Connecting the Dots Brioche Scarf

Free Scarf Knitting Pattern

Recently I’ve been working on combining traditional Brioche knitting with two-color garter stitch. It creates interesting texture and color transitions that add charm even to very basic motifs like the one used in this scarf. I thought the result was quite elegant in an understated way.

The scarf is worked in two-color brioche stitch with two-color garter stitch decorative areas. The short ends of the scarf are finished with rolled up stockinette stitch edging. The long ends of the scarf are finished with Double Knit selvedge.

The scarf is great for both men and women, depending on color choices. The length is also super-easy to adjust. Like all of my Brioche patterns, the scarf is reversible. It would make a great Christmas gift. It’s definitely got a unique look.

Knitting should be very straightforward. I think it’s a great project if you are looking to practice Brioche stitch.

 

Finished Measurements:

Width: 9” (22 cm)
Length: 68” (170 cm)

Materials:

• Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift fingering weight yarn (100% Shetland wool) 115 yards (105 meters)/ 25 grams, color 175 Twilight - 4 balls
• Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift fingering weight yarn (100% Shetland wool) 115 yards (105 meters)/ 25 grams, color Light Grey - 4 balls

Note: instead of fingering weight yarn, sport weight yarn could be used with similar result.

Needles: US 2 (2.75 sm) circular needles. It is possible to use double-pointed needles, but I found even the 8” long dpns just a little too short for this scarf.

Gauge

22 sts/44 rows = 4" (10 cm) in garter stitch
22 sts/22 rows = 4" (10 cm) in brioche stitch
Note, that 1 row of brioche consists of 1 row of LC and 1 row of DC

Abbreviations

Please note that I use Nancy Marchant terminology for brioche stitch. I highly recommend her books Knitting Brioche: The Essential Guide to the Brioche Stitch and Knitting Fresh Brioche: Creating Two-Color Twists & Turns, as well as her lessons on craftsy.com.

• k – knit
• p - purl
• Yf - yarn forward: bring the yarn to the front, between the tips of the needles.
• Yb - yarn back: take the yarn to the back, between the tips of the needles.
• sl1yof - slip 1, yarn over, yarn to front: with working yarn in front, slip the next stitch purlwise, then bring the yarn over the needle and the slipped stitch, then bring yarn back around to the front, ready to purl the following stitch.
• yfsl1yo - yarn forward, slip 1, yarn over: bring the working yarn between the tips of the needles to front of work, slip the next stitch purlwise, then bring the yarn over the needle and the slipped stitch. Leave yarn in back, ready to knit the next stitch.
• brk - brioche knit: knit the stitch together with its accompanying yarnover
• brp - brioche purl: purl the stitch together with its accompanying yarnover
• LS – light side
• DS – dark side
• LC – light color
• DC- dark color

 

Pattern Notes

Stockinette st in rows:

Row 1 (RS): knit
Row 2: purl
Repeat 2 rows.

 

Two-Color Brioche Stitch

Please note that one brioche row consists of 2 rows, one worked in LC and the other in DC. Both colors are worked in one direction, then the work is turned and both colors are worked in the other direction.

Odd number of stitches

Set-up row (LC): k1, *sl1yof, p1, rep from *, end with sl1yof, p1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Set-up row (DC): sl1, yb, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from *, end with brk1, yb, sl last st. Turn.

Row 1 (LS, LC): k1, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * to last 2 sts, end with yfsl1yo, k1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 1 (LS, DC): sl1, yf, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * to last 2 sts, end with brp1, yb, slip last st. Turn.

Row 2 (DS, LC): p1, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * to last 2 sts, end with sl1yof, p1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 2 (DS, DC): sl1, yb, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * to last 2 sts, end with brk1, yf, sl last st. Turn.
Repeat rows 1-2

 

Double Knit Selvedge

Consists of 4 sts at the beginning of the row and 4 stitches at the end of the row.

Row 1 (LS LC): Beginning of the row: bring LC under DC, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1, yf, sl 1.
End of the row: yf, sl1, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 1 (LS DC): Beginning of the row: sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1.
End of the row: p 1, yb, sl1, yf, p 1, yb, sl1. Turn.

Row 2 (DS LC): Beginning of the row:  bring LC under DC on DS, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1.
End of the row: yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 2 (DS DC): Beginning of the row:  sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1.
End of the row: k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1. Turn.

Repeat rows 1-2.

 

Two-Color Garter Stitch

Please note that since the garter stitch is worked alongside the brioche stitch, each row is worked in both LC and DC, similar to the brioche. Both colors are worked in one direction, then the work is turned and both colors are worked in the other direction.

Row 1 (LS LC): purl. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 1 (LS DC): knit. Turn.

Row 2 (DS LC): knit. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 2 (DS DC): purl. Turn.

Repeat rows 1-2

 

Scarf

The scarf is worked in two-color brioche stitch with two-color garter stitch decorative areas. The short ends of the scarf are finished with rolled up stockinette st edging. The long ends of the scarf are finished with Double Knit selvedge.

With DC, cast on 51 st and work stockinette st for 7 rows. Continue to work Two-Color Brioche stitch, starting set-up row on wrong side.

Set-up row (LC): p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, pm, *sl1yof, p1, rep from * 21 times, sl1yof, pm, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Set-up row (DC): sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, pm, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 21 times, brk1, pm, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1. Turn.

Row 1 (LS, LC): bring LC under DC, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1, yf, sl 1, sm, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 21 times, yfsl1yo, sm, yf, sl1, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 1 (LS, DC): sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, sm, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 21 times, brp1, sm, p 1, yb, sl1, yf, p 1, yb, sl1. Turn.

Row 2 (DS, LC): bring LC under DC on DS, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, sm, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 21 times, sl1yof, sm, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1. DO not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 2 (DS, DC): sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, sm, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 21 times, brk1, sm, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1. Turn.

Rows 3-14: repeat rows 1-2.

Rows 15-38: work the garter stitch circle following the chart:

Row 15 (LS, LC): bring LC under DC, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1, yf, sl 1, sm, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 9 times, p7, brk1, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 8 times, yfsl1yo, sm, yf, sl1, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 15 (LS, DC): sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, sm, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 9 times, , k7, sl1yof, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 8 times,  brp1, sm, p 1, yb, sl1, yf, p 1, yb, sl1. Turn.

Row 16 (DS, LC): bring LC under DC on DS, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, sm, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 9 times, k7, brp1, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 8 times, sl1yof, sm, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 16 (DS, DC): sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, sm, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 9 times, p7, yfsl1yo, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 8 times, brk1, sm, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1. Turn.

Row 17 (LS, LC): bring LC under DC, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1, yf, sl 1, sm, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 8 times, p11, brk1, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 7 times, yfsl1yo, sm, yf, sl1, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 17 (LS, DC): sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, sm, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 8 times, , k11, sl1yof, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 7 times,  brp1, sm, p 1, yb, sl1, yf, p 1, yb, sl1. Turn.

Row 18 (DS, LC): bring LC under DC on DS, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, sm, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 8 times, k11, brp1, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 7 times, sl1yof, sm, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 18 (DS, DC): sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, sm, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 8 times, p11, yfsl1yo, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 7 times, brk1, sm, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1. Turn.

Row 19 (LS, LC): bring LC under DC, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1, yf, sl 1, sm, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 7 times, p15, brk1, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 6 times, yfsl1yo, sm, yf, sl1, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 19 (LS, DC): sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, sm, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 7 times, , k15, sl1yof, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 6 times,  brp1, sm, p 1, yb, sl1, yf, p 1, yb, sl1. Turn.

Row 20 (DS, LC): bring LC under DC on DS, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, sm, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 7 times, k15, brp1, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 6 times, sl1yof, sm, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 20 (DS, DC): sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, sm, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 7 times, p15, yfsl1yo, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 6 times, brk1, sm, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1. Turn.

Row 21 (LS, LC): bring LC under DC, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1, yf, sl 1, sm, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 6 times, p19, brk1, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 5 times, yfsl1yo, sm, yf, sl1, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 21 (LS, DC): sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, sm, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 6 times, , k19, sl1yof, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 5 times,  brp1, sm, p 1, yb, sl1, yf, p 1, yb, sl1. Turn.

Row 22 (DS, LC): bring LC under DC on DS, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, sm, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 6 times, k19, brp1, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 5 times, sl1yof, sm, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1. DO not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 22 (DS, DC): sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, sm, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 6 times, p19, yfsl1yo, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 5 times, brk1, sm, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1. Turn.

Row 23 (LS, LC): bring LC under DC, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1, yf, sl 1, sm, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 5 times, p23, brk1, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * 4 times, yfsl1yo, sm, yf, sl1, k 1, yf, sl 1, k 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 23 (LS, DC): sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, sm, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 5 times, , k23, sl1yof, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * 4 times,  brp1, sm, p 1, yb, sl1, yf, p 1, yb, sl1. Turn.

Row 24 (DS, LC): bring LC under DC on DS, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, sm, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 5 times, k23, brp1, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * 4 times, sl1yof, sm, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1, yb, sl 1, yf, p 1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.

Row 24 (DS, DC): sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, sm, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 5 times, p23, yfsl1yo, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * 4 times, brk1, sm, k 1, yf, sl 1, yb, k 1, yf, sl 1. Turn.

Rows 25-30: repeat rows 23-24.

Rows 31-32: repeat rows 21-22

Rows 33-34: repeat rows 19-20

Rows 35-36: repeat rows 17-18

Rows 37-38: repeat rows 15-16.

Rows 39-60: repeat rows 1-2.

Repeat rows 15-60 6 more times or to desired length. In the last repeat, work 16 rows of two-color brioche st instead of 30.

Work 8 rows of stockinette st. Bind off.

Enjoy!