methods.

The patterns are beautiful and although it took me a few attempts to master the technique I was soon able to recreate the brioche pattern