Pattern Facelift: Basync Brioche
Every time I say this to a non-brioche knitter I get an eye roll, so I'm going to say it again and see how many more eye rolls I can get: "Two-color brioche is EASIER to learn than one color".
For serious! How can 2 be easier than 1? Well, because in the case of brioche, you want to see how the two colors are interacting to form the fabric!
Ok, lesson over!
Almost two years ago this simple little pattern was loaded up to Ravelry and became a really popular way for folks to learn to knit brioche! It's two colors (WOOT WOOT!), features a yarn that can stand up to multiple cast-ons (and subsequent ripping back to figure out how to brioche) and doesn't involve any difficult shaping stitches - it's 2-color brioche at it's most basic... almost! There's a teeny-tiny syncopation in the middle to change things up a bit so you can see how the yarn dominance of the brk's vs the brp's play together.
When this pattern was originally released it was only done in Sport weight. Well, my friends, it was time for an update. Now we have this wonderful pattern in 3 weights: sporty, worsted and BULKY, BABY!
BASYNC BRIOCHE
So! If learning to knit brioche is on your to do list for 2018, this is the way to go! Not only do you have 3 weight options, each size designed to use just one skein of each color, but I have a slew of brioche tutorial videos to get you rockin' and rollin'!
A couple of years ago I hosted a weeks worth of brioche tutorials - so you can go back in the archives and check out what I had to say about it, and visit the accompanying videos on YouTube to get you squared away:
Here are the blog posts, in order of which they were published. These were also my introduction to YouTube. My how time flies!
One color, flat: http://unapologeticknitter.com/blog/2015/5/4/how-to-one-color-brioche-knit-flat
One color, round: http://unapologeticknitter.com/blog/2015/5/5/how-to-one-color-brioche-in-the-round
Two color, flat: http://unapologeticknitter.com/blog/2015/5/4/how-to-two-color-brioche-knit-flat
Two color, round: http://unapologeticknitter.com/blog/2015/5/6/how-to-two-color-brioche-in-the-round
Fixing Brioche: http://unapologeticknitter.com/blog/2015/5/6/how-to-fix-dropped-stitches-in-brioche
Here's the pattern details so you can get to brioche-ing!
THE STORY
When the need for simplicity in my life crashed into my love of brioche, this basic, single syncopation brioche cowl was born. Each one of these cowls is designed to maximize the use of just 2 skeins: 1 skein of each color!
You can order a kit directly from Ewe Ewe Yarns that includes both the pattern and the yarn needed to make a cowl in your desired weight - we've even put together some color combinations that we think are pretty fabulous. Visit EWE EWE YARNS to get a kit.
SUPPLIES
- A copy of the Basync Brioche pattern (included in kit)
- Ewe Ewe Yarns - 100% superwash merino wool: (included in kit)
- Sport Weight: Ewe So Sporty (145 yds / 50g skein): 1 skein each of “75 Sky Blue” (Color A) and “78 Sapphire” (Color B)
- Worsted Weight: Wooly Worsted (95 yds / 50g skein): 1 skein each of “70 Aquamarine” (Color A) and “20 Red Poppy” (Color B)
- Bulky Weight: Baa Baa Bulky (120 yds / 50g skein): 1 skein each of “97 Brushed Silver” (Color A) and “30 Saffron” (Color B)
- US 6 (4mm) 24” / 60 cm circular needle (Sport weight)
- US 8 (5mm) 24” / 60 cm circular needle (Worsted weight)
- US 10.5 (6.5mm) 40” / 100 cm circular needle (Bulky weight)
- Stitch marker
- Row counter
- Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZES
- Sport Weight Size: 7.75” / 20 cm tall x 24.5” / 62 cm circumference
- Worsted Weight Size: 7.25” / 18.5 cm tall x24.5“ / 62 cm circumference
- Bulky Weight Size: 6.5” / 16.5 cm tall x 44” /112 cm circumference
PROJECT GAUGE(S)
- St and Row counts = 4” / 10 cm in even 2-color brioche, knit in the round (taken after blocking)
- Sport Weight: 19 sts & 26 rows
- Worsted Weight: 16 sts & 22 rows
- Bulky weight: 12 sts & 13 rows
NOTES
- These cowls are constructed in the round. A basic color swap halfway through the height of the cowl allows for the simple syncopation.
- This pattern includes instructions for 3 weights of cowl: Sport, Worsted and Bulky weights. Instructions for the Sport weight cowl is written first with instructions for the Worsted and Bulky weights in parentheses as follows: Sport weight (Worsted weight, Bulky weight). When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes.
- Adjust needle size as necessary to match gauge.
- While these samples were knit on the same size needles throughout, if you know you have a tight cast on or bind off, it is recommended to go up two needle sizes for the cast on and bind off to avoid pulling/puckering.
- This project is meant to use the entirety of each of the skeins; note that the specified yarn amounts do not account for a gauge swatch.
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!
Now go get your pattern, your yarn and your needles and get to that brioche magic!