Dive into the Deep End of Brioche Knitting

I have only done really basic brioche knitting (pretty much just straight pieces in one or two colors) and it’s a lot of fun but I’ve been hesitant to do a project with shaping because it looks scary.

Of course I know it’s only knitting and like any new skill it’s only intimidating until you try it, so maybe my winter project will be something a little more complex.

If you’re ready to dive into the deep end of the brioche pool, check out Deep End by Michele Bernstein. This two-color hat sis worked from the bottom up and includes both left and right leaning brioche double decreases, if you wanted to know what the deep end looks like.

There’s also lots of simple ribbing and two different motifs — a staghorn style cable and a gull stitch variation. There are a couple of different options for the top.

Being brioche this is a super stretchy project so it will fit a variety of heads, and three sizes are included. It’s worked in worsted weight yarn for extra warmth and squish.

Grab the pattern on Ravelry or Payhip.

[Photo: Michele Bernstein.]

The butterfly on this piece — the Owl Butterfly Playmat by Sophie’s Stitches — caught my eye before I even knew what the project was. Now that I’ve give it a closer look I’m still not 100 percent sure what it is meant to be for, but I still love it.

I think it’s maybe to give you a flat surface to roll dice or play cards on, but there are no images of the project in use so I’m just speculating on that. If you know what it is, be sure to let me know!

What it physically is is a worsted weight mat (the sample is worked in cotton) that measures 14 by 24 inches, or 35.5 by 61 cm. The impression I get from the pattern notes and the photos is that you knit the rectangle plain and the butterfly is stitched on after using duplicate stitch, which is provided as a chart.

Of course you could choose to knit some of the colorwork as you go, either using stranded knitting or intarsia techniques, or maybe some of both. It just looks like a lot of duplicate stitch (and it is!) so knowing me if I were making this project I’d probably try to knit some of it instead of stitching it all.

The pattern also suggests that you can knit a second plain mat to sew on the back and cover up all the yarn ends, as well as making the mat thicker and a little more stable. There’s also a photo that shows fabric sewn to the back, which is also a good option if you have some fabric that has a bit of grip.

I like the graphic on this one enough I might just make it as a table pad for our entry way table. You can always make the mat part a different dimension, just make sure you’re centering the image if you do.

You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Sophie’s Stitches]

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