Simple Brioche Headband Pattern

Pattern test knitted by the Slaithwaite fibre tribe

The Simple Brioche Headband

Is an easy Brioche pattern, ideal for those knitters that have NEVER tried Brioche. The hardest part as with any knitting is starting off, but once you get going and can see and read how your knitting is progressing it gets easier and becomes a knit you CAN DO whilst watching TV. Honest!

Learning Brioche

Learning Brioche is easy as long as you take it in stages. Learn how to do simple Brioche as in this headband and only when this kind of Brioche becomes intuitive then move on to something more complicated

Brioche Abbreviation's

For this pattern, there is ONLY 1 Brioche abbreviation that you need to know.

BRK - Is the Brioche Knit. All it really is, is you knit the knit stitch and the Yarn over (that sits over the knit stitch) together.

Other Abbreviation's

The other knitting abbreviation that you need to know is SL1YO. This means Slip 1 stitch and pass the Yarn Over the needle. When this is done just before a Knit or a BRK stitch then the yarn over can easily be done by taking the yarn from the front of the work over the needle to the back to do your knit or BRK. This will become intuitive.

The pattern

Cast on 20 sts using 5mm needles (straight or circular your choice) using Aran yarn. I used the long tail cast on technique to get me a stretchy cast on, but you can use any cast on as long as you don't do it tight (the cast on edge will be hidden).

Set up Row: (SL1YO, K1); repeat to end of row.

Ok to do the set up row, make sure your yarn is hanging to the front of the work and slip that 1st stitch purlwise from your left hand needle to the right hand needle. Then just knit the next stitch, allowing the yarn to go over the needle from the front to the back of the work. Now bring the yarn to the front of the work between the stitches and repeat the process until you get to the end of the row.

Row 1: ( SL1YO, BRK); repeat to end of row.

So in Row 1, again make sure your yarn is hanging to the front of the work and slip that 1st stitch purlwise from your left hand needle to the right hand needle. Then just knit the next stitch along with its yarn over (that's the BRK) , allowing the yarn to go over the needle from the front to the back of the work. Now bring the yarn to the front of the work between the stitches and repeat the process until you get to the end of the row.

Repeat Row 1 for 18 - 20 inches

So just carry on repeating Row 1. After a few rows you will see the Brioche taking place. You should see a single icord edging at each edge (looks like a single knit stitch on the edge of the work) and you should have something that looks like a chunky knit 1 purl 1 rib. If it doesn't look right then you will probably have gone wrong. At this stage its probably easiest to rip your work out and start again until you get it right.

Now Cast off, as you would normally but Knit the Knit stitch and it's corresponding Yarn over stitch together.

Brioche Headband Pattern PDF

Brioche Help & Tutorials

Brioche Patterns on Ravelry

Joining & creating the knot.

Step 1: Fold the headband in half lengthwise and lay the band out in a "U" shape so that the cast on edge and the cast off edge lay parallel to each other.

Step 2: Bring the cast on edge and the cast off edge towards each other, overlapping each

Step3: Make sure the overlaps are tight.

Step 4: Use both of the threads (cast on and cast off threads) to over sew across the top of all 4 layers of knitting, ensuring all the layers are sewn through each time the needle is taken through.

Step 5: Fasten the threads off securely and trim off the ends.

Step 6: Turn the headband the other way and admire your knot.