Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: Brioche Chic

by

wina copy of brioche chic.

Our winner is Maxine. I’m totally jealous!

Most of the time when I give something away here it’s because I’m trying to clear off my bookshelves or because the publisher sent me more than one copy so I could keep one and give one away.

Neither of those is the case this time.

The publisher only gave me one copy, and I promised I would do a giveaway, but I kind of don’t want to.

There are so many fun patterns in Brioche Chic by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark that I’d really like to keep this one for myself.

But I’m sure you’ll love it too if you happen to be the winner.

This book looks at basic brioche stitch, working real and faux cables in brioche and two-color brioche, and it offers 22 patterns on which to try out your skills (I’d happily knit at least eight of them).

If you’d like a chance to own this great book, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, Oct. 26. I’d love to hear about your previous experience with brioche, or if you just thought it was a kind of bread.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

Comments

  1. Thank you for this opportunity. I am just clearing the last of my christmas knitting (only two more sweater to gooooo 🙂 )and getting set up for charity knitting trying to Fill up the giving tree in our local community,
    January I plan to do some selfish knitting,,,so Brioche Chic would be the ideal start. as I have not yet tried the Brioche stitch ,

  2. What a gorgeous book! I just finished reading about how to do Brioche and would love to try this- I am a cabling freak, so anything textured is appealing and challenging- the harder the challenge the more I enjoy it. Thanks for the great giveaways!

  3. I just completed my first brioche stitch project and loved knitting it! I made a simple, 2-color cowl, but the resulting fabric is so cushy and soft. Before now, I would have substituted fisherman’s rib as its construction always seemed less complicated to me than brioche. I’d love the opportunity to try some brioche stitch projects that incorporate shaping.

  4. I have not heard of brioche knitting before.
    It looks interesting and like the projects are so beautiful. I would love to learn to do this style of knitting.

  5. I’ve never done Brioche stitching but I love the sweater featured…would love love love to make this for my future daughter-in-law!!!

  6. Hello,
    I would love to win this book for my Mum, she loves knitting, unfortunately that hasn’t been passed onto me. Maybe she can help me.
    Thanks for the chance to win.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

  7. I started a two color brioche rib hat, once. It was beautiful! The colors, the texture, the loft, everything was so beautiful.

    Then came the decrease section. Then came the tinking. Then came the decrease section again. Then came the tinking and the tears. Then came the decrease section again. Then came the frogging and the tears and the naughty language and the Vodka.

    I shink dat maybe I mide be reddy to gib it anozher try now, if you holds that needles for me, OK? Giggle. Hic. Tanks. Bye Now. KittenWhiplash on Rav. Hic.

  8. Never heard of it before, but I’m a “tried to knit a few times and tend to fail” sorta girl. I have a couple people in a knit group who have volunteered this week to teach me, and I’m kinda hoping I can win so I can give them the book in appreciation 😉

  12. Tackling Brioche knitting is one of my resolutions for this year. Only a couple of months left for me to try it out, so this book would be great!

  13. I would love learning more about this technique- I did one project, and loved the feel of the finished project. I’ve tried to tackle another project (on Knitty), but can’t quite get it…yet

  15. The only experience I’ve had knitting brioche is a scarf. I’d love to branch out from that! I think it is a beautiful and very underrated stitch pattern.

  16. Wow Sarah! I hopped on over to Ravelry and checked out a few of those pictures, then I went to Interweave and saw a few more, plus the book and the price was so great I bought one for myself. (I don’t really believe I’ll EVER win one of these and I could not pass up that great deal!) But just so you know, anyone who wins this one will be getting a really good book. Sarah, no wonder you don’t want to let this one go.

  17. I have not tried the brioche stitch yet, but I’ve become more interested in different color techniques and would love to win this book. It’s sweet of you to give away this book when you really want to keep it 🙂

    Thanks for another wonderful giveaway! I love all the knitting posts on CraftGossip!

  19. I’ve done a hat in brioche. My mother has a lovely brioche sweater from England I’d like to duplicate.

  20. I’ve been wanting to try the brioche stitch for a while now, and the patterns in this book would give me the needed push to do just that.

  22. I’ve done a few practice swatches in Brioche and now I think I’m ready to make something. It would be great to win this book, thank you for the opportunity!

  23. What a fantastic looking book. I have tried this method once before which was many many years ago but would love to have some more patterns. I do hope I can win this prize.

  24. I have had brioche envy ever since I saw a perfectly wonderful hat in a yarn shop It was a KAL class and I was visiting in the town, so couldn’t participate. My actual experience with brioche? Well, I baked a loaf of it once. 🙂 The book looks.. . inspiring!

  25. Wonderful giveaway! I love the look of Brioche but I haven’t been brave enough to try it.

  28. I’ve never tried brioche stitch before. I’m not a beginning knitter but I have tended to do more simple patterns and designs. I recently did a cable design and just loved it, so I think I could really go for brioche as well (and yes, it is a tasty bread, too!) Thank you for the chance to win this book. 🙂

  32. LOVE to knit. Usually knit for charity now but laove a challenge and that sweater pic made me drool. I’m in Canada so may not qualify but will be looking for that book. I would have time to knit that this winter for sure.!!LOLThanks for showing it to us.

  33. I have never heard of brioche before the Craft Gossip newsletter. Love the pattern on the front cover so I am entering in the give-away. Thank you.

  34. I just finished a brioche scarf and it is so warm and yummy. I definitely want to make more things with this stitch. This book looks awesome.

  35. I made a sweater using brioche many years ago – it can be a wonderful stitch for mixing up the colors in a variegated yarn. Unfortunately, that sweater got accidentally felted. I’ve been thinking about trying out some brioche again soon, so this book would be timely.

  37. Your comment made me laugh because it’s true – until about 6 months ago I thought it was only a bread. I haven’t tried brioche yet, but it’s on my bucket list.

  38. I learned som brioche stitches at a Stitches event and loved knitting them. I think I would make that cover sweater . . . . But maybe a scarf first.

  42. I tried Brioche once but not with much luck – probably because I was trying to convert a flat pattern to the round. And it does sound like bread!

  43. I took a brioche class with Nancy Marchant this summer and immediately took to it. I kind of felt guilty that I had no trouble when some of my friends were struggling. Now to actually make the scarf with the pattern she gave us in class. : )
    wahoomerryf on Ravelry

Have you read?

10 Knitted Christmas Bauble Patterns for a Tree Full of Handmade Charm

There’s always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially when it uses yarn you already own. That’s my reasoning, anyway. Those little leftover balls that aren’t quite enough for a hat suddenly look much more promising when you start thinking about knitted baubles.

I love the idea of adding a few handmade ornaments to the tree each year. They don’t all have to match, either. A traditional colourwork ball beside a slightly cheeky Christmas pudding feels far more interesting than a tree where everything arrived in the same box.

These knitted Christmas bauble patterns include flat-knit designs, festive characters and detailed colourwork ornaments. Most are free, with a paid collection included for anyone who wants plenty of designs to work through. Some suit newer knitters; others are small projects for practising skills you already know.

Christmas Baubles Knitted Flat

The free Christmas Baubles—Knit Flat pattern from Tat’sgrans Treasures is worth a look if knitting tiny rounds doesn’t appeal. It includes three sizes and charted words such as Peace, Hope, Love and Joy, worked using intarsia. The flat construction is approachable, although the lettering adds a challenge beyond basic stocking stitch. I’d choose this for meaningful gift ornaments, particularly when one of those words suits the person receiving it.

Christmas Pudding Bauble

The free Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry has all the appeal of a festive pudding without anyone debating whether they actually like eating it. Knitted flat in DK yarn, it combines shaping, colourwork and seaming, with a little holly topper to finish. It’s best for confident beginners with some experience rather than someone learning their first knit stitch. At approximately 6 cm tall, it would make a lovely tree decoration or an extra treat tied onto a wrapped present.

Rudolf & Friends Character Baubles

The free Rudolf & Friends Ornaments by Claire Fairall bring a playful touch to a handmade Christmas tree. These character baubles are knitted flat, and the instructions include illustrations for assembly and embroidery. Hobbii lists the pattern as suitable for beginners, making it a useful option for knitters who would rather practise finishing details than stranded colourwork. The finished ornaments measure approximately 8 × 6 cm and would also look cheerful tucked into a handmade wreath.

Cute Christmas Baubles With Little Faces

The free Cute Christmas Baubles from Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days turn small amounts of DK yarn into cheerful character decorations. Worked flat and seamed, they use simple shaping, stuffing and added facial details to create their personality. They suit knitters comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases who enjoy a little assembly afterwards. I rather like Marianna’s idea of using them on the Christmas dinner table before adding hanging loops for the tree.

Rudolph’s Nose Christmas Bauble

The free Rudolph’s Nose Bauble from DROPS Design is a useful choice when you want a traditional ball-shaped ornament. Designed in DROPS Flora, it uses knitting in the round with increases and decreases to create the shape. Choose this if you’re comfortable handling a small circumference and want a project focused on construction. I’d make a few in coordinating colours to bring a little consistency to an otherwise wonderfully mismatched handmade tree.

Merry Mints Bauble

The free Merry Mints Bauble from DROPS Design offers another festive option, this time designed in DROPS Cotton Merino. The instructions include working back-and-forth rows and shaping, so it’s worth considering if you prefer that approach to tiny rounds. Read through the construction before starting and pay attention to the instructions for working yarn overs to avoid unwanted holes. This would be a nice project for a knitter who enjoys seeing a shaped decoration emerge from a small piece of knitting.

Caorann Fair Isle Christmas Bauble

The free Caorann Christmas Bauble by Sarah Berry brings delicate Fair Isle detail to a small ornament. It uses fingering-weight yarn and 2.5 mm needles, with instructions sized for an approximately 60 mm bauble insert. Worked in the round, the design includes both written and charted directions for its repeated segments. I’d save this one for knitters with some colourwork experience who want to make a particularly special keepsake.

A Dated 2026 Christmas Bauble

The free 2026 Christmas Bauble by Smaatterier combines the year with two traditional Selbu rose motifs. It’s knitted in the round using stranded colourwork across the middle, with either fibre filling or a suitably sized plastic bauble inside. The charted design is listed as intermediate and finishes at approximately 6.5 cm tall. This is a lovely choice for marking a first Christmas in a new home, a family milestone or simply another year of making things by hand.

Colourful Christmas Balls From Two Strands

The free Christmas Balls by Mary Ann Stephens are full of colourwork detail, with optional touches such as duplicate stitch and nupps. The designer also discusses I-cord hanging loops, which give the ornaments a pleasingly substantial finish. These are better suited to knitters comfortable following charts and managing several colours than complete beginners. Follow the updated download directions in the post to find the patterns on the designer’s current website.

ARNE & CARLOS Christmas Ball Collection

The paid Twenty-four Christmas Balls 2024 collection by ARNE & CARLOS includes a basic ball pattern and 24 different motif charts. The ornaments are worked in the round using stranded colourwork, with a linked tutorial to help you follow the process. Although the designer lists the collection as beginner level, I’d be comfortable knitting in the round and making increases and decreases before starting. This is the pick for someone who wants a whole collection of coordinated ornaments rather than just one small project.

Choosing Yarn for Knitted Baubles

Small decorations are tempting stash projects, but check the yarn weight before diving into that leftover basket. A thicker yarn can make a much larger bauble, while changing the yarn in a fitted cover may stop it fitting the recommended insert.

For colourwork, choose shades with enough contrast for the motif to show. Two lovely colours can look surprisingly similar once they’re knitted together, especially on something this small.

Smooth yarn also makes it easier to see your stitches. Save the fluffy, sparkly and slightly mysterious leftovers for a pattern where you’re confident they’ll work.

Getting a Nicely Rounded Finish

If your pattern uses stuffing, add it gradually and spread it evenly. You’re aiming for a rounded ornament without stretching the stitches so far apart that the filling shows through. For designs worked over an insert, check the diameter and follow the instructions for when to put it inside.

Give the finishing a little time, too. A neat seam, securely woven ends and a tidy hanging loop help a small decoration feel properly finished.

I’d start with a pair for the tree and one to give away. Of course, once you’ve laid out all those yarn colours, “just three” may become a rather flexible arrangement.