February: a month of extremes when it comes to the weather. One day you think spring has arrived, and a few days later you’re up to your ankles in snow. For those days when King Winter still reigns supreme and you could really use your winter accessories, we’ll teach you the two-color brioche stitch. As far as we’re concerned, it’s the perfect stitch for knitting a scarf, because it looks great on both the front and the back. That immediately explains why the two-color brioche stitch is nicknamed the “Scarf stitch.” So if you recently snagged a cute winter coat on sale and are still looking for the perfect matching accessory, you can now knit it yourself.
What Is the Two-Color Brioche Stitch or Knitting?
With the two-color brioche stitch, you knit each row twice: once with color A and once with color B. This makes it convenient to use Circular Knitting Needles, so you can easily slide the work back to the beginning. If you prefer to work with straight Knitting Needles, choose a pair without a knob. Because you knit each row twice, brioche knitting isn’t very fast, but it does result in a project that looks stunning from both the front and the back. In our pattern and video tutorial, we work with straight lines, but brioche knitting is also known for allowing you to create all kinds of beautiful patterns. You do this by increasing and decreasing stitches. It’s a technique that requires practice and concentration, but the fantastic results are well worth the effort.
Fun Facts About the Two-Color Brioche Stitch
- Double the knitting fun also means double the amount of yarn. Since you knit each row twice, you use twice as much yarn as you would with, say, stockinette stitch.
- The two-color brioche stitch produces an elastic fabric. Therefore, make sure to cast on and bind off with chain stitches so the fabric doesn't pull.
- For the best results, use a wool or (slightly) fuzzy yarn. We do not recommend using smooth yarns for the two-color brioche stitch.
- The effect of the two-color brioche stitch doesn't become clearly visible until after about 6 to 8 rows. So don't worry that you're doing it wrong after just a few rows—just keep knitting.
Free Pattern: Two-Color Brioche Stitch / Knit Brioche
Let’s get started! The two-color brioche stitch isn’t difficult, but it’s not something you can just “quickly whip up.” So just sit back, relax, and take your time. This free Knitting Pattern is an ideal foundation for knitting a scarf, for example. Decide on the length, width, and colors, and knit your accessory exactly the way you want it.
Tools & Supplies:
- 1 ball of Yarn and Colors Joy in 2 different colors, for example 002 Cream and 015 Mustard
- 4 mm Circular Knitting Needles or Straight Knitting Needles without a knob
Start: Cast on an odd number of stitches. In the video, we cast on 15 stitches; for the gauge swatch shown in the photo, we cast on 41 stitches. The two-color brioche stitch begins with a preparatory row, followed by four repeating rows.
Setup row: Knit this row using color 002 Cream. *Slip 1 stitch purlwise, yarn over, knit 1*, repeat until the end of the row.
Row 1: Knit this row in color 015 Mustard:
Slip the first stitch, purl 1 (through both loops of the previous row, including the yarn over), *bring the yarn toward you and slip 1 stitch, yarn over, purl 1 (through both loops)*, repeat from *to* until the end of the row; do not knit the last stitch.
Needle 2: Slide the work to the other end of the needle and knit this row using color 002 Cream.
Knit the first stitch, *bring the yarn toward you and slip 1 stitch, yarn over, knit 1 (through both loops of the previous row)*, repeat from *to* until the end of the row; do not knit the last stitch.
Row 3: Knit this row in color 015 Mustard:
Slip the first stitch, knit 1 (through both loops of the previous row), *bring the yarn toward you and slip 1 stitch, yarn over, knit 1 (through the knitted loops of the previous row)*,
Repeat *until* the end of the row, do not knit the last stitch.
Needle 4: Slide the work to the other side of the needle and knit this row in color 002 Cream:
Knit the first stitch, *bring the yarn toward you and slip 1 stitch, yarn over, purl 1 (through both loops of the previous row)*, repeat from *to* until the end of the row; do not knit the last stitch.
Repeat rows 1 through 4 until you reach the desired height.
Video Tutorial: Two-Color Brioche Stitch
We'd love to walk you through the above pattern step by step in this detailed video tutorial:
Have you knitted a scarf, sweater, or something else beautiful using the two-color brioche stitch? Let us know on our Facebook or Instagram page. Tip: Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be the first to know about a new “Stitch of the Month.”
