I’m excited to share a book review, an excerpted two-color brioche knit pattern for the Afterglow Shawl, and a giveaway for your chance to win my review copy of a brand new brioche knitting book. Read on for more details!
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Page Street Publishing Co. provided me with a free review copy of Brioche Knitting for Beginners and Beyond (available on Amazon or from independent booksellers) by Lesley Anne Robinson. Although I accept free products for review, I do not accept additional compensation, nor do I guarantee a positive review. My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions.
Book Review: Brioche Knitting for Beginners and Beyond
Brioche Knitting for Beginners and Beyond (available here on Amazon or here from independent booksellers) by Lesley Anne Robinson from Knit Graffiti Designs is a colorful book for knitters who want to dive into brioche knitting. The book opens with an introduction from Lesley Anne, where she explains the way she has organized the book and shares her enthusiasm for brioche knitting, a “magical place where you will explore color, texture, and best of all, the lusciousness of the fabric itself.”
The book then continues to Getting Started, a 29-page section that includes Basic Brioche Facts; written instructions with process photos for a variety of brioche stitches, increases, decreases; an overview of Chart Reading with Brioche; instructions for four specialized cast on and bind off techniques used in the patterns; guidelines for knitting, measuring, and analyzing brioche swatches; Fixing, Finishing and Blocking Brioche; and a detailed guide of abbreviations with written instructions for all special stitches.
The book moves on to the patterns, which appear in chapters arranged in progressive order so that you can develop skills through working patterns in each chapter. Chapter 1 Whisper: Simple Patterns with a Touch of Brioche includes patterns designed for the brioche beginner. Chapter 2 Ambient: Radiant Patterns with Brioche Increases and Texture expands to new skills such as increases. Chapter 3: Lustrous: Rich Patterns with Brioche Increasing and Decreases includes brioche decreases. Chapter 4 Vivid: Refined Patterns with Elaborate Brioche Lace combines increases, decreases, and textural brioche to help you master brioche knitting.
Each pattern starts with an introductory paragraph from Lesley Anne and continues on to include finished sizing, the type and quantity of yarn used generically and then identifies the specific yarn used in the pattern, needle information including both size and length, additional tools and notions, and gauge. Patterns also include construction notes, abbreviations (with special stitches briefly defined again), and the written pattern. The patterns are color coded and organized clearly to make reading along easy. After the written patterns, there are also charted instructions for the brioche sections with chart notes and a chart key. Patterns also include hand drawn schematics which add a cute touch. Throughout, there are modeled photographs of each pattern in full color.
The following pattern types are included in the book:
- 1-color brioche: 1 hat, 1 shawl
- 2-color brioche: 1 cowl, 2 hats, 6 shawls, 2 tops
- Textural brioche: 1 cowl, 1 shawl, 1 top
Please note that the color (i.e., 1-color, 2-color) refers to the brioche approach being used, not the number of pattern colors. You’ll find many, many patterns in this book using more than two colors! In each chapter, there are four patterns to address each of the four skill levels in the book.
The book closes with Behind the Yarn, an introduction to the independent yarn companies included in the patterns in this book; Resources, which shares other books to help you continue your brioche knitting journey; and Acknowledgements and About the Author. There is also a detailed index which includes where you can find stitches, patterns, and more.
This book is ideal for a confident knitter who loves to dive into new techniques and is willing to do a little “homework” to learn a specialized approach. Newer knitters and those who prefer “mindless” patterns may find that this book stretches them too much. Although the written instructions and photos in the Getting Started section are detailed, some people may find that they also need a video tutorial to guide them through the methods. While Lesley Anne has included links to video tutorials for some of the cast on and bind off methods used in the book, there are no links to the brioche stitches. Some knitters may need to do some exploration on YouTube for more details, while others may want to sign up for one of Lesley Anne’s online courses, which are organized into the same progressive order as the book chapters.
Read on for the excerpted brioche knit pattern for the Afterglow Shawl, a two-color brioche shawl pattern from chapter 2 of Brioche Knitting for Beginners and Beyond (available here on Amazon or here from independent booksellers).
Afterglow Shawl
Two-Color Brioche Knit Pattern by Lesley Anne Robinson
Published in Brioche Knitting for Beginners and Beyond (available on Amazon or from independent booksellers).
© 2021 Lesley Anne Robinson. Shared with permission from Page Street Publishing Co.
Here is a nice, relaxing shawl pattern for you—something to take the skills you have learned in the previous chapter and put a few of them to use. This pattern uses only brioche increases to shape the shawl, and I’ve built in brain breaks with no increases at all. The name of this pattern was inspired by the beautiful colors and speckles in the yarn itself, hand-dyed by Natasha of Artemis Yarns. I was first drawn to her amazing use of color, the brightness, the saturation and her speckles.
I found sanctuary while knitting this shawl, and I hope you will as well. It was my refuge during an unhappy time. Sometimes all you need is a light, subtle-speckled yarn paired with a deeply imbued solid to create the perfect brioche combination.
One Size
- 80″ (203 cm) wingspan and 33″ (84 cm) depth
Yarn
- 1420 yds (1299 m) fingering/sock weight
- Main Color 1 (MC1): 400 yds (366 m)
- Contrast Color 1 (CC1): 380 yds (347 m)
- Main Color 2 (MC2): 320 yds (293 m)
- Contrast Color 2 (CC2): 320 yds (293 m)
Shown In
- Artemis Yarns Single Merino (100% Superwash Merino; 400 yds [366 m] per 100 g)
- MC1: 1 skein Harmonia (light cream speckled)
- CC1: 1 skein Sanctuary (light gray speckled)
- MC2: 1 skein Phoebe (darker gray speckled)
- CC2: 1 skein Hades (black)
Needles
- 40″ (101.5 cm) US 3 (3.25 mm) circular needle (Circular needles are used to accommodate a large number of stitches and for two-color brioche knitting. Adjust the needle size as needed to achieve the proper gauge.)
Tools and Notions
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
- Row counter
Gauge
- 18 stitches and 28 rows = 4″ (10 cm), measured in two-color brioche stitch knit flat (taken after blocking)
Notes from Underground Crafter
- Whimsy North has a helpful video tutorial for the br4st inc here.
- Webs has a helpful video tutorial for the brk here.
- Alpaca Direct has a helpful video tutorial for the brkyobrk here.
- Owl Cat Designs has a helpful video tutorial for the brp here.
- Knit in the 603 has a helpful video tutorial for the sl1yof here.
- Knitty Natty has a helpful video tutorial for the yf sl1yo here.
- Knit Graffiti has a helpful video tutorial for the Twisted German Cast On here.
- Knit Graffiti has a helpful video tutorial for the Elastic Bind Off here.
- Scroll to the bottom of the written pattern for charted instructions.
Construction Notes
- This asymmetrical triangle shawl is knit from side to side, starting at the very small cast-on point, and ending with the largest bind-off edge. You will create broad stripes, alternating between your MC1/CC1 and MC2/CC2 yarns. The stripes worked with your MC1 and CC1 yarns will increase stitches for the shawl shaping and help to form the asymmetrical triangle shape, while the stripes worked with your MC2 and CC2 yarns will have no increase stitches at all. These “intermission” stripes will also help to keep the shawl long and lean.
Abbreviations
- BO: Bind off
- br4st inc: 4-st inc; into one st—(brk1, yo) twice, brk1.
- brk: Brioche knit (bark); knit st together with its yarn over.
- brkyobrk: 2-st inc; brk1, leaving st on LH needle, yo, then brk1 into the same st.
- brp: Brioche purl (burp); purl st together with its yarn over
- CC: Contrast color
- CO: Cast on
- CS: Contrast side
- inc: Increase(s/d)
- k: Knit
- MC: Main color
- MS: Main side
- p: Purl
- rep: Repeat
- sl: Slip st(s) purl-wise (unless otherwise instructed)
- sl1yof: Leaving working yarn in front, slip next st purl-wise, then bring yarn over needle and across the slipped stitch to back of needle, and then bring working yarn between the needles to the front, wrapping the slipped stitch, ready for the next stitch or brp
- Slide: Do not turn work; slide work to other end of needle
- st(s): Stitch(es)
- Turn: Turn work
- wyib: With working yarn in back of work
- wyif: With working yarn in front of work
- yf: Yarn forward
- yf sl1yo: Bring your working yarn between needles to front of work, slip next st purl-wise, then bring working yarn over needle and across slipped st to back of needle, wrapping the slipped st, ready for the next stitch or brk
Afterglow Pattern
- Instructions have been written for Stripe One and Stripe Two. These Stripes will be repeated alternately for the entire shawl. I have included small charts for the Shawl Setup, as well as Stripe Two, as I feel it can be easier to see the shawl shaping and how it works.
- Using MC1 and the Twisted German Cast On (See Notes from Underground Crafter), CO 5 sts. Turn to work CS row.
- Begin Shawl Setup: In this Stripe, you will work with MC1 and CC1, while increasing stitches for the shawl shaping. Shawl shaping increase stitches have been bolded for ease of reading. If you prefer charted instructions, see Chart A on page 82. Otherwise, continue with the written instructions as follows. Please remember that with your newly increased brioche stitches, you will need to work a mini brioche setup. I have noted where you will be purling rather than brping, and it is also noted in the charts.
- Setup Row CS MC1: (P1, sl1yof) twice, p1. Slide.
- Setup Row CS CC1: Join CC1 yarn. Sl1 wyib, brk1, yf sl1yo, brk1, sl1 wyib. Turn.
- [INC ROW] Row 1 MS MC1: K1, yf sl1yo, br4st inc, yf sl1yo, k1. Slide. [4 sts inc; 9 sts total]
- Row 1 MS CC1: Sl1 wyif, brp1, sl1yof, (p1, sl1yof) twice, brp1, sl1 wyif. Turn.
- Row 2 CS MC1: P1, sl1yof, (brp1, sl1yof) rep to last st, p1. Slide.
- Row 2 CS CC1: Sl1 wyib, (brk1, yf sl1yo) rep to last 2 sts, brk1, sl1 wyib. Turn.
- [INC ROW] Row 3 MS MC1: K1, yf sl1yo, (brk1, yf sl1yo) rep to last 3 sts, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, k1. Slide. [2 sts inc]
- Row 3 MS CC1: Sl1 wyif, (brp1, sl1yof) rep to last 4 sts, p1, sl1yof, brp1, sl1 wyif. Turn.
- Row 4 CS MC1: P1, sl1yof, (brp1, sl1yof) rep to last st, p1. Slide.
- Row 4 CS CC1: Sl1 wyib, (brk1, yf sl1yo) rep to last 2 sts, brk1, sl1 wyib. Turn.
- Repeat [Rows 3–4 MC1 and CC1] 14 more times, ending with Row 4 CS CC1. [34 sts inc; 39 sts total]
- Break all yarn.
- Begin Stripe One: In this Stripe, you will join MC2 and CC2, and work the stripe with no shawl shaping increases. Join MC2 and CC2 in the first working of Row 1. If you prefer charted instructions, see Chart B on page 82. Otherwise, continue with the written instructions below.
- Row 1 MS MC2: K1, yf sl1yo, (brk1, yf sl1yo) rep to last st, k1. Slide.
- Row 1 MS CC2: Sl1 wyif, (brp1, sl1yof) rep to last 2 sts, brp1, sl1 wyif. Turn.
- Row 2 CS MC2: P1, sl1yof, (brp1, sl1yof) rep to last st, p1. Slide.
- Row 2 CS CC2: Sl1 wyib, (brk1, yf sl1yo) rep to last 2 sts, brk1, sl1 wyib. Turn.
- Repeat [Rows 1–2 MC2 and CC2] 15 more times, ending with Row 2 CS CC2.
- Break all yarn.
- Begin Stripe Two: In this Stripe, you will resume shawl shaping increases, similar to the Shawl Setup. Join MC1 and CC1 in the first working of Row 1. If you prefer charted instructions, see Chart C on page 82. Otherwise, continue with the written instructions below.
- [INC ROW] Row 1 MS MC1: K1, yf sl1yo, (brk1, yf sl1yo) rep to last 3 sts, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, k1. Slide. [2 sts inc]
- Row 1 MS CC1: Sl1 wyif, (brp1, sl1yof) rep to last 4 sts, p1, sl1yof, brp1, sl1 wyif. Turn.
- Row 2 CS MC1: P1, sl1yof, (brp1, sl1yof) rep to last st, p1. Slide.
- Row 2 CS CC1: Sl1 wyib, (brk1, yf sl1yo) rep to last 2 sts, brk1, sl1 wyib. Turn.
- Repeat [Rows 1–2 MC1 and CC1] 15 more times, ending with Row 2 CS CC1. [32 sts inc; 71 sts total]
- Break all yarn.
- Begin Stripe Three: Work as per Stripe One.
- Begin Stripe Four: Work as per Stripe Two. [32 sts inc; 103 sts total]
- Begin Stripe Five: Work as per Stripe One.
- Begin Stripe Six: Work as per Stripe Two. [32 sts inc; 135 sts total]
- Begin Stripe Seven: Work as per Stripe One.
- Begin Stripe Eight: Work as per Stripe Two. [32 sts inc; 167 sts total]
- Begin Stripe Nine: Work as per Stripe One.
- Begin Stripe Ten: Work as per Stripe Two. [32 sts inc; 199 sts total]
- Begin Binding Off Shawl: You will have 11 total stripes. Break CC1 yarn. Using MC1 yarn, BO all sts using the Elastic Bind Off (See Notes from Underground Crafter).
- Finishing: Weave in all ends and block as per the measurements on the Schematic. This one is fairly straightforward to block, and I didn’t need any blocking wires for it. I did accentuate each Stripe, so it resembled a stair-step look at the edges. Please be sure to check Blocking Your Brioche Knitting on page 35 for more notes about blocking your brioche shawls. Enjoy your new Afterglow shawl!
Giveaway
After reading my review of Brioche Knitting for Beginners and Beyond by Lesley Anne Robinson and trying out the brioche knit pattern for the Afterglow Shawl, you are probably ready to get your hands on this book! You can buy it now on Amazon or from independent booksellers, or enter the giveaway below by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, February 7, 2022 for your chance to win my review copy. While my copy of the book was provided by Page Street Publishing Co., the giveaway is organized by Underground Crafter. Enter using any of the options on the Rafflecopter widget below. One winner will be chosen from the entries at random to win my review copy of the book. Winner will be contacted approximately 1 week after the entries close. Winner will have 3 days to claim the prize. If winner does not respond within 3 days, prize will be awarded to an alternate.By entering this giveaway, you are agreeing to share your contact information with Rafflecopter and/or Underground Crafter. You can read the Rafflecopter Privacy Policy here and the Underground Crafter Privacy Policy here to understand how this information is used. This giveaway is open worldwide, except where prohibited by law. Good luck!
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