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Free Knitting and Crochet Patterns from Elaine Phillips

Brioche Coral Reef Shawl

Difficulty level: *** Intermediate

Free Shawl Knitting Pattern

The shawl may look complicated, but it's really not! The "wings" are worked with a 4-row repeat, while the central part features the increases that shape it. For the dark color (DC), I used solid colored yarn, but you can also use gradient yarn, hand-dyed yarn, etc. The edges of the shawl are finished with stockinette stitch, which makes the fabric curl and look something like I-cord.

Skills required:

To knit this shawl, you have to know how to knit 2-color brioche stitch and make brioche decreases and increases.

Size: width 11” (28 cm), inner long edge 78” (195 cm)

Materials: Kauni (affiliate link) Wool 8/2 Solids fingering weight yarn, 660 yards (604 meters) /150 gr, color Natural – 2 skeins (LC)
Kauni (affiliate link) Wool 8/2 Solids fingering weight yarn, 660 yards (604 meters) /150 gr, color Purple – 2 skeins (DC)

Notions: stitch marker, yarn needle.

Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) circular needles 24” (60 cm) or longer to accomodate all sts. OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE.
Though gauge is not crutial, note that the size of the shawl will change with other gauge.

Gauge
18 sts x 24 rows = 4" x 4" (10cm x 10cm) In 2-color brioche st:
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.
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
brkyobrk – [brk1, yo, brk1] in the same stitch. 2 stitches are increased.
br4st-inc – brk1, yo, brk1, yo, brk1 into the same stitch: 1 stitch increased to five.
brssk (left slant 2-stitch decrease) –slip the next 2 sts (the marked st with its yarn over and the next single st) knitwise, one at a times, onto the right needle. Brk, then pass the 2 slipped sts over.
brk2tog (right slant 2-stitch decrease) –slip 2 sts knitwise (st with yarn over and single st) and brk them together. Return this st to the left needle and pass the st (with its yarn over) over. Slip this st purlwise to the right needle.
LS – light side
DS – dark side
LC – light color
DC- dark color
plm – place marker
slm – slip marker
rm – remove marker
k – knit
p – purl
sl1 – slip 1 (knitwise for the 1st stitch in a row).


Pattern Notes

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

Two-Color Brioche Stitch – Basic Instructions

These instructions are included as a guide to the technique, and as instructions for swatching.

A single brioche row is worked in two passes, one in light color (LC) and the other in dark color (DC). Both colors are worked in one direction, then the work is turned and both colors are worked in the other direction. The light side (LS) of the project is first worked in light color (LC) yarn, then in dark color (DC) yarn. The LS of the work is where brk stitches are worked in light color (LC) yarn.

Odd number of stitches
Set-up row (LC): k1, *sl1yof, p1, rep from *, to last 2 sts, sl1yof, p1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Set-up row (DC): sl1, yb, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * to last 2 sts, brk1, yb, sl last st. Turn.
Row 1 (LS, LC): k1, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * to last 2 sts, 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, brp1, yb, slip last st. Turn.
Row 2 (DS, LC): p1, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * to last 2 sts, 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, brk1, yf, sl last st. Turn.



Chain Selvedge

When working the selvedge stitches at the beginning and the end of the row, at the start of the LC rows, always bring LC under the DC.


Center Part

Row 8 (DS, LC): yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo. 3 sts.
Row 8 (DS, DC): brk, yf sl1yo, brk.

Row 9 (LS, LC): yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo.
Row 9 (LS, DC): brp, yf sl1yo, brp.

Row 10 (DS, LC): yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo.
Row 10 (DS, DC): brk, yf sl1yo, brk.

Rows 11 - 16: repeat rows 9 – 10 three times.

Row 17 (LS, LC): yf sl1yo, br4st inc, yf sl1yo. 7 sts.
Row 17 (LS, DC): brp, (yf sl1yo, p1) 2 times, yf sl1yo, brp.

Row 18 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 3 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 18 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 3 times, brk.

Row 19 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 3 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 19 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 3 times, brp.

Row 20 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 3 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 20 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 3 times, brk.

Rows 21 - 24: repeat rows 19 - 20 two times.

Row 25 (LS, LC): yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, br4st inc, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo. 15 sts.
Row 25 (LS, DC): brp, (yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, p1) 2 times, yf sl1yo, brp.

Row 26 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 7 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 26 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 7 times, brk.

Row 27 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 7 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 27 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 7 times, brp.

Row 28 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 7 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 28 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 7 times, brk.

Rows 29 - 32: repeat rows 27 - 28 two times.

Row 33 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 3 times, yf sl1yo, br4st inc, (yf sl1yo, brk) 3 times, yf sl1yo. 19 sts.
Row 33 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 4 times, p1, yf sl1yo, p1, (yf sl1yo, brp) 4 times.

Row 34 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 9 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 34 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 9 times, brk.

Row 35 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 9 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 35 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 9 times, brp.

Row 36 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 9 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 36 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 9 times, brk.

Rows 37 - 40: repeat rows 35 – 36 two times.

Row 41 (LS, LC): yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, (yf sl1yo, brk) 5 times, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo. 23 sts.
Row 41 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 2 times, p1, (yf sl1yo, brp) 6 times, yf sl1yo, p1, (yf sl1yo, brp) 2 times.

Row 42 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 11 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 42 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 11 times, brk.

Row 43 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 11 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 43 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 11 times, brp.

Row 44 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 11 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 44 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 11 times, brk.

Rows 45 - 48: repeat rows 43 – 44 two times.

Row 49 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 5 times, yf sl1yo, br4st inc, (yf sl1yo, brk) 5 times, yf sl1yo. 27 sts.
Row 49 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 6 times, p1, yf sl1yo, p1, (yf sl1yo, brp) 6 times.

Row 50 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 13 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 50 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 13 times, brk.

Row 51 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 13 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 51 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 13 times, brp.

Row 52 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 13 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 52 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 13 times, brk.

Rows 53 - 56: repeat rows 51 – 52 two times.

Row 57 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 2 times, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, (yf sl1yo, brk) 3 times, yf sl1yo, br4st inc, (yf sl1yo, brk) 3 times, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, (yf sl1yo, brk) 2 times, yf sl1yo. 35 sts.
Row 57 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 2 times, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1, (yf sl1yo, brp) 4 times, yf sl1yo, p1) 2 times, (yf sl1yo, brp) 3 times.

Row 58 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 17 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 58 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 17 times, brk.

Row 59 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 17 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 59 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 17 times, brp.

Row 60 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 17 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 60 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 17 times, brk.

Rows 61 - 64: repeat rows 59 – 60 two times.

Row 65 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 3 times, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, (yf sl1yo, brk) 4 times, yf sl1yo, br4st inc, (yf sl1yo, brk) 4 times, yf sl1yo, brkyobrk, (yf sl1yo, brk) 3 times, yf sl1yo. 43 sts.
Row 65 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 3 times, brp, (yf sl1yo, p1, (yf sl1yo, brp) 5 times, yf sl1yo, p1) 2 times, (yf sl1yo, brp) 4 times.

Row 66 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 21 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 66 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 21 times, brk.

Row 67 (LS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brk) 21 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 67 (LS, DC): (brp, yf sl1yo) 21 times, brp.

Row 68 (DS, LC): (yf sl1yo, brp) 21 times, yf sl1yo.
Row 68 (DS, DC): (brk, yf sl1yo) 21 times, brk.

Rows 69 - 72: repeat rows 67 - 68.

Click image to enlarge





Shawl

The shawl is worked from the inner long edge to the outer long edge. The "wings" are worked with a 4-row repeat, while the central part features the increases that shape it.

With DC yarn cast on 389 sts.

Work stockinette st for 7 rows.

Row 8 (DS, LC) (WS): sl, *(yf sl1yo, p1) 12 times ; work from * 8 times, plm, work Center Part pattern, plm, *(p1, yf sl1yo) 12 times ; work from * 8 times, p1. 389 sts.
Row 8 (DS, DC): sl, *(brk, yf sl1yo) 12 times ; work from * 8 times, slm, work Center Part pattern, *(yf sl1yo, brk) 12 times ; work from * 8 times, p1.

Row 9 (LS, LC): sl, *(yf sl1yo, brssk) 4 times, (yf sl1yo, brkyobrk) 4 times ; work from * 8 times, slm, work Center Part pattern, slm, *(brkyobrk, yf sl1yo) 4 times, (brk2tog, yf sl1yo) 4 times ; work from * 8 times, p1.
Row 9 (LS, DC): sl, *(brp, yf sl1yo) 3 times, brp, (yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, p1) 4 times, yf sl1yo ; work from * 8 times, slm, work Center Part pattern, slm, *(yf sl1yo, p1, yf sl1yo, brp) 4 times, (yf sl1yo, brp) 4 times ; work from * 8 times, p1.

Row 10 (DS, LC): sl, *(yf sl1yo, brp) 12 times ; work from * 8 times, slm, work Center Part pattern, slm, *(brp, yf sl1yo) 12 times ; work from * 8 times, p1.
Row 10 (DS, DC): repeat row 8.

Row 11 (LS, LC): sl, *(yf sl1yo, brk) 12 times ; work from * 8 times, slm, work Center Part pattern, slm, *(brk, yf sl1yo) 12 times ; work from * 8 times, p1.
Row 11 (LS, DC): sl, *(brp, yf sl1yo) 12 times ; work from * 8 times, slm, work Center Part pattern, slm, *(yf sl1yo, brp) 12 times ; work from * 8 times, p1.

Row 12 (DS, LC): repeat row 10.
Row 12 (DS, DC): repeat row 8.

Repeat rows 9-12 fifteen (15) more times.

With DC yarn work stockinette stitch for 8 rows. Bind off.


Finishing

Weave in ends. Block.

Click image to enlarge



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Comments

There are 1 total comments on this article.

Leave a comment about the article.
Poster: sarah g
April 25, 2019

wow. just, wow!

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