Four Ways to Knit Brioche Stitch: Choose the Method You Love
If you’ve ever admired the plush, stretchy texture of brioche stitch and wondered which method fits your style, this guide is for you.
The video tutorial by 10rowsaday walks through four distinct approaches so you can choose whether you’d rather work mostly knit or purl stitches, and whether you prefer creating the fabric with yarn overs or by dropping stitches.
Below you’ll find a clear overview of each path, plus tips to keep your rows even and your ribbing springy—without repeating the step-by-step the video already demonstrates.
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What Makes Brioche Different
Classic ribbing has depth, but brioche knitting amplifies it with a lofty, cushioned column of stitches. The look comes from pairing stitches with companion loops—often a yarn over—so each column grows taller and more elastic.
You can work one-color brioche for a sleek, spongey rib or explore two-color brioche later using the same foundations. However you approach it, keep a consistent rhythm and mind your partner loops.
The Four Approaches at a Glance
Each method produces that signature squishy texture but emphasizes different motions. Try swatching all four to see which feels most natural in your hands.
1) Knit-Dominant with Yarn Overs
If you love the flow of knitting, start here. On “action” rows, you knit with a yarn over that travels over the needle to hug the next stitch, creating the classic brk-style effect.
The companion rows set up or slip the paired stitches so the columns rise evenly. This path is great for speed knitters who want smooth fabric with minimal mental overhead.
2) Purl-Dominant with Yarn Overs
Prefer the comfort of purling? This variation mirrors the first but swaps the focus: you work a purl with a yarn over to build the deep valleys and plush ridges.
Many continental knitters find this method ergonomic. The result is the same rich texture, just achieved by a purl-first rhythm that might reduce hand strain if purling is already second nature.
3) Knit-Dominant Drop-Stitch Technique
Rather than forming an intentional yarn over, you create temporary ladders and then drop stitches in a controlled way to open the fabric and sculpt height.
The motion still favors knit stitches, so it’s comfortable for knit-forward hands. The payoff is a lofty brioche fabric with excellent drape, ideal for scarves and cowls that should bloom after blocking.
4) Purl-Dominant Drop-Stitch Technique
This method keeps the drop-stitch shaping but centers purling as the main motion. It yields the same depth and elasticity while giving purl lovers a familiar groove.
If your tension is more consistent on purls, you’ll appreciate how evenly the brioche columns stack.
How to Choose Your Best Method
Pick the motion you already do most smoothly. Consistent tension is more important than the specific technique.
If you’re new to brioche, start with a knit-dominant yarn-over swatch; its rhythm is easy to memorize.
Want drama and drape? Test a drop-stitch version; it often blocks into a lighter, airier fabric.
Working with a fluffy or single-ply yarn? The yarn-over methods can add structure and reduce snagging.
Smart Tips for Happy Brioche
Use a needle with sharp tips so you can lift paired stitches cleanly.
Mark the right side with a removable marker; in brioche, row orientation matters.
Keep the yarn relaxed. Over-tightening compresses the columns and steals the bounce.
Swatch larger than usual and block it—brioche grows and reveals its true gauge after a soak.
When in doubt, read your fabric: the partnered stitch plus loop should look like a tiny scarf hugging the column. That visual cue helps you spot mistakes early.
Where to Use It
These four approaches power everything from beanies and cowls to chunky cardigans and cozy blankets. One-color versions highlight texture; two-color versions create reversible fabric with striking contrast.
Because brioche is inherently elastic, it shines in neckwear and hats, and it makes wonderfully cushioned edges for cuffs and hems.
Your Brioche, Your Way
There’s no single “right” way to build brioche stitch—only the technique that fits your hands and project. Watch the tutorial by 10rowsaday, pick the motion that feels intuitive, and enjoy the plush payoff.
With a few mindful swatches and the guidance above, you’ll be casting on confidently and letting those sculpted ribs do all the talking.
Images and patterns courtesy of 10rowsaday
Enjoy The Video Tutorial
Source: 10rowsaday
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Last update on 2025-10-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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