Fluffy Brioche Baby Blanket
Even though babies are so huggable, squeezable and delicious, we do have to put them down every now and then. That’s when a Fluffy Brioche Baby Blanket comes in handy!
Wonderfully squishy and decadently soft, it is just right for a little playtime on the floor. And when it’s all over, scoop up the whole cozy bundle… baby, blanket and all… and get back to oohing and aahing!
Fluffy Brioche is one of our very favorite stitches. With its deep waffle texture and lofty thickness, it is just right for handsome hand knits. Plus, its four rows of patterning make for knitting that’s interesting enough for a dull plane ride, but not so interesting that you miss the inflight rom com!
To show off the pretty complexity of Fluffy Brioche, we chose Cascade’s stitch-defining Superwash 128. So soft and cuddly, Superwash 128 is a quick chunky weight, and as the name says, its totally machine washable. Plus, this yarn packs a ton of quality into an affordable price. Yay!
Get started on this classic pattern right here!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoFluffyBriocheBabyBlanket. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 5 skeins of Cascade’s Superwash 128, 100% superwash wool, or 640 yards of another bulky yarn. This is the color Silver.
- US 10.5 (6.5 mm), 24 or 32-inch circular needles
Gauge
14 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern
Size
28 inches x 32 inches
Pattern
Begin
Cast on 100 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 knitwise with yarn in back (wyib), *yo, slip 1 purlwise wyib, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1. (149 stitches)
Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 knitwise wyib, *k1, Knit Two Together (k2tog), repeat from * to last stitch, p1. (100 stitches)
Row 3: Slip 1 knitwise wyib, k1, *yo, slip 1 purlwise wyib, k1, repeat from * until last two stitches, k1, p1. (148 stitches)
Row 4: Slip 1 knitwise wyib, k2, *k2tog, k1, repeat from * until last stitch, p1. (100 stitches)
Repeat Rows 1 through 4 until piece measures just under 32 inches, ending with Row 3.
Bind Off
Bind off in the established stitch pattern. Here’s how:
Slip 1 knitwise wyib, k1, pass stitch over (just like a regular bind off!), *k1, pass stitch over, k2tog, pass stitch over, repeat from * to last stitch, p1, pass stitch over, cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.
Weave in your ends and gently block your blanket to get it nice and flat!
This is so gorgeous! Wish I knew how to work that pattern! I don't know what yarning over is, or which is wrong/right side of the work, or slipping knit wise. Can you recommend any good videos on these terms? thx!
Hi, thanks for sharing this! It doesn't look too complicated, i'll have to translate the stitches first though 🙂 Could you maybe post a picture of the surface a bit more in close up please? That would be a great help. Wrong side and right side.
I would absolutely love to see a crochet version of this blanket!!!
I will definitely be making one of these, but want I really want to know is where did you get the doll!? It's so lovely.
This looks great! Is this pattern different then normal brioche? Im trying it but the front isnt the same as the back…in the slip 1 wiyb is it alway knit wise or purl wise? Hopefully someone can help….thanks!
Hi Stephanie-
It's not the same as the regular brioche, this pattern has two different sides, while the regular brioche is the same on the both sides.
When you slip wyib it's you slip as if to purl.
The odd numbered rows are the wrong side and the even are the right side.
Thank you!
Molly
Hi Rosa-
You might want to check out knittinghelp.com for videos.
Thank you for your questions!
Molly
Hello to everyone asking about the toys on the blanket-
First of all, thank you so much for your nice comments! Below is the info for each of the toys:
The elephant is not a Purl Bee pattern. It was made by the very talented Laura Normandin. It is no longer for sale on her site but could possibly be purchased by special order if you contacted her. Here is a link to her site: http://www.wrenhandmade.com/
The doll is a Purl Bee pattern by Mimi Kirchner. It is available here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/hand-sewn-felt-dolls/
The bean pink bean bags pattern is available here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/wool-felt-jelly-beans/
The mushroom is a nightlight from a wonderful store in Brooklyn called Acorn: http://acorntoyshop.com/product/mushroom-nightlight/379/nightlights/97/658/
Thank you all for writing in!
Molly
Hi MultiVroon-
We have posted a photo of the back and front of the blanket on our instagram stream, which you can see here:
http://instagram.com/p/XSFlWcjhS6/
Thank you for your question!
Molly
Hello!
Thank you for the wonderful instructions! I have been wanting to learn a new stitch such as this for awhile! I did go to “Knitting Help” on You Tube and typed in “Pass Stitch” for visual directions. Seems easy enough and the blanket looks yummy, I adore the color very unique.
So lovely! I have 9 skeins of Cascade Superwash 128 and would love to use it to make a larger blanket. Any suggestions on how many extra stitches I should cast on?
Hi Meg-
You can make an approximately 40″ x 40″ blanket by casting on 140 stitches. If you want a different width, all you have to do is multiply 3.5 times the desired width and that equals the cast on number!
Thank you!
Faye
Hi, Molly.
Someone asked if the slipped stitches should be slipped knitwise or purlwise, and you answered purlwise. However, the row one instructions say to slip knitwise. Would you please clarify?
Thanks,
Michelle
Hi,
I just started the pattern and after Row 1 –
I end up with 133 stitches not 149. Cast on 100,
Slip 1 wyib, then proceed to 3 stitch repeat
of yo, slip 1 wyib, K1 to last – P1.
Not sure what I've done wrong here.
Una
Hi MIchelle-
Only the first stitch of every row should be slipped knit wise. All the other stitches in the pattern (2nd st-99th st) should be slipped as purl.
Thank you for your question!
Faye
Hi Una-
I'm not exactly sure what is going wrong but it seems like you're missing some yarn overs. I would try it over keeping in mind that you're adding one stitch for every two stitches.
Thank you, and please let us know if you have any more questions!
Faye
Hi,
I have Una's problem. I've tried three times, and I end up with 133 stitches at the end of the first row…
Don't know either what I'm doing wrong… Any thoughts?
Thanks!
patricia
@Una : if you are on Ravelry, there is a discussion on our problem. Please follow the link : http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/patterns/2547552/1-25#3.
patricia
Hi! This stitch looks wonderfully soft and cuddly!
I'd like to try making a cowl scarf in the round in this stitch, and was wondering if the first slip stitch and last purl stitch of each row is the edging?
Also, would this work with any even number of stitches?
Thanks for your help, and for posting such a lovely project!
How many skeins of MC/CC would you need to knit a 40×72-ish adult throw?
Hi Emelyb,
There is only one color required for this blanket and for that size, you would need about 16 skeins.
Thanks for asking!
Whitney
Thank you for such a wonderful pattern! I am in the middle of knitting this for two dear friends expecting their first baby in January, and it really is a joy to knit! Easy pattern yet interesting enough to keep me going.
Hi, I would like to do a guage swatch for this blanket – how many stitches would you suggest I work in to get the pattern right?
Hi Sabina-
You could try casting on 14sts which should equal 4" for gauge. Or, you can cast on any even number.
Thank you!
Faye
This is such a a lovely pattern! I knit it using stripes, and it turned out better than I imagined! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi there 🙂
Just wondering what type of cast on you were doing in order to obtain a first row on the wrong side?
Hi Cole-
We used the long tail method to cast on.
Thank you for your question!
Molly
Hi there, I just finished my blanket as a gift for a friend. It is so lovely and I'm anxious to get it blocked and mailed to Seattle! When you say, "gently block", can you be more specific. I am not in the habit of blocking (I think I've been afraid to!) and so I'm wondering if I should just spritz it with water or go ahead and give it a full dunk. Since this is a superwash yarn, I'm wondering how it will change the outcome of this blanket. Thanks so much for your time and wonderful site that is a gift to knitters everywhere!
Love, Kristen
Hi Kristen-
We would recommend that you spray the blanket until it's damp and no longer curling, and then drying it flat.
Thank you for your question!
Molly
Could I use tosh merino dk for this? I am absolutely in love with that yarn and I think I would need only 3 skeins then, and it would be a bit cheaper… I am a bit tight on cash, but could not think of any better way to welcome my friends baby into this world than with this lovely blanket!
Hi Ann,
Cascade's 128 (the yarn we used here) is one of our most affordable yarns at just under 15 cents per yard. I highly recommend it.
Since Tosh Merino DK is a much thinner yarn (the original is a Chunky yarn), without seeing and measure your knit up swatch of it, there is no way to really know how much would be required to make a comparable size blanket.
Sorry to not be of more help. Please write back with more questions or information. We would love to help you figure this out.
Laura
Thank you for the pattern and to everyone for the questions. Helped me to get it started very easily!
I was thinking about making this blanket with a variegated yarn such as cascade 128 superwash multi….do you think that would well with this stitch pattern or better to stick to a solid color?
Hi Amy-
A multi color yarn sounds like it could be lovely but the only way real to tell if you're going to like it is to do a swatch!
Good luck with the project and thanks for writing in!
Molly
Hello!
This is a beautiful blanket, I would love to knit it for my baby that will be here soon but I am confused with some of the abbreviations you use, such as "yo" and "tog" etc.. Is there a way you (or another reader) could decipher the abbreviations to make more sense to a fairly new knitter?
Thank you so much!
Hi Kim-
Here is a link to explanations of all of the abbreviations: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/knitting-terms-tutorials/
Thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
hello! how many skeins would one need if it were to be 36x36in blanket? can't wait to start!
Hi Ruth.
I can give you a rough approximation by using the yardage we needed and the square inches of fabric it produced.
Our 28 x 32 inch blanket (896 square inches) required 640 yards of Cascade 128. To make a 36 x 36 inch blanket (1296 square inches) you would need approximately 925 yards which translates to 7.2 skeins of Cascade's 128… So, 8 skeins.
Again, this yardage is an approximation since it's calculated quickly using square inches rather than the stitch and row gauge. If you are using a yarn other than Cascade's 128, I would be sure to buy a little extra since everyone knits with their own unique stitch ratios.
Thanks,
Laura
thanks laura! really appreciate the response!
I admit it – I don't always check the gauge. This time I did, and I went down to a size 10 needle. But I was STILL way off! I'm starting over with an even smaller needle.
I've tried holding my yarn differently, wrapping it around my fingers, etc but my stitches remain consistently too big. I've never had this problem with a project before.
That being said, I love the pattern and the yarn!
2 more questions! is it just binding off in pattern? it looks like it but just want to make sure. and have you ever machine washed cascade 128? i know it says that you can but i'm so nervous about putting it in the machine when i'm done before i give it away! thanks again!
Hi Ruth.
Yes! You bind off in stitch pattern. There is a blurb about how to do it towards the end of the pattern.
As for washing the blanket… You can machine wash this yarn. If you are nervous though, you could wash it on a very gentle cycle or you could hand wash it or have you ever used the product "Soak"? It's great. Here is a link:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/company/240-Soak
Hope this helps.
Thanks for writing in.
Laura
Hi!
This blanket looks lovely, and I'm currently finishing up my Super Easy Baby Blanket and looking to up my game.
In my Youtube searching for helpful videos so I can understand the instructions best, I came across references to a "honeycomb brioche" stitch, which looks somewhat similar, and a few other types of brioche. Is "fluffy brioche" another type of brioche stitch, and does it go by any other names that you know of?
Thanks – I look forward to making this blanket!
Alexis
Hi Alexis.
Great question.
There are so many versions of stitches out there, it's hard to know what the 'official' names are. We reference Barbara Walkers's book series called Treasury of Knitting Patterns. Fluffy Brioche is in the second book of the series (page 220). I'm not sure if it has any other names… but I wouldn't be surprised if it does!
Lofty Brioche and Fluffy Brioche are the same, as far as I know. This piece is knit in Fluffy/Lofty Brioche stitch and it is the same stitch used on this blanket! https://www.purlsoho.com/create/the-purl-bee/2013/1/3/lauras-loop-sweater-shawl.html
Laura
can this pattern be knit in the round? wondering if i can make a cowl out of it. 😀
Hi Lina,
Oh I am sure there is a way! Unfortunately right now we do not have the pattern written for working in the round. We will definitely add it to our To-Do List, but for now, we only have it for working flat.
Thank you for your inquiry though (and good idea)!
Laura
I have had trouble knitting the brioche stitch. I have 5 skeins of the Cascade 128 yarn and wonder if you have any ideas for the blanket in a different stitch. I've gone to a knit shop for help and they suggested I try a different stitch. 🙂 I am not experienced enough to substitute another stitch for this weight yarn. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thank you.
Hi Joanie.
We're happy to suggest some other stitch patterns. First off, here is a link to all of our blanket projects: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/blankets-knitting/
I would say our most favorite project is the Super Easy Baby Blanket, it is shown here with stripes, but you could make it in all one color. https://www.purlsoho.com/create/the-purl-bee/2012/8/18/new-super-easy-baby-blanket.html
The Double Seed Stitch Blanket is a wonderful project: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/the-purl-bee/2013/1/27/double-seed-stitch-blanket.html
Another classic Purl Bee pattern is the Forever Baby Blanket: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/the-purl-bee/2011/1/26/whits-knits-forever-baby-blanket.html
Some of these projects may have a different gauge than will work for your yarn. But the beauty of blankets is they are easily modified and we are happy to help you. I would just be sure to find a needle size that works with your yarn and knit up a swatch and we can go from there!
Thanks,
Laura
I had the same issue as Una. The first couple of times I started the blanket I ended up with 133 stitches. I realized this happened because I was following the instructions not from in between the asterisks, but was also including the first slip one with yarn in back every time. It took me a minute to realize my mistake so hopefully this keeps someone else from having to start over!
Hi, I'm a beginner and so far haven't been able to work out the first row!
The pattern is quite different to any tutorials I can find on Brioche stitch. Are you able to direct me where to find a diagram or video on how to do the first set up row?
Thank you 🙂