Brioche Stitch: Basic Increase (bk2tog-yo-bk2tog)
Increasing in Brioche Stitch is a lot easier than you’d think. As a 2-stitch repeat, Brioche stitch requires a two-stitch increase, and the Brioche Stitch Basic Increase does just that. Even better, this method slants to the right or left depending on where you decide to work the increase. We’ll show you everything you need to know in our Basic Brioche Increase Tutorial below!
Click To See Video Transcript
Hey, this is Laura from Purl Soho, and today I’m going to show you how to work a brioche yarn-over increase. Brioche stitch has a two-stitch repeat, and this increase is a two-stitch increase, which is great. It allows us to stay in pattern when we use it. Another great, part about this increase is that depending on where you place it, it can appear to be either a left leaning or a right leaning increase, but you only have to learn one technique.
I’ve worked up to the second column of brioche knit stitches here and I’m ready to work my first increase. I’m choosing to work it here so that it appears as another left leaning increase, just like this one below it. The first step of this increase is to brioche knit two together. So I’m going to simply put the tip of my right needle into both this knit stitch and its paired yarn over and wrap my yarn counterclockwise as I would to knit normally, pull my yarn through, but I’m going to leave these stitches on my left needle. The next step is I’m going to take my yarn and bring it between my needles to the front of my work.
Now I’m going to brioche knit two together again into that same pair of stitches. So I’m going to take this right needle, insert it into these two, wrap my yarn counterclockwise again as I normally would to knit. And now at this point, I can let those fall from my left needle. And if you take a look over here, you now have one, two, three stitches on that needle. Alright, now I’m going to work in pattern until I work another increase at the other edge of this swatch.
So here I’ve reached this second-to-last column on the other edge of my swatch. Now I’m placing my increase here to create a right leaning, or what appears to be a right leaning increase, but the great news is it’s the exact same technique that I just showed you.
So once again, let me just show you those steps once more. I’m going to brioche knit two together, leave those stitches on my left needle, bring my yarn between my needles to the front of my work, in order to take it over, create this yarn over, take it over the top of the needle, and brioche knit two together again. Now I can let that fall off my left needle, and I’m going to work in pattern to the end of my row.
So here I am on the return row, and the great news is, is that you essentially get to just work in pattern. There’s just one slight difference, and that’s what I want to demonstrate. But first I’m just going to work in pattern. I have one knit selvedge stitch here, and then I’m gonna yarn over, slip, brioche, knit two together, all very normal, yarn over, slip.
And now I’ve reached a stitch that would be a brioche knit together, but this is from our increase on the previous row. So it doesn’t yet have a paired yarn over. So for this row, just on the return row after increasing, I’m just gonna knit this one stitch normally. So just Knit it, and then move back to working in pattern. So I’m going to yarn over, slip, brioche knit two together, yarn over, slip, and I’m going to just stay in pattern, keeping my eye out for that one rogue stitch from increasing last row down here on the other end of my swatch, where I will do the same thing.
So you can see here we’ve knit a few more rows. And I just want to point out that if you continue to place your increases into the same columns all the way up, you end up with these very, like, directional shaping. But again, you get to create that with just knowing one technique. So, hope you enjoy this brioche yarn over increase.
Brioche knit 2 together (the next stitch with its paired yarn over) and leave stitch on left needle; yarn over on right needle; brioche knit 2 together (the remaining stitch with its paired yarn over) and drop resulting stitch off left needle. [2 stitches increased]
Have you wrapped your head around our Basic Brioche Increase Tutorial and need more knitting help and inspiration? Explore all our knitting tutorials and beautiful yarns and cast on!
Toujours de magnifique modèle serait-il possible d’avoir la traduction française. Merci beaucoup.
Hi Bastien,
Thank you for this lovely comment. We do not currently have the resources to translate our patterns, but hopefully at some point in the future this will be more of a possibility. In the mean time I will certainly pass along your suggestion!
Best,
Julianna
Having major problems with left side of shoulder decrease, BK3TOG. I follow with last five brioche stitches, k2tog, slip resulting st. back to left needle, pass following knit st and it’s paired yarn over! The trouble is, the next stitch is a single purl! How can this be? I’ve ripped out the shoulder at least 10 times and watched the video several times. Can someone please help me?
Hi Esther,
Thanks for writing in! Can you tell me which of our patterns you are working on? I hope I can help you trouble shoot this!
Best,
Julianna
Hi, I don’t understand how the return row works. The way I have it, on the return, the first of the 3 grouped stitches should be slipped, then the middle is “brioche” knitted. How are you getting the first one to be a knit? The stitch right before is a knit since it has a paired yarnover.
Hi Grace,
Thanks for reaching out! With this stitch pattern on the 2nd row you should not be slipping 3 stitches but working in the stitch pattern till you reach the increase, you then knit that first stitch normally from the increase since it dose not have a paired yarn over yet and then continue working in the stitch pattern (yarn over slip, Brioche K2tog.)
I hope this clarifies things!
Gianna
Good video but still can’t get mine to stay in pattern it took me a while to get brioche but I finally got it. Problem pattern says increase at both ends of row I think I get the increase but the next row seems to fall out of pattern please help.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for reaching out! We’d be happy to help you determine where you’re running into trouble with your Brioche! If you email us at [email protected] with photos of your work, that will help us better evaluate how to assist you and clear up any confusion with the Brioche Stitch!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Hello, I am working on yourBrioche Bomber Cardigan and having trouble understanding instructions for increase row on main body before you divide fronts and back. Instuctions dont mention the second marker. Help please ?
Hi Lorri!
Thank you for your comment! The increase row before dividing for front sections and the back is built around the two stitch markers established in the first row of the CONTINUE IN BRIOCHE STITCH section. Your comment helped us realize that this increase row was missing a bracket! This new bracket is located between the K2 and YOS at the very beginning of the row, and it should help account for the second marker now! We have also emailed you an updated copy of the pattern with this change.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
The Brioche Bomber special instructions say that I should end each row slipping two stitches purlwise. Directions for set-up rows for the Body tell me to end rows with a slip 2 stitches with yarn in front. Is that four stitches in all?
Hi Cecelia,
Thanks for writing in!
For the Body set-up row, you are slipping only the last 2 stitches purl-wise with yarn in front. The I-cord selvage is worked into the Bomber Jacket pattern except when the instructions say to “work even”!
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Carly