Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

Like all members of the Purl family, I live in a world where color rules. If you shop at our store in Soho, you’ve probably seen me restocking shelves and cutting fabric. I’m the one wearing a colorful dress (that I made myself, most likely out of lovely Liberty of London!) and the reddest red lipstick. In my view, nothing perks up a gray day more than a brightly hued ensemble. Top it all off with a handknit scarf or hat, and I’m happy!

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

But in all that colorific bliss hides a small problem. How to limit myself to just one color, especially when I’m surrounded by a veritable rainbow of temptation all day! Luckily, I recently discovered the Brioche Stitch (click here to find our Brioche Stitch in the Round Tutorial). Brioche knitting is a simple multicolor technique that creates a beautiful fabric of ridges and valleys. The color play of fair isle or intarsia without the bother of tangled balls of yarn and pesky tails? Yes, please!  And better still, Brioche fabric is truly as lofty and luxurious as its namesake, the light and buttery brioche bun, making it just right for cozy cold weather accessories. I’m completely obsessed!

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

For my perfectly simple Brioche Hat and Cowl, I chose Manos Del Uruguay’s Maxima and Blue Sky’s Suri Merino. I love how the vivid intensity of Maxima peeks out from between the soft, fuzzy clouds of Suri. A two color project that’s twice as nice! -Gina

UPDATE: Brioche Cowl in Cashmere!

March 2012

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

We loved it so much, we re-did Gina’s Brioche Cowl using two different weights of Jade Sapphire’s sumptuous 100% Mongolian cashmere. To make a version like the one pictured above, you will need the same needles as the original, 3 skeins of Jade Sapphire’s 8-Ply Cashmere for Yarn A, and 2 skeins of Jade Sapphire’s Zageo 6-Ply Cashmere for Yarn B. Visit the post for more info!

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Gina Rockenwagner. Click here to see even more of Gina’s designs!

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoGinasBriocheHatAndCowl. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

MATERIALS

HAT

  • Yarn A: 1 skein of Manos Del Uruguay’s Maxima, 100% Extra Fine Merino Wool. Each skein is 219 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 219 yards required. We used the color Highlighter. (NOTE: We no longer offer Manos Del Uruguay’s Maxima, but choose from one of our other worsted weight yarns.)
  • Yarn B: 1 skein of Blue Sky Alpaca’s Suri Merino, 60% Baby Suri, 40% Merino, or 164 yards of another worsted weight yarn. We used the color Snow.
  • US 5 (3.75 mm), 16-inch circular needles
  • US 5, double pointed needles

COWL

  • Yarn A: 2 skeins of Manos Del Uruguay’s Maxima, 100% Extra Fine Merino Wool. We used the color Highlighter.
  • Yarn B: 2 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca’s Suri Merino, 60% Baby Suri, 40% Merino or 328 yards of another worsted weight yarn. We used the color Snow.
  • US 6 (4 mm), 32-inch circular needles

NOTE: To make both the Hat + Cowl, you will need 2 skeins of Maxima and 3 skeins of Suri Merino (or 492 yards of another worsted weight yarn), total.

GAUGE

HAT

20 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern

COWL

18 stitches and 25 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern

SIZE

HAT

9½ inches tall x 20 inches circumference

COWL

10¼ inches tall x 56 inches circumference, un-stretched

NOTES

SLIP STITCHES

Slip all slipped stitches purlwise with yarn in back.

STITCH MULTIPLE

The Brioche Hat pattern works over a multiple of 8 stitches.

The Brioche Cowl pattern works over any even multiple of stitches.

BRIOCHE ABBREVIATIONS

YOS (yarn over slip): Bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise, bring yarn over right needle.

BK2TOG (brioche knit 2 together): Knit the next stitch together with its paired yarn over.

BP2TOG (brioche purl 2 together): Purl the next stitch together with its paired yarn over.

For tips on working the steps of Brioche Stitch, please visit our Brioche Stitch Tutorial!

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

ALTERNATING COLORS

After working a round with Yarn A,  leave yarn hanging at front of work.

After working a round with Yarn B, leave yarn hanging at the back of work.

BRIOCHE HAT PATTERN

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

Begin with Rolled Edge

With Yarn B, loosely cast on 88 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit 5 rounds.

Brioche Stitch

Join Yarn A to begin working in two color Brioche stitch.

Start with Yarn A, leaving yarn B hanging in back of work.

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

Round 1: With Yarn A, *YOS (see Notes), p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Leaving Yarn A hanging at front of work, continue working in Yarn B.

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

Round 2: With Yarn B, *Bk2tog (see Notes), YOS, repeat from * to end of round

Leaving Yarn B hanging at back of work, continue working with Yarn A.

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

Round 3: With Yarn A: *YOS, bp2tog (see Notes), repeat from * to end of round. Leave Yarn A in front of work.

Round 4: With Yarn B): *Bk2tog, YOS, repeat from * to end of round. Leave Yarn B in back of work.

Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 until piece measures 6¾ inches from the rolled edge.

Repeat Round 3.

Shape Crown

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

NOTE: When decreasing to shape the crown of the hat, you will k3tog, knitting the next 3 stitches together, NOT counting yarn overs as stitches.

Decrease Round 1: With Yarn B, work 9 stitches in established pattern, k3tog, [work 19 stitches, k3tog] three times, work to end of round. (80 stitches)

Repeat Rounds 3 (working the resulting stitch from the k3tog as a purl, rather than a bp2tog) and 4 one time.

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

Decrease Round 2: With Yarn A, work 8 stitches, k3tog, [work 17 stitches, k3tog] three times, work to end of round. (72 stitches)

Repeat Rounds 4 (working the resulting stitch from the k3tog as a knit, rather than a bk2tog) and 3 one time.

NOTE: Transfer stitches to double pointed needles when work becomes too narrow to fit on circular needle.

Decrease Round 3: With Yarn B, work 7 stitches, k3tog, [work 15 stitches, k3tog] three times, work to end of round. (64 stitches)

Repeat Rounds 3 (working the resulting stitch from the k3tog as a purl, rather than a bp2tog) and 4 one time.

Decrease Round 4: With Yarn A, work 6 stitches, k3tog, [work 13 stitches, k3tog] three times, work to end of round. (56 stitches)

Repeat Rounds 4 (working the resulting stitch from the k3tog as a knit, rather than a bk2tog) and 3 one time.

Decrease Round 5: With Yarn B, work 5 stitches, k3tog, [work 11 stitches, k3tog] three times, work to end of round. (48 stitches)

Repeat Rounds 3 (working the resulting stitch from the k3tog as a purl, rather than a bp2tog) and 4 one time.

Decrease Round 6: With Yarn A, work 4 stitches, k3tog, [work 9 stitches, k3tog] three times, work to end of round. (40 stitches)

Repeat Rounds 4 (working the resulting stitch from the k3tog as a knit, rather than a bk2tog) and 3 one time.

Decrease Round 7: With Yarn B, work 3 stitches, k3tog, [work 7 stitches, k3tog] three times, work to end of round. (32 stitches)

Repeat Rounds 3 (working the resulting stitch from the k3tog as a purl, rather than a bp2tog) and 4 one time.

Decrease Round 8: With Yarn A, work 2 stitches, k3tog, [work 5 stitches, k3tog] three times, work to end of round. (24 stitches)

Repeat Rounds 4 (working the resulting stitch from the k3tog as a knit, rather than a bk2tog) and 3 one time.

Decrease Round 9: With Yarn B, work 1 stitch, k3tog, [work 3 stitches, k3tog] three times, work to end of round. (16 stitches)

Repeat Rounds 3 (working the resulting stitch from the k3tog as a purl, rather than a bp2tog) and 4 one time.

Decrease Round 10: With Yarn A, k3tog, [work 1 stitch, k3tog] three times, work to end of round. (8 stitches)

Cut Yarn A. Continue with Yarn B.

Next round: [K2tog] 4 times.

Transfer four remaining stitches to one double pointed needle. Work an I-cord for 5 rows. Cut yarn and pull tail through stitches. Using a tapestry needle, bring tail through center of I-cord to inside of hat.

Weave in your ends. Block gently.

BRIOCHE COWL PATTERN

Gina’s Brioche Hat and Cowl | Purl Soho

Begin

With Yarn B, loosely cast on 218 stitches.

Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit 5 rounds.

Join Yarn A to begin working in two color Brioche stitch.

Brioche Stitch

Start with Yarn A, leaving yarn B hanging in back of work.

Round 1: With Yarn A, *YOS (see Notes), p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Leaving yarn A hanging at front of work, continue working in yarn B.

Round 2: With Yarn B, *bk2tog (see Notes), YOS, repeat from * to end of round

Leaving Yarn B hanging at back of work, continue working with Yarn A.

Round 3: With Yarn A, *YOS, bp2tog , repeat from * to end of round. Leave yarn A in front of work.

Round 4: With Yarn B, *bk2tog, YOS, repeat from * to end of round. Leave Yarn B in back of work.

Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 until work measures 9¾ inches from the rolled edge, ending with Round 3.

Cut Yarn A and continue working with Yarn B.

Next Round: With Yarn B, *bk2otg, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Knit 5 rounds.

Finish

Bind off loosely.

Weave in your ends and  block gently.