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Two-Color Brioche Hat
Our new Two-Color Brioche Hat pattern is just as snuggly as the original one-color version… But now with twice the color and twice the charm! The squishy loft of Cashmere Merino Bloom is just right for the squishy loft of brioche stitch, and now you have five new colors of this beloved yarn to mix and match!
This hat is classic in shape with sizes from baby through adult, so everyone gets to share the fun. The real magic is the brioche stitch, a rib-like pattern that incorporates yarn overs for plush depth and cozy insulation. Worked in two colors, brioche creates a wonderfully graphic, two-sided fabric… Fold up the brim and the colors flip!
Brioche has an unfair reputation for being intimidating, but we promise it’s friendlier than it looks. In fact, many knitters find two-color brioche even easier than one-color! This pattern is a perfect introduction: practice simple two-color brioche all the way up the body of the hat, then learn a couple of simple decreases to shape the crown, with our step-by-step tutorials at your side the whole way.
A perfect yarn for brioche stitch and a favorite for hats, Cashmere Merino Bloom is one of those yarns you just have to feel to believe. A blend of 25% cashmere and 75% extra fine merino wool, it combines decadent softness, beautiful bloom, and enough resilience to hold its shape. It’s gentle for sensitive skin and toasty warm against the cold, too.
What better pattern to celebrate a new color launch? Our hats show off new colors like Black Coffee, Lapis Blue, and Pearl Blue paired with some of our all-time favorites. Try high contrast, tone-on-tone, or whatever else you can think of… With 33 colors in total, you’ll find endless combinations to make the Two-Color Brioche Hat your own.
Grab a pair of colors that make you smile (just one skein each!) to cast on for a Two-Color Classic Brioche Hat in Cashmere Merino Bloom. Discover the joy of brioche and one of knitting’s most satisfying stitches!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
Pattern designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Gianna Mueller. See even more of Gianna’s work on her Instagram!
Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!
Materials
- Purl Soho’s Cashmere Merino Bloom, 75% extra fine merino and 25% cashmere. Each skein of this light worsted/ DK-weight yarn is 218 yards/ 100 grams.
- Color A: 1 skein; approximately 65 (80, 100, 125, 155) total yards required
- Color B: 1 skein; approximately 70, (90, 110, 140, 170) total yards required
- US 4 (3.5 mm) 12- or 16-inch circular knitting needles, depending on size you are making, or US 4, 32-inch circular needles for Magic Loop
- A set of US 4 double pointed needles, if using short circular needles (not necessary, if doing Magic Loop)
- Stitch markers, including one unique
We knit our samples in these colors and sizes…
- Baby: Color A- Heirloom White + Color B- Red Poppy
- Kid: Color A- Conch Shell + Color B- Wheat Flour
- Adult Small: Color A- Pearl Blue + Color B- Red Mulberry
- Adult Small: Color A- Black Coffee + Color B- Reed Gray
- Adult Small: Color A- Lapis Blue + Color B- Fresh Nutmeg
GAUGE
20 stitches and 52 rounds (26 countable rounds) = 4 inches in Brioche Stitch
NOTE: To count rounds in Brioche Stitch, count only the number of visible knit stitches in a single brioche column. Be aware that the real number of rounds worked is twice this number, as each visible stitch is actually two rounds.
SIZES
For help choosing a hat size, check out our complete guide on How to Knit the Right Hat Size!
Baby (Toddler, Kid, Adult Small/Medium, Adult Medium/Large)
- Finished Circumference (unstretched): 12 (14½, 16¾, 19¼, 21½) inches, comfortably stretching to approximately 14 (17, 20, 23, 25) inches
- Finished Height (uncuffed): 7¾ (8¾, 9½, 11, 12¼) inches
NOTES
SLIP STITCHES
Slip all slipped stitches purlwise with yarn in back.
BRIOCHE ABBREVIATIONS
YOS (Yarn Over Slip): Bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise, bring yarn over right needle (to back of work, if knitting the next stitch; or to back of work and then between needles to front of work, if purling the next stitch).
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 a video tutorial and tips on working the steps of Two-Color Brioche Stitch, please visit our Brioche Stitch: Two-Color Brioche + Fixing Mistakes Tutorial.
BRIOCHE DECREASES
LEFT LEANING BRIOCHE DECREASE
BSK2P (Brioche Slip Knit 2 Pass): Slip 1 brioche stitch with its paired yarn over knitwise, k2tog (the next purl stitch with the following knit stitch and its paired yarn over), pass the slip stitch and its paired yarn over together over and off the right needle. [2 stitches decreased]
RIGHT LEANING BRIOCHE DECREASE
BK3TOG (Brioche Knit 3 Together): K2tog (the next knit stitch with its paired yarn over and the following purl stitch), slip the resulting stitch back to the left needle, pass the following stitch (a knit stitch and its paired yarn over) over the first stitch on the left needle and off the left needle, move the resulting stitch back to the right needle. [2 stitches decreased]
For tips on working the steps of Brioche Decreases, please visit our Brioche Stitch: Basic Decreases Tutorial!
PATTERN
BODY
With Color A, cast on 60 (72, 84, 96, 108) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Place unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Set-Up Round: With Color A, *k1, yos (see Notes), repeat from * to end of round.
Round 1: With Color B, *yos, bp2tog (see Notes), repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: With Color A, *bk2tog (see Notes), yos, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 6¼ (6¾, 7, 8, 8¾) inches from cast-on edge, ending with Round 2.
CROWN
NOTE: If using short circular needles, change to double pointed needles when necessary.
Set-Up Round: With Color B, *[yos, bp2tog] 10 (12, 14, 16, 18) times, place marker, repeat from * to end of round, omitting marker on final repeat. [2 markers placed]
Round 1: With Color A, [bsk2p (see Notes) *yos, bk2tog, repeat from * to 5 stitches before next marker (not counting yarn overs), yos, bk3tog (see Notes), yos, slip marker] 3 times. [12 stitches decreased]
Round 2: With Color B, *yos, bp2tog, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 3: With Color A, *bk2tog, yos, repeat from * to end of round.
Rounds 4 and 5: Repeat Rounds 2 and 3.
Round 6: Repeat Round 2.
Repeat Rounds 1–6 two (3, 4, 5, 6) times, then repeat Rounds 1 and 2 one more time. [12 stitches remain]
Cut yarns and thread Color B tail onto a tapestry needle. Thread tail through remaining stitches. Pull taut and bring tail to inside of hat to weave in.
FINISHING
Weave in the ends and block as desired.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Learn About Cashmere Merino Bloom + All Our Beautiful Yarns
Soft, supple, and toasty warm, Cashmere Merino Bloom is an absolute knitting joy! A light worsted/DK-weight yarn, it is made with 25% of the most exquisite cashmere in the world and 75% extra fine merino wool and benefits from both fibers: cashmere for over-the-top softness and beautiful bloom and merino for resilience, durability, and even more softness. Cashmere Merino Bloom has an incredible hand feel with a gentle halo that illuminates your knitting… A gorgeous choice!
More Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of (mostly free!) Cashmere Merino Bloom patterns and cast on!
More Light Worsted/ DK Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarns (What does DK-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to DK yarn will answer your questions and demystify.)
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial and our Yarn Substitution article for lots of helpful information.
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop cashmere yarn (What makes cashmere so special? Learn all about this amazing fiber in our guide to cashmere yarn!)
- Shop merino wool yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of free knitting patterns) and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Wow that looks lovely, can’t wait to try this pattern
I love your patterns i am wondering ,do you have matterns that can be used on the adis express kingsize round loom?
Hi Margie,
I’m afraid we don’t currently have any patterns that can be made on a knitting machine. We’re so sorry about that!
All the best,
Gavriella
Is the hat reversible? Is it possible to modify pattern as you knit, to make it reversible, if it is not written as such?
Hi Becky,
Thank you for asking! While the hat is not completely reversible, if you knit the decreases of the hat neat enough, you could definitely get away with wearing the hat with either side facing out.
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Thanking you for all the support and information!! I am 84 years old and I enjoy reading and knitting. Thank you all for extending your information!!
This is so cute and is getting me in the mood for cooler temps! I am pretty sensitive to most wools and even though this is merino/cashmere blend I am still a bit paranoid. Would this pattern work with 100% cashmere or would it not have the right structure? Any other substitutions I should consider? THX!!
Hi SJ,
Thank you! We’re looking forward to cooler temps as well. You can certainly make this pattern with 100% cashmere for a nice soft hat!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Please excuse my earlier comment about decreases in the crown . I read them again carefully and understood that you decrease every 6 rows!
Hi Frida,
So sorry that we didn’t get to your comment before you were able to figure it out. Either way we are happy you are back on track and please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
I am struggling with round 1 (Color B “yos, bp2tog” – actually i am struggling with the very first stitch – how do i do a yarnover on it? I am new to brioche so please bear with me. Also the two color brioche stitch tutorial is helpful but is it possible to get a tutorial for this specific pattern (working in the round).
YOS – I am bringing the yarn forward and slipping the stitch then knitting (row 1) BUT I think i forgot the yarn over – so if done correctly does that mean I will have 144 stitches on the needle instead of 72 (toddler size)?
Hi Rosa,
Thanks for getting in touch! This pattern is a great one for learning brioche. It sounds like you figured out the initial Yarn Over Slip (YOS) when you joined Color B, but in case you need guidance on it, here’s a quick overview: To YOS when you’re joining Color B, you’ll have the tail of Color B in the back of your work, then bring the working yarn (Color B) to the front between your needles, slip the first stitch, and yarnover with Color B. It can feel a little awkward getting started, but you only need to join a new color once in this pattern!
In brioche knitting, the yarnovers don’t count as separate stitches since they’re worked together with the slipped stitches, so you’ll keep your original stitch count (72 sts for the toddler size) throughout the body of the hat.
We hope this helps, but let us know if you have any more questions. We’re happy to chat!
And thank you for suggesting a brioche-in-the-round tutorial. We’ll pass along the idea to our design team!
All the best,
Allison
Can this be knit in dpns instead of a loop? Will that affect the pattern instructions?
Hi Ashley,
You can definitely use DPNs if you prefer and work the pattern as is.
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hi there. I would like to try this with an fisherman’s rib instead (personal preference). Do I have to consider major adjustments? Thank you so much.
Hi Gesa,
Thank you for writing in! I’m afraid in order to use fisherman’s rib, you’d need an entirely different pattern but you are in luck! Our Color Dipped Hat that would be a wonderful alternative.
Happy knitting!
Gavriella
Thank you!
Hi – I second the request not only for a brioche in the round video but one that uses double pointed needles for a baby or toddler sized hat. I tried the magic loop and failed (too much going on between the pattern and the magic loop!) – the only hope I have for making this for my grandson is to do it using regular needles and sewing the seam. What adjustments to the pattern would I need to make (1 extra stitch? What do I do with each selvedge end?)?
Signed,
Frustrated 🙂
Hi Deborah,
We are so sorry you are running into issues with this pattern. I’m afraid we don’t have any modifications to knit this hat flat but one thing you can do it knit a flat piece, as in our two color brioche tutorial. From there you can seam the sides and cinch the top of the hat. Just in case you would like to give it another try, we’d be happy to review this pattern in one of our free 1-on-1 knitting help sessions but there are also many wonderful tutorials on youtube as well. I hope this helps and happy knitting!
All the best,
Gavriella
I’m using 16 inch circulars to make the toddler size and I feel like I’m stretching the yarn too much. Do I need to knit it on dpns?
Thanks
Hi Megan,
Thanks for reaching out! If you are achieving the correct gauge and still feel the stitches are a bit too tight, it might be best to switch to DPNs. Another alternative would be working the hat using magic loop. I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella
I am having a lot of difficulty with the pattern. I’ve watched the video several times. I’m a fairly experienced knitter.
I’ve successfully complete the setup row and row 1. I think.
In Row 2, should the brioche stitch knit two of the same color together, or should it line up with one of each color. Should the slipped stitch be color B or A. I think I’m struggling with the placement of the yarnovers, they could sort of come out on either side of the slipped stitch.
Thank you
Hi Janet,
Thanks so much for reaching out! In Row 2 you are working with Color A. You’ll knit the stitches that are Color A (the same color as your working yarn) and a yarn over of Color B together and slip the Color B stitches while making the yarn over. I think the first few rows of brioche can be a bit fiddly, but once you have a foundation of fabric the stitches settle into place on your needles better. I hope this helps clarify! Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] for more personalized assistance. We’re happy to look at photos, send photos, and troubleshoot!
Kindly,
Andrea
I finally got it! However I disregarded the first note about slip stitches. It says to keep yarn in back, but the brioche note says to keep it in front.
Hi Norma!
Thanks for writing in! Brioche can be tricky. I’m so glad you got it! And great eye noticing the difference in the notes. The slip-stitch note refers to the regular slipped stitches worked with yarn in back, while the brioche note applies only to the brioche stitches, which are slipped with yarn in front.
Happy Knitting,
Megan
Would this pattern work with the gorgeous Paintbrush Mohair?
Hi Sol,
Wonderful question! Paintbrush Mohair is quite a bit thicker than Cashmere Merino Bloom, so your best bet will be to follow the instructions for a smaller size hat. Your first step is to make a gauge swatch to see if you like how the two-color brioche looks in such a different yarn and also to see how many stitches per inch you get. From there, you multiply your gauge by the hat circumference you want and that gives you your ideal cast-on number. Then, follow along with the size whose cast-on number is nearest your ideal one. One little thing to keep in mind is to stick to the height instructions for the size you’re going for, not the size you’re following!
We’d love to know if go along with this idea… It sounds beautiful! And whatever you decide, we’re happy to answer any questions that come up along the way!
Happy knitting!
Whitney
Can someone demonstrate the Round 1 of the crown decrease? Once I’ve done the set up row, I have a brk at the beginning of the round, so I don’t know what to YOS before you slip the brk knit-wise.
Hi Amanda!
Thanks for writing in! The crown decreases can definitely feel a little confusing the first time around. To make sure we can walk you through Round 1 clearly and show you exactly where that stitch belongs, I’d recommend sending us a quick note at [email protected] or even better, feel free to sign up for our free 1-On-1 Help, where we can demo it for you over Zoom.
We’re happy to get you through that decrease round!
Warmly,
Megan
Hello, I’m also starting the crown and having trouble understanding the set up round where it seems to imply that there are only 2 markers for the 84 stitch size. Is that right? Or, does the original marker stay in its place, then there are 3 markers. I see it says to omit marker on final repeat which confuses me. Thank you in advance. Took me a while of practice and I love the look of this hat.
Hi Julie,
Thank you for your question! You’re reading it correctly. For the 84-stitch size, you’ll end up with three markers total: your original beginning-of-round marker plus two markers placed during the set-up round.
The note “omitting marker on final repeat” just means you don’t add another marker at the very end of the round. You simply knit back to the beginning-of-round marker.
It sounds like you’re doing beautifully so far!
Warmly,
Megan
When knitting this 2 colour hat to you get jogs where you change colour? Jogs drive me crazy!
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for reaching out!
Because of the way that stitches stack into columns in brioche, there are no jogs!
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Andrea
I have a little experience with brioche but I have never worked with double-pointed needles nor have I tried magic loop. Of these two alternatives would you recommend one over the other? I watched both tutorials and can’t decide.
I am interested in which one will be ‘better to learn’ (?), not necessarily easier. (I knit continental style and am so glad I learned even though it was harder at first.)
Hi Kristie,
Thanks for reaching out!
Magic Loop and double pointed needles are both great ways to knit small circumferences, and one is not generally more helpful to know than the other. I prefer Magic Loop specifically for brioche because I think it is a little easier to keep track of all the yarnovers without anything falling off the tips of your needles.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Andrea
I’m new to knitting…. this will hopefully be my first hat, my first time knitting in the round, my first brioche lol! I’m struggling with the instructions, the video shows joining the contrasting color on the knit row (makes sense) but the instructions are on the purl row (confused). The hat does not really seem to be joining together, what should happen on the last stitch of the round and the first of the next? Also it took me awhile watching the tutorial to figure out that it is not necessary to work 4 row patterns. Any help is appreciated!
Hi Neva,
Thanks so much for reaching out! Welcome to the world of hats, brioche, and knitting in the round! Our tutorial on knitting brioche is for knitting in the flat, so that is why is says four rows. When knitting in the round, you only need two rows. Each time you come back to your unique marker, you change color and work another row in the same direction. When the last stitch is a yos, it can get a little lost sometimes, so on the rows you work the last stitch, just make sure you have a yarn over from the previous round there as well.
In the repeats of Row 1, you use color B to bp2tog the Color B stitches from the previous Row 1 (along with their yo in Color A from the previous Row 2) and yarn over slip (yos) the Color A stitches from the previous Row 2. In repeats of Row 2, you use Color A to bk2tog the Color A stitches from the previous Row 2 (along with their Color B yo from the previous row) and yarn over slip (yos) the Color B stitches from the previous row. It sounds really complicated all typed out like this, but the short version is you work every other stitch in each row and work the same color stitches (when you are using Color B you work the live Color B stitches on your needles.)
I hope this makes sense! Please let us know here, at [email protected] if you have any other questions, or you can sign up for a 1-On-1 Help appointment and a member of our staff will get on a zoom call with you to get you moving in the right direction!
Warmly,
Andrea
I have 6” of the 2-Color Brioche Knit Hat done. Thought I was knitting to gauge, but it’s going to be loose. Not to worry, I’ll crochet elastic thread into it.
Need to knit another. Do I go down one needle size (size3) or make the next size (Kid).
First time with Brioche and it’s GREAT!
Purl Soho 100% merino wool
Hi Rita,
Thanks so much for reaching out! Sometimes the best gauge swatch is a completed hat! Since you are finding that your gauge is not quite right in your hat, I recommend going down a needle size for your next one to get your gauge back on track.
I’m so glad you love brioche! I hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Andrea
Hi, I love the hat that is black coffee colored (looks brown though). What other color is used with it? I can’t figure it out.
Hi Faith,
Thanks so much for asking! We paired Black Coffee with Reed Gray for this project!
Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Andrea
I seem to be going wrong in the set-up round, as when I get to the end of round 1 I am a stitch short at the end (only 2 stitches to perform the final slip, YO, P2tog).
I can’t work out what I’m doing wrong…any suggestions??
Thank you 🙏
Anne-Marie
Hi Anne-Marie!
Thank you for your question! One possibility is that the final yarn over from your set-up round may have slipped past your beginning-of-round marker. It’s a really common little hiccup, and it can make it look like you’re short a stitch when the stitch has actually just wandered to the wrong side of the marker.
If that’s not the case and you’re still coming up short, feel free to send us a photo at [email protected]. We’re always happy to take a closer look and help you sort it out!
Warmly,
Megan
Thanks Megan, I worked it out eventually!
Hey! Loving this pattern so far. Wondering how long the body of the hat should be if you’re not cuffing it?
Hi Annie!
Thank you so much for writing in! I’m so glad you’re loving the pattern! If you’re making the hat without a cuff, you’ll want the body to measure about 6¼ (6¾, 7, 8, 8¾) inches before starting the crown decreases, depending on the size you’re knitting. Once the crown is complete, that gives you a finished uncuffed height of 7¾ (8¾, 9½, 11, 12¼) inches.
That said, hats are wonderfully flexible. If you prefer a slightly shorter or slouchier fit, feel free to adjust the body length to suit your style!
Warmly,
Megan
Would you kindly explain why the note “Slip all slipped stitches purlwise with yarn in back.” when the YOS note says “YOS (Yarn Over Slip): Bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise”. The two seem to contradict. I must be missing something. Thank you, Julia
Hi Julia!
Thank you for your question! You’re not missing anything, and it’s a very reasonable thing to pause over. The key is that the general note (“Slip all slipped stitches purlwise with yarn in back”) applies unless otherwise specified. The YOS is one of those exceptions. When the pattern calls for YOS (Yarn Over Slip), you follow that instruction exactly: bring the yarn forward, then slip the stitch purlwise. I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Megan
Starting the decreases the pattern only mentions the right leaning decreases infront of the Marker, but not the left ones after the marker. Am I reading it wrong or are the instructions missing?
But so far a really fun knit!
Hi Kati!
Thanks for writing in, and we’re so glad you’re enjoying the knit! You’re reading it correctly. The left-leaning decreases do begin in Round 1, but after that the pattern intentionally uses mostly right-leaning decreases to shape the crown evenly. No instructions are missing!
Happy Knitting!
Megan