Two-Color Honeycomb Brioche
The Two-Color Honeycomb Brioche stitch creates a wonderful lofty fabric with a, you guessed it, honeycomb texture! Using two colors, the stitch pattern creates a solid plane of one color, which peeps from behind delicate latticework in the contrast color. With just a four-row repeat, this stitch pattern is much simpler than it looks! Here’s our Two-Color Honeycomb Brioche Tutorial, where we show you how to create this fascinating stitch pattern.
Two-Color Honeycomb Brioche: Video Tutorial
Two-Color Honeycomb Brioche: Step-By-Step Tutorial
Special Instructions
There are a few basic brioche techniques you’ll use to work this stitch pattern. Our Brioche Stitch Tutorial explains them more thoroughly, but in brief, they are…
YOS [yarn over slip]: Bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise, bring yarn over right needle.Cast on an odd number of stitches.
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.
And if turning and sliding is new to you, please visit our Turn + Slide Tutorial!
The Stitch Pattern
To begin Two-Color Honeycomb Brioche, cast on an odd number of stitches.
Set-Up Row (wrong side): With Main Color (MC), *k1, YOS, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 1 (right side): With Contrast Color (CC), slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), *pushing the previous row’s yarn over to the left of its paired stitch, knit the paired stitch, slip the yo wyib, k1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, pushing the previous row’s yarn over to the left of its paired stitch, knit the paired stitch, slip the yo wyib, slip 1 wyib, slide work.
Row 2 (right side): With MC, k1, *bp2tog, YOS, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, bp2tog, k1, turn work.
Row 3 (wrong side): With CC, slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), p1, *slip yo wyif, p2 repeat from * to last stitch, slip 1 wyif, slide work.
Row 4 (wrong side): With MC, k1, *YOS, bk2tog, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, YOS, k1, turn work.
Repeat rows 1-4 for the stitch pattern!
Try It Out!
We used this stitch in our Latticework Wrap, knit up in Cotton Pure. Check out the free pattern to try it out for yourself!
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our 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!
How does one begin the cast on of the two colors?
Hi Martha,
Thanks for writing in! For our lovely Latticework Wrap using this stitch pattern, we cast on using the main color only and begin knitting with the second color on row 1! For this pattern and most of our patterns, we like using the long tail cast on as it is neat, tidy and elastic!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Awesome tutorial. But I agree, it should have started with the cast on. Maybe when I download the pattern I’ll find the cast on was self explanatory. 🙂
Beautiful pattern! One question: is your tutorial swatch blocked? I am starting the pattern but mine doesn’t look the same… trying to figure out if it is my needle size, color choices, or because it’s nit blocked yet. Thank you for the inspiration 🙂
Rachelle
Hello Rachelle,
Thank you for reaching out! The swatch in the video has no been blocked. What seems to be the deference between your swatch and ours? You are correct in thinking that color, fiber and needle size can be big factors when swatching. I hope I can help!
Warmly,
Marilla
How can I increase this pattern? Is the cast on any odd number?
Hello Maribeth,
Thanks for writing in! You are correct, you can cast on any odd number of stitches!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I think a closer and slower view of the knitting of this pattern would be so helpful for say, a knitter with less experience and maybe a more seasoned knitter (?). And repeat a few times. Also it would be nice to view a small portion of the iÿnitiation or beginning of pattern, unless i missed it? Thank you(
Hi Pam,
Thanks for writing in! I find it helpful to sometimes open the video in YouTube so that I can make it full screen and see the fullness of the technique. You can even slow down the speed of the video! Here is the direct link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks5HRci0Oho&feature=youtu.be
While the video is just of the stitch pattern and not of the Latticework Wrap pattern, the techniques used in this video translate to the set-up row, which is a repeat of k1, YOS and ending in a k1. We used a long tail cast on here and we also have a handy tutorial for brioche stitches like YOS that can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/brioche-stitch/
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I never realized you can slow down playback on YouTube! So crazy! That’s perfect for craft vids! Thanks!
Despite years of knitting, can’t get my hands around this pattern consistently. Have 121 stitches until I get to row 2. There I have 122. Consistently. Comments?
Hi Beverly,
Thanks for reaching out! It is hard to tell what might be going wrong without actually seeing your knitting, but if the problem is occurring on Row 2 as written in our Latticework Wrap pattern, the most likely spot I can think of to add a stitch would be working the final bp2tog and k1 – since you are in the habit for the rest of the row of keeping your yarn in front after each bp2tog, is it possible you are forgetting to move it to the back and working an accidental yarnover before the final knit stitch? I would suggest trying the pattern on a smaller swatch, and if you are still coming up with an extra stitch, you can send us a picture of your swatch at [email protected] and we will do our best to troubleshoot it!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
SOS! I am not a beginner knitter but have been doing fair isle projects for the last couple years. This looked like a snap and will be once I get it started. I can’t seem to figure out how to do the set up row since the instructions say only to cast on with MC. Then Row 1 uses the CC expecting there to be CC stitches on the needle to work with. I expected to be adding CC during set up row so I am confused for sure and appreciate the help.
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out! Two-Color Brioche is actually quite a different technique from fair isle knitting! You are correct that you cast on and work the set up row with the main color only. Although in our video you will see stitches with both the main color and contrast color on the needle when working Row 1, when you are working the very first pattern repeat, you will only have stitches in the main color on the needle. Once the pattern is established, you will have both colors on the needle for subsequent repeats!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Do you have a tutorial for this in the round?
Hello Dana,
Thank you for your interest in this pattern! Unfortunately this pattern does not translate to being knit in the round, though If you are looking to make something in the round using this stitch you could always knit it flat and seam up your ends.
Warmly,
Marilla
Thank you for this tutorial. I was wondering, what if I wanted to use 3 colours? Any suggestions where and how to switch colours?
Thanks,
Ele
Hi Eleonora,
Thanks for reaching out! I think it could be quite interesting to include stripes in the background color! I would keep the main color the same throughout, but you could switch contrast colors every 4 or 6 rows, or in larger color blocks if you prefer.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
How do I rip out and pick up stiches if I want to correct a mistake
Hi Katie,
Great question! Correcting mistakes in brioche can be quite a challenge. I would suggest tinking, or taking out one stitch at a time, rather than taking the work off the needles and ripping out multiple rows at once, just to be on the safe side. While our Two-Color Brioche + Fixing Mistakes video is demonstrating regular brioche stitch and not honeycomb brioche, I do still think you might find it helpful!
Best of luck and I hope that helps!
Julianna
Please help! I am making the honeycomb brioche cowl. I’ve watched the two videos recommended. I’ve restarted numerous times, following the written instructions as the video is not adapted to knitting in the round. Despite how I start each row, shortly into each row I seem to have an out of place stitch ( not having a paired stitch where it should be and having to knit 2 where I should not). Odd stitches in odd places interrupt the pattern. I’d appreciate any help!
Hi Gail,
Thanks for reaching out! I am happy to help and get this figured out! Fist thing is to be sure that you have an even number of stitches cast on to insure that the Honeycomb Brioche stitch works correctly across the row. My next best suggestion is to extra careful working the first round: *K1, pushing previous row’s yarn over (yo) to the left of its paired stitch, knit the paired stitch, slip the yo with yarn in back (wyib), repeat from * to end of round. Even though the video shows the flat version of this stitch the process should work the same way in the round!
I hope this helps and please reach out if you are still having problems!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi Gianna,
Thanks for your response but I’ve carefully counted stitches and followed pattern but not getting the resolution I should. Is it possible to be able to get a video tutorial for this in the round or online visual instruction somehow?
Thank you so much. Gail
Hi Gail,
Thanks for reaching out again! Unfortunately, we don’t currently have the resources to make a tutorial showing brioche in the round. You can send some photos of your work to our email [email protected] and we can troubleshoot further from there!
Warmly,
Gianna
this is my first attempt at honeycomb brioche. i have my first attempted swatch far enough along to see the pattern emerging. i can fix mistakes in regular brioche, but am concerned about this pattern.
is there a video on this subject. it doesn’t seem that it would be a simple task to fix this,
thank you.
Hi Paulette,
Thanks for reaching out! We do not have a tutorial at this time on how to fix mistakes with Honeycomb Brioche but thank you for expressing your interest and I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi,
In case you haven’t found out yet.
I have stitched this pattern in the round with no problem at all.
It’s in a way easier, you just change yarn every round, and to get an (almost) invisible change, just do an extra brp before changing yarn.
Hope you understand, if not I can do a more “proper” instruction.
Fia
Hi Fia,
Thanks for reaching out and sharing your tip! I am sure our customers will find this very helpful!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi Fia,
I’d love to do this in the round — started a sweater but I hate seaming so want to at least knit the sleeves in the round!
But I don’t understand how that would be done with the stitches. Are you able to explain?
Thank you for such a beautiful pattern and extremely easy to follow instructions.
You are very welcome, Gillian! Thank you for your lovely comment, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
I love this pattern but when I use thicker yarn I end up with the edges having larger holes along the boarder and it’s not very pretty. I’m def doing the pattern correctly but I’d love some advice on how to circumnavigate the holey edges thanks!
Hi Jessica,
Thank you for your question! Unfortunately, there will always be slight holes because you’re never knitting the edge stitches with the Contrasting color, but we have an idea for you. We recommend swatching a small sample with different edge stitches to see what you like best. Some things you could try are purling the CC edge stitches instead of slipping, knitting twisted stitches on the edges, or even adding an extra stitch to create a sort of selvage slip-stitch edge.
I hope this helps but please feel free to write in should you need further assistance at [email protected]!
All the best,
Gavriella