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Crafty Resolutions for Knitters & Crocheters in 2019

Will you be making any yarn-related resolutions for 2019? The new year will be here before you know it, and now is the perfect time to set some goals to guide your knitting and crocheting next year. Here are some ideas you might want to try in 2019!

2019 "Make Nine" Challenge
If you only had time to make 9 projects in 2019, what would they be? We've gotten lots of inspiring pattern ideas just by exploring the hashtag #2019makenine on Instagram. The "Make Nine" challenge  is self-described as "A gentle, self-guided slow fashion initiative for fabric and yarn lovers," meaning that it's low-stress AND easy to customize for your preferred craft and skill level. You could challenge yourself to make 9 simple baby hats or 9 adult-sized steeked color work sweaters if you are so inclined! Following along with what other folks intend to make and how they progress throughout the year will be just as fun as sharing your own to-do list and progress.



Ravelry Project Challenge
Let's face it, most of us knit or crochet more than 9 projects in one calendar year - that's where a new feature on Ravelry can come into play! Earlier this year, Ravelry introduced the Project Challenge. If you look in your Notebook on Ravelry, on the menu bar at the top right (under your profile), you’ll see a Challenge button:


Simply click on that button and enter how many projects you wish to complete in 2019 to set your personal goal for the year, and Ravelry will automatically update your running count of projects for each one you mark complete in your notebook. Similar to #2019MakeNine, this is also a self-directed challenge that can be as high or low stress as you like!

Maybe you’re looking to try a new technique in 2019? There are so many groups on Ravelry that you’re sure to find a group of people who love the technique you want to try. Have you always wanted to learn brioche but were scared to try? The Brioche Knitters group can help. Wanted to cable, but were intimidated by the addition of a cable needle? Check out Cable Lovers. Have a life-long goal to tackle that Niebling lace? Try the group dedicated to the work of Herbert Niebling. We’re confident that there’s a group for you no matter what you want to try.  

Did you want to focus on crafting a certain type of item in 2019? Are you a sock addict? Try Sock Knitters Anonymous for those who just can’t stop knitting socks. Bump it up a notch and knit 12 or 19 sweaters in 2019 with this ambitious group! Or take on the 12 Shawls Forever challenge and knit 12 shawls in 2019 and beyond. Whatever you want to knit, there’s a group for that!



Yarn Tourism
A great way to meet fellow yarn lovers and dive deeper into your craft is to a attend special events and classes. There may be several fun events happening right in your own backyard, but have you ever thought about traveling to a special destination to celebrate all things yarn?

There are knitting events held worldwide that are amazing to attend, destinations such as the NY Sheep & Wool Festival (often referred to as simply Rhinebeck, for the name of the town the event is held in), Maryland Sheep & Wool, and the Taos Wool Festival, are popular destinations for fiber enthusiasts. Stitches Events and Vogue Knitting Live events are held at different times of the year in various cities around the country. If you live outside the U.S. or are up for big travel try the Edinburgh Yarn Festival in Scotland or Knit City in Canada.

You can also check out what your local or regional fiber guild has to offer or plan to attend one of the big shows elsewhere in the country; Clara Parkes keeps an extensive list of events here on the Knitter's Review website.


Make Yarn A Part of Non-Crafty Resolutions
At the start of a new year, lots of people pledge to get better organized or start a new health or workout regimen - and wouldn't you be more likely to stick to those resolutions if they somehow involved yarn?! That's what we thought!

There are lots of fun bags, bins, and boxes you can knit and crochet to take control of the clutter in your life. Here are a few free patterns to try: Small Hanging Basket by Hobbii Design (Crochet, shown below)Geometric Basket by Jamey from Dabbles & Babbles (Crochet)Piece of Cake Basket by Ladybug Designs (Knit) or the Sandhills Basket by Winnie Marie Designs.


You'll be less likely to blow off yoga class if you have a lovely hand knit or crocheted yoga mat bag to show off! Try the crocheted New Year, New Yoga (Mat Bag) by The Yarn Engineer or Miriam Katherine's knitted Behold the Spirit Yoga Mat Bag, both of which are available for free on Ravelry. For FitBit users, there are a few free knit and crochet patterns cropping up on Ravelry (see them all here); shown below is the Fitbit Pocketby Mwaa Knit, which looks like a fun way to use up leftover yarn to create a colorful necklace to keep your fitness tracker safe. 


CONTEST
We'd love to hear about your crafty resolutions for 2019 (or how you plan to incorporate yarn into your non-crafty resolutions!). Share your resolutions in the comments for your chance to win a Knitter's Magnetic Necklace Kit! Be sure to also mention your Ravelry ID or email address so that we can contact you if you win. We'll randomly select one lucky winner to announce on our first blog post of the new year on Friday, January 11. Good luck!

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Last-Minute Gifts to Knit & Crochet + Holiday Giveaways!

Last week, we shared a free knitting pattern for a quick cabled washcloth (click here if you missed it), and today we'd like to share a few more free patterns for last-minute holiday gifts! Grab your favorite Knitter's Pride needles and hooks, then click the links below to view each pattern on Ravelry.

FREE KNITTING PATTERNS
The Nollaig by Seoige Crafts features a cute tree motif and is topped with a giant pom pom. 
The Tiny Columns Cowl by Louis Chicquette knits up quickly in bulky weight yarn.

Can't decided between a hat or a cowl? The Groovy Hat and Cowl by Julia Swart is both, and knits up quickly in super bulky yarn.


Queue up a few of your fave holiday movies and whip up a pair of Three Movie Mittens by Lani Stanistreet. This unisex pattern is great for just about anyone on your list.


This Gingerbread Man by Sachiyo Ishii makes a cute topper on a present which can then be used to decorate your tree.

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FREE CROCHET PATTERNS
The Alyssa Beanie by Azucena Crochet Designs is a simple hat that works up quickly in worsted weight yarn. Use leftover yarn to make a pom pom, or try a trendy faux-fur pom as pictured here! 

Perfect for using up leftover yarn in your stash, The Basic Headband by Little Red Knits crochets up quickly using a size L hook and super bulky yarn.

The Hideaway Cowl by Jess Coppom is a beginner-friendly unisex accessory using basic crochet stitches and bulky weight yarn.

The name says it all: Easy and Quick Fingerless Gloves by Erin Castellaneta work up fast using any worsted weight yarn. 

Add a whimsical touch to your holiday with this cute Cactus Ornament by Spin a Yarn Crochet!

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HOLIDAY GIVEAWAYS

'Tis the season! We have lots of fabulous prizes up for grabs this month, starting with our Holiday Wish List Contest happening here in our Ravelry group! 1 lucky person will win a Bamboo Interchangeable Gift Set on Friday, December 14.


This month, all of our current newsletter subscribers are automatically entered to win 1 of 2 great prizes from our new collection: a Ginger DPN Knitting Needle Set or a Ginger Tunisian Crochet Hook Set

If you already subscriber to our newsletter, you are automatically entered in this drawing. Don't get our emails? Click here for more contest details & to sign up. We'll notify our lucky winners via email on Friday, January 4, 2019. Good luck! 

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Free Knitting Pattern: Silver Sands Washcloth

The holidays can sometimes be a stressful time of year - whether you're making gifts for loved ones or just trying to check everything off of your to-do list, you can always find a bit of peace when you pick up your needles! This lovely washcloth pattern features a simple cable pattern that reminds us of crashing waves and beautiful beach days. Allow yourself to be transported to your happy place with each row you knit!

Make one and add some scrumptious handmade soap to spoil yourself or present a loved one with a thoughtful, handmade gift.


Silver Sands Washcloth
By Laura Cameron
Thecornerofknitandtea.com

Finished Measurements: approx. 7.5” square

Gauge: 18 sts & 28 rows = 4 inches St St

Supplies:


Special Stitches:
3/3 RC (Right Cable): Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold to back, k3, k3 from cable needle.
3/3 LC (Left Cable): Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold to front, k3, k3 from cable needle.

Notes on Cables:
If you haven’t worked cables before, this is a fairly simple pattern to start with. Cables are created by adjusting the order in which you knit your stitches. In the simplest terms, when you create a cable, you will be pulling a few stitches off the needle and holding them aside (either to the front or back of your work) and then knitting the next few stitches. Then you will go back and knit the stitches you have pulled aside. This essentially twists the stitches together to form your cable. When you are first learning cables, the easiest way to practice is by using a cable needle. We used the Magnetic Knitter’s Necklace Kit to work the cables in this pattern.


To make cloth:
CO 42 sts.
Work 6 rows garter stitch (knit every row).

Begin Patt Stitch:
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2 and all WS rows: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 5: K3, *3/3 RC, k6; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 7: Knit.
Row 9: Knit.
Row 11: K3, *k6, 3/3 LC; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 12: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.

Repeat Rows 1-12 a total of 3 times, followed by Rows 1-6 only one final time. Or work until cloth has reached desired length.

Work 6 rows garter stitch (knit every row). Bind off.

Weave in ends and wash with your favorite fiber wash. We recommend using KnitPro Blocking Mats and Knit Blockers to block to finished measurements like so (your edges may be a bit wavy because of the cables):

Allow to dry, then enjoy a moment of peace this holiday season!

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Knitter's Pride 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

On our last blog post, we revealed this year's limited edition holiday gift set, Knit & Purr - click here if you missed it!

As the holiday season shifts into high gear, it's time to start planning your holiday shopping, and perhaps dropping a few hints to loved ones! Today, we share some of our top picks to give and get this holiday season - there's truly something for everyone on your list.

Keep reading to find out how you can enter this month's prize drawing to win a set of our new Rainbow Knit Blockers, too!

Ginger Luxury Sets
Our newest addition to the Knitter's Pride family is already receiving rave reviews! Knitwear designer Courtney Spainhower recently gave our Ginger Special Interchangeable Set a test drive, and crochet designer Phanessa Fong is loving our Ginger Tunisian Hook Set. We're pretty sure that the knitter or crocheter on your list will, too!

Each set comes in a deluxe faux leather case which has a built in magnetic pattern chart keeper and a handy storage pocket to keep the stitch marker, cords, cord keys and end caps which are included with each set safe (note: the Ginger DPN set includes a needle gauge rather than cords and cord keys/end caps). As an added bonus, we've also included a matching pen.

Click here to learn more about our Ginger knitting needle range and click here to learn more about our Ginger crochet range.

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Wooden Ball Winder & Swift
Any knitter, crocheter, hand spinner or weaver will find a ball winder and swift useful. Not only is it an efficient way to wind hanks of luxury yarns into center-pull balls, it can be used to skein up handspun yarns or re-skein leftover or reclaimed yarn for easier use at a later date.

Both of these time-saving tools come in your choice of Natural Birch or colorful Signature Birch styles - click here for more details.

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Knit & Purr Limited Edition Gift Set
For a truly remarkable gift, the Knit & Purr 2018 Holiday Gift Set carries a collection of millennium interchangeable knitting needles which are made from a combination of black & red laminated wood that is brought together by hand to create a unique pattern in each needle. 

Packaged beautifully in a specially-designed box resembling a cozy abode, Knit & Purr includes also includes a reusable "Knit & Purr" tote bag to create a delightful treat for any knitter on your list.


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Jewelry for Knitters
Fashionable and functional, these elegant designs will be a welcome surprise for the knitter who has it all (and crocheters will love them, too!). 

Our Magnetic Knitter's Necklace Kit features a magnetic wooden pendant can be used to keep the cable needles and stitch markers close for easy access. Each kit comes in your choice of two pendant colors and includes cable needles and stitch markers, which can also be purchased separately as needed.

Keep track of your knitting pattern in style with one of our new Row Counter Rings! These rings can be worn on an index finger or thumb, allowing you to push the required number band towards the center for easy rotation as you work. Available in 4 sizes, they are made from high quality stainless steel and are also hypoallergenic.

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Rainbow Knit Blockers
We've had many fans tell us that our Knit Blockers are such a time-saving tool, they've purchased multiple sets - so you really can't go wrong with our new Rainbow Knit Blockers! This revolutionary tool is designed to speed up the blocking process for knitters & crocheters alike, and now it has a playful new look. Each set includes ten different colors to make blocking your next project more fun.

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Zing Crochet Set
By popular demand, we've expanded our Zing line to include crochet hooks in a beautiful spectrum of colors. The Zing Crochet Set set includes 9 hook size in a lustrous metallic shade unique to its size. Crocheters will love these lightweight hooks, and each set comes packaged smartly in an attractive zipper case for easy storage and travel.

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Yarn Bowls & Dispensers
Ask any knitter or crocheters and they'll probably tell you that you can never have too many WIPs (Works In Progress). One of our beautifully handcrafted wooden yarn bowls or dispensers is a thoughtful gift to keep their yarn safe and tangle-free while they work! Our yarn bowls come in two styles, Leafy or Pearly, or choose between our Natural and Signature Yarn Dispenser to delight any yarn lover on your list.

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Small Gifts for Yarn Friends
We have many affordable options which make excellent stocking stuffers, guild gifts, or fun little extras to include with a handmade or store-bought gift.

Exchange our Knitting Charms with folks in your knitting or crochet group as a token of your friendship - each one can be used as a keychain or bag charm, and includes a miniature Zing needle and hook to mend your work. So handy!

Shawl Pins are a wonderful gift for your shawl-loving friends, and can be given on their own, or with one of your own making. Check out our newest shawl pin styles here!

Our new Vibrance Mesh Bags come in your choice of zipper or snap closures, and are great for organizing just about anything - yarn, notions, school supplies, or even toiletries!

We love tools that do double duty, and each elephant-shaped Needle & Crochet Gauge not only identifies knitting needle and crochet hook sizes easily, it also lets you measure stitch gauge and includes a built-in yarn cutter, too! Choose from two colors, Blush and Lilac.

Stitch Markers are always a gift you can't go wrong with! We've added fun new styles to our Zooni range, all of which come packaged in a mesh zipper pouch for a lovely presentation.

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November Giveaway
One lucky winner will win a set of Rainbow Knit Blockers - just click here to sign up for our newsletter to be entered in the drawing! Already a subscriber? Don’t worry, you’re automatically entered as long as you are an active subscriber on our list. We'll announce the winner in next month's newsletter!

2018 Holiday Gift Set Reveal: Knit & Purr

For the 2018 holiday season, we drew our inspiration from a warm and cozy home: the place that we call our own which provides us with solace and joy! A cozy home may conjure up images of curling up beside the fireplace as you knit warmth for your loved ones, enjoy a good book or perhaps a warm cup of tea. We couldn't resist putting a new spin on "Knit & Purl" with "Knit & Purr" to capture that wonderful warm feeling when your cat snuggles beside you, purring with a sense of contentment.

The Knit & Purr 2018 Holiday Gift Set is a result of the love and warmth of all of us at Knitter’s Pride - a warmth that passes onto our products and into what you create with them.

Knit & Purr carries a collection of millennium interchangeable knitting needles which are unique in every sense of the word: the needles are made from a combination of black & red laminated wood which has been interspersed together through a special process that creates a special random pattern.

Through this very special process, each pattern emerges in the needle when the wood pieces are painstakingly brought together by hand. Each needle is a unique work of art, made with the utmost care and craftsmanship, just as every knitter leaves their unique mark on their creation!


Packaged beautifully in a specially-designed box resembling a cozy abode, Knit & Purr includes:
  • Nine pairs of the Millennium Interchangeable Needle Tips with black connectors in sizes US Size: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10.5, 11 
  •  Four black cords in lengths of 24", 32" (two) & 40" and a set of cord connectors packed in a fabric pouch 
  • Free bonus gift: reusable "Knit & Purr" tote bag made in an eco-friendly fabric 
This limited edition gift set is available exclusively at your nearest Knitter's Pride Retailer this holiday season.

Want to leave a not-so-subtle holiday hint for someone? Save this post to Pinterest using the graphic below! 



How to Wind Yarn on a Nostepinne

We’re delighted to add some exciting new tools to our lineup, including our portable wooden Nostepinnes, available in your choice of two beautiful finishes. Nostepinne is a Scandanvian word that translates to “nest-stick,” and the nostepinne is one of the original ways to wind a ball of yarn. Today we’ll share a few tips and tricks on how to wind yarn using this handheld tool - and keep reading to find out how you can win one of your own!


The nostepinne is most useful for winding yarn that comes in hanks or skeins into beautiful yarn cakes that are easy to work with. You can also re-wind yarn that comes in balls if you wish.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Yarn
The first step is to gather your nostepinne and your yarn. Open the skein or hank and place it on a yarn swift to prevent it from becoming tangled. In a pinch, you can also place your yarn around the back of a chair or settle yourself somewhere comfortable and place the yarn around your knees. (There’s also the ages old image of having a helpful husband, friend or child hold the yarn for you!) Whatever you choose, you just want to choose a method that will keep the skein from getting tangled and becoming hard to work with.

Step 2: Starting to Wind
You can start winding the yarn onto the nostepinne in a few different ways. If you’re concerned about the beginning yarn slipping off, you can make a slipknot in the end of the yarn and attach that to the nostepinne. We just like to hold the end of the yarn parallel to the nostepinne. Then slowly wind the yarn around the nostepinne a few times, securing the slipknot or the end of the yarn under your yarn wraps.

Step 3: Winding Yarn Onto the Nostepinne
Next, you’ll continue to wind your yarn around the nostepinne, but now you will wind your yarn in a diagonal manner. That is, wind the yarn from the bottom left corner to the top right corner (or reverse if it is more comfortable for you). As you’re winding, slowly rotate the nostepinne at the same time so that your wraps build up evenly around the nostepinne (click here to watch a video tutorial showing how to do this).


Then keep going in the same manner until you reach the end of the skein!


Step 4: Securing the End of Your Yarn
As you near the end of your skein, wind the last few yards of yarn horizontally around the cake of yarn to secure the yarn from unwinding. You’re done!

The nostepinne can also be useful for winding center pull balls. If you want to work with your yarn cake from the center, follow the instructions using the slipknot method, and place the slipknot around one of the subtle indentations in the handle of the nostepinne. When you are done winding your skein, you can pull the yarn cake off the nostepinne and wind the last few yards of yarn around the outside of the cake. Loosen the slipknot to pull it off the nostepinne, undo it, and you’re ready to work from the center of your cake.

GIVEAWAY
Ready to give winding a try? Two lucky winners will win one of two nostepinnes - just click here to sign up for our newsletter to be entered in the drawing! Already a subscriber? Don’t worry, you’re automatically entered as long as you are an active subscriber on our list.



We hope this tutorial has inspired you to wind some of your beautiful yarns by hand using the nostepinne - and if you liked this post, pin it!

 

Lots of LYS Love: Winners Announced (plus a NEW contest!)

Last month, we asked you to share why you love your LYS, and we received some fabulous entries for our contest! There are so many fabulous stories here in our contest thread - we wish we could share them all! Below are a few of our favorite posts, be sure to keep reading until end to find out who won our prize drawings!

MelodyJoy86 shared this:
I love The Yarn Shop in Lincoln, Nebraska! It is an amazing place to hang out; we have potlucks and casual days where people come in to knit together and laugh. It is the place to be in Lincoln! The owner, Mittra, is very helpful and really makes the place welcoming and her employees are the best! This is a flashback to last year's Christmas party!

Rosie1111 has found a home away from home at her LYS:
I don’t know what I would have done without the owner and all the ladies at my LYS Black Sheep Yarn Shop in Maryland. When I was diagnosed 4 years ago with a rare muscle disease, it became my refuge and Happy place. I was either at the hospital, home or at my LYS. It also was wonderful that many of my friends there are nurses or worked in the medical field. I remember we were doing a KAL for the Hitofude Cardigan and working on this lace project kept my mind from worrying. Donna has made her shop a place to celebrate life’s joyous times as well as a place to comfort and encourage each other when times are tough. The laughter outweighs the tears. I also purchased my favorite toy, my Knitter's Pride ball winder and swift there and really enjoy how beautiful all the pretty colors of the wood is when it is spinning around. With all the gorgeous yarn there, one feels like a kid in a yarn candy store! One of the best things about Donna and her staff is that they are always ready to help any knitter who is struggling with a project or need to understand which yarn is perfect for their project.
Sondrakb has also found a supportive community at her LYS:
Apple Knits and Purls, located in the lovely landshore city of Muskegon, Michigan. Encountering this knit shop has been the best thing I’ve done in my adult life. I’ve never enjoyed group gatherings as much as I do here. We get together for “fix it” days, we knit, crochet, and exchange stories… of our lives, our projects, the world. Chantella, the owner, gives us strength and confidence during our gatherings. I come away feeling rejuvenated and inspired. Her store carries a multitude of different yarns…all excellent quality…nothing but the best. The Shop is small, but packs a large punch in every arena of quality yarns and assortment. Just love my LYS!

Contest Winners
Chosen by the Random Number Generator, the following entries have been selected to a prize from our NEW collection (a Ginger Deluxe Interchangeable Set, a Zing Crochet Set, or a Magnetic Knitters' Necklace Kit are all up for grabs)! Winners will be contacted and given their choice of prize on a first come, first serve basis.

Winner #1: Post #57 by NataliaWP
My LYS is Tangles Knitting on Main in Waxhaw, NC.  It’s little over 3 months since I moved to NC and found this nice, cozy, well organized store with lovely owner. I joined the knitting/crochet group over there and over the summer, we did a great project together for our town - a beautiful yarnbomb mural, Waxhaw flowers. So glad that I’m part of this special community.

Winner #2: Post #9 by hjordisperkins
My favorite LYS is actually on the other side of the country. I live in a very rural area…so I haven’t got a LYS. HOWEVER, we travel, and my most frequently visited yarn store for over twenty years, is thousands of kilometers from my home. I visit every time I am in Nova Scotia, and I’ve had her mail yarn to me as well. PatriciaLynn of Baadeck Yarns in Baddeck, Nova Scotia provides excellent customer service…and got me into Knitter's Pride needles!

Winner #3: Post #46 by MaureenHD
My favorite LYS is Silk Road Textiles in Cincinnati. A beautiful shop with fabulous staff. The knitting classes are wonderful as are the open knitting sessions. I have made plenty of new knitting friends. It is always a joy to go to the store. Here we are helping make sure a sweater vest is going to fit!

Thanks to everyone who entered our contest; we hope you'll continue to show your LYS some love this fall!

Giveaway
Make sure that you are signed up for our newsletter, where we'll be awarding prizes from our new product line each month to active subscribers. Click here for details on our current drawing!



Let’s Learn Brioche Knitting

We can’t get enough of the brioche knitting trend - although it’s an older technique, brioche is seeing a resurgence in tons of new designs for hats, cowls, shawls and sweaters. In today’s post we’re going to show you the basics so that you can give this technique a try.

First, let’s talk about what brioche actually is: this technique creates a lofty, reversible, ribbed fabric created by accomplished by slipping stitches and creating yarnovers in one row that are then knit together with stitches in the following rows. Many patterns use two colors of yarn, which can be easier especially when you’re first starting out, but you can also knit 1-color brioche as well.

Knitting a Brioche swatch with needles from our new Ginger Special Interchangeable set.

For the purpose of today's discussion, we’ll focus on 2-color brioche so that you can clearly see the technique. Brioche has its own language so we’re going to first define a few abbreviations and terms:

Sl1yo stands for slip 1, yarnover, and it is a stitch you’ll be using on every row. You’ll need to slip the next stitch from your left needle to your right needle, while simultaneously wrapping the yarn around your needle from front to back. This slipped stitch and its corresponding yarnover will be treated as 1 stitch in the subsequent row.

Brk stands for brioche knit, and you’ll sometimes hear it referred to as the “bark stitch.” When you see a brk stitch, you will be knitting the next stitch together with its corresponding yarnover that was created on the previous row.

Brp stands for brioche purl, and you’ll sometimes hear it referred to as the “burp stitch.” When you see a brp stitch, you will be purling the next stitch together with its corresponding yarnover that was created on the previous row.

The second slightly tricky thing to understand about 2-color brioche is that to create a reversible fabric, each row is actually knit twice: once with Color 1, and once with the Color 2 - so for each 2 rows of knitting, you are actually knitting 4 rows.

Essentially, each side of your piece will have a color that is dominant on it. If we’re talking about Color 1, a light color, and Color 2, a dark color, let’s say that the Right Side of your work will have Color 1 as the dominant color and the Wrong Side of your work will have Color 2 as the dominant color.

On each Right Side row, you will first knit and slip stitches across in Color 1. Then, without turning your work, you will slide the stitches back to the beginning of the row you just worked and you will purl and slip stitches across in Color 2. You have now completed the first, Color 1 dominant side of your brioche.

Right Side of brioche swatch - Color 1 dominant


On each Wrong Side row, you will first purl and slip stitches across the row with your Color 1. Then, without turning your work, you will slide the stitches back to the beginning of the row you just worked and you will knit and slip stitches across with your Color 2. You have now completed the second, Color 2 dominant side of your brioche.

Wrong Side of brioche swatch - Color 2 dominant

Now that we have defined the terms, and talked about the order in which the rows are knit, we hope you’ll begin to understand what the following rows signify:

Row 1 (RS/Color 1): *Sl1yo, brk; repeat from * to end.
Row 2 (RS/Color 2): *Brp, sl1yo; repeat from * to end.


Row 3 (WS/Color 1): *Brp, sl1yo; repeat from * to end.
Row 4 (WS/Color 2): *Slyo, brk; repeat from * to end.

You may see patterns written slightly differently, or using slightly different abbreviations, but these are the basic stitches that make up all brioche patterns.

Brioche Knitting Pattern Inspiration
As we mentioned at the beginning, there are hundreds of brioche knitting patterns to choose from these days! Here, we’ll spotlight a few favorites to try, starting with Lisa Hannes’ All About that Brioche. This triangular shawl combines garter stitch blocks with sections of brioche knitting to create a wearable accessory that is also a great introduction to the technique!


If you’re looking for a free pattern on Ravelry to practice your brioche, we recommend Emma Galati’s Brioche for Beginners cowl. Emma uses slightly different abbreviations than we have here, but her pattern is a simple 2-color brioche cowl designed for beginners, and because it’s knit in the round, you may have an easier time mastering the technique without becoming confused about which side is the right or wrong side of your fabric.


Once you’ve conquered the basics, there are even more fun patterns to try, such as Andrea Mowry’s Ramble (below left) or Leslie Ann Robinson’s Sizzle Pop (below right).



You can find more information about brioche knitting on Nancy Marchant’s wonderful site Brioche Stitch. For a few tips and tricks about brioche, check out this post from Ann Shayne of Mason Dixon Knitting.

We look forward to seeing your brioche knitting projects on social media - don’t forget to tag us in your post!


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