Tag Archives: Brioche knitting

Reminder: Match your yarn to your needles

Posted on November 7, 2023 | 2 comments

I was looking through my blog for a bit of information, and I ran into this post which I am now reposting, because it’s still so true!

I did all my swatching for my new design on my trusty Hiya Hiya stainless needles, but the slipping of the first stitch was aggravating.

When it came to actually knit the piece, I switched to my Knitters Pride Ginger needles, and that made a huge difference. Just a little more grippy, and I felt secure knitting this skinny superwash yarn on US 3 needles.

My favorite needle changes from project to project; it’s good to have alternatives depending on the characteristics of your yarn! What are you knitting/knitting with these days?

Why does it matter? Original blog post from 2022 below:

Match your yarn to your needles! I don’t mean by color. In fact, it’s helpful to have a contrasting color needle so you can see your stitches! Although I do remember the time I knit a black tank top on ebony needles. Good thing I knit mostly by feel.

When I was at Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat, I took a class from my friend Carson Demers, author of Knitting Comfortably. Carson is a physical therapist, and specializes in ergonomics. One tip he gave was this: If your yarn is slippery, you might want to choose a grippier needle so you’re not fighting for control. I do love my HiyaHiya stainless steel needles for most knitting, but this skinny Schmutzerella Spectacular superwash was a bit challenging on them. I was more comfortable using my Knitters Pride Ginger wooden needles for this project.

In this picture, I’m moving my knitting off my metal needles back onto my wooden needles. I do love both kinds of needles, depending on the project. I had been using the metal needle as a stitch holder so I could borrow the wooden one for something else.

I’m not saying you should never use metal needles with superwash; I don’t usually have an issue with them. It may depend on your yarn content, or yarn size. Choose what is comfortable for you while you’re swatching (or starting over because you’re not comfortable…) PS: Don’t change needles mid-project; that can change your gauge!

Do you have a favorite type of needle? Or does it depend? What are you knitting with right now?

2 Comments

Posted in Knit

Tagged Aspen Leaf Brioche Cowl, Brioche knitting, knitting needles, Knitting tools

Celebrating Brioche Knit Love

Posted on October 30, 2023 | 3 comments

October marks the second anniversary of the publication of my book, Brioche Knit Love. I wrote it in 2021, as an extension of my love for designing and teaching brioche knitting. It’s still my favorite kind of knitting!

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to write this book. It was first published by Marie Greene’s Library House Press, which no longer exists. Since then it sold out, and I had to figure out how to keep it going.

Printing 1000 copies and running a warehouse from my home? I didn’t have the mental bandwidth for that. In May I finally figured out how to sell it via Amazon/Kindle Publishing Direct, and that works really well for me. I don’t have to mail anything myself, which is great. I also sell the books wholesale to local yarn shops, if it works for both of us. Winner!

I’ve been enjoying all the Brioche Knit Love Facebook Memories posts this month, so I wanted to share that bit of fun.

If you want a book that takes you from beginning to more advanced brioche, Brioche Knit Love is the book for you. I made video tutorials to go with the book, too, for a complete brioche experience.

Currently on the needles: more brioche! It’s all about the syncopated brioche edges on this piece. I’m knitting with this gorgeous Anzula Lucero DK which has a bit of sparkle in it.

I’m finding that I’m on a roll with wooden needles; I really like them for a little more control than my usual stainless steel. These needles are Knitters Pride Ginger. I like the finish on these birch needles; they’re not overly slick. But not sticky, either!

Do you have a favorite type of needle? I find it depends on the yarn. For this project, these needles are perfect!

3 Comments

Posted in Knit, my book project, pattern design, yarn

Tagged anzula yarn, Brioche Knit Love, brioche knit love book, Brioche knitting, knitters pride ginger needles

Brioche weekend away

Posted on July 17, 2023 | 5 comments

I had a fabulous weekend teaching a two-day brioche workshop at Sitka Center for Art and Ecology on the Oregon Coast. The setting is lovely, nestled among the trees on a slice of land on Cascade Head near Lincoln City.

We started with one color brioche, a scarf in super bulky yarn (Brioche Entrée), just to get a feel for the sl1yo and brk stitches.

Then we moved on to 2-color in the round, setting up for Brioche Pastiche. I’ve revamped the pattern for plain brioche rib or leafy climbing vines, on either a hat or cowl. I like giving options.

I also included the Whale Watch pattern, because it fits so nicely with the coastal theme. But Pastiche is a much gentler introduction to increases and decreases, so that’s what we actually worked on.

The weather was glorious all weekend, so we took our knitting outdoors!

Sitka Center features arts workshops all summer long. The other participants this weekend were creating beautiful things, hand building with clay.

Kristin showed me some of her beautiful work. I want to try this! Check out the catalog of classes for this summer here.

Cathy and I visited the Salmon River estuary after class on Saturday. That looks like a whale’s ribcage, but it’s really a tree.

That speck of a bird way out there may be a cormorant. It was fishing!

Closer to the ocean, Cascade Head to the right

I had time for a walk on the sand after my last class on Sunday. I headed south to the beach at Road’s End (north end of Lincoln City); that’s Road’s End Point in the distance. It was foggy on the beach, with blue skies inland.

My stay at Sitka included the night after my workshop, so I’m writing from this sweet stairway nook on Monday morning. It’s drizzling now, and raindrops are hanging on the maple leaves outside my window. Perfect.

There’s so much art on campus; here are some things I saw while walking around.

And nature makes her own art, too. I love this lichen!

Bisquee wanted to come with me, but I had to say no. I needed to bring clothes.

And I even had time to knit! More about that in another post. How was your weekend?

5 Comments

Posted in classes, Knit, travel

Tagged Brioche knitting, Oregon Coast, Sitka Center for Art and Ecology

Knit with me at the Oregon Coast!

Posted on June 20, 2023 | 2 comments

I’m teaching a 2 day brioche workshop at Sitka Center in Otis, Oregon (near Lincoln City),July 15-16. No previous brioche experience needed; you should already know how to cast on, knit, purl, and work in the round. Lodging isn’t included, but there are many places to stay in the area. We’ll have a relaxing time knitting together!

This is my only brioche workshop this summer, other than the sold out schooner cruise in August and the Vogue Knitting Cruise to Alaska in September. Come knit with me!

2 Comments

Posted in classes, travel

Tagged brioche classes, Brioche knitting, Sitka Center

Winning brioche

Posted on May 30, 2023 | 1 comment

I’m taking a break from my assigned pooling project to knit some brioche. You know I can’t resist.

It feels so good to have brioche in my hands again! I’m knitting new samples for Brioche Pastiche to use in a class; I’ll show you more in the next post. But for now, I just wanted to announce that Martha is the winner of my Next Steps in Brioche: Increases and Decreases class at Virtual Vogue Knitting Live! I’ll email her to let her know.

If you’re not Martha, there is still room in this class for you! It’s on Sunday, June 11 at 2 pm Eastern. Register here!

1 Comment

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit

Tagged Brioche knitting, Virtual Knitting Live

Win my brioche class at Virtual Vogue Knitting Live

Posted on May 25, 2023 | 6 comments

I’m teaching Next Steps in Brioche: Increases and Decreases for Virtual Vogue Knitting Live on Sunday, June 11, 2 – 4 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific). Vogue is generously letting me give away a seat in this class via my social media channels.

Deep End Hat and Cowl, and Madrona Cowl in lower right corner

In this class you’ll learn how to knit brioche increases and decreases that create the lovely patterning in two color brioche. We’ll also talk about fixing mistakes and reading a chart. Prerequisite for the class is knowing how to work two color brioche in the round. To enter to win a seat in this class, leave a comment on this post telling me what you want to knit with these increases and decreases. For an extra chance to win, leave a comment on my Instagram post for this giveaway. Contest closes at 11:59 pm Pacific on Monday May 29, and I’ll let the winner know on Tuesday, May 30.

I’ve taught a lot of knitters to knit two color brioche with my Petite Brioche class and pattern. If you don’t know how yet, sign up for my Zoom class via For Yarn’s Sake! The class is on June 3 at 10:30 am Pacific (1:30 pm Eastern). Learning from this class or from my free Petite Brioche pattern on your own will have you ready to learn increases and decreases.

Big thanks to Julie Rosvall (@julierosvall on Instagram) for letting me use her giveaway graphic! She’s teaching at Virtual VKL too, and I’m looking forward to taking her First Impressions: Print Making with Knitting class on Saturday June 10 at 10 am Eastern (7 am Pacific, oy!). Luckily, Vogue is recording our workshops during the June event, so I can replay it if I need a reminder from this early (to me) morning class.

Here’s a description of Julie’s class: Join textile artist and printmaker Julie Rosvall for a hands-on textile printmaking workshop. Julie will share how she went from knitter to printmaker, and why she loves capturing the pattern and texture of knitted shawls and swatches on paper. Participants will have the chance to try textile relief printmaking in a simple hands-on process, no experience necessary. Julie will provide information in advance for preparing textiles to print, or if you’d like to use stencils or other materials to mimic the textiles she will provide alternatives that can be picked up at your local dollar store or craft supply store.

You know I’ve been playing with block printing. Printing from knit fabric swatches will be next level fun!

6 Comments

Posted in classes, giveaways, Knit, Other craftiness

Tagged Brioche knitting, Virtual Knitting Live, Virtual VKL, Virtual VKL class giveaway

Introducing Aspen Leaf Coasters

Posted on January 23, 2023 | 1 comment

I love a small project for teaching new techniques. These Aspen Leaf Coasters are a perfect lesson in brioche increases and decreases.

They even include an optional syncopated edge for a pop of accent color. They’re knit in worsted weight wool, so they’re quick, too. These were knit with Malabrigo Worsted in Sunset and Malambo.

And these were knit with Anzula For Better or Worsted in Herb and Blueberry.

I’m looking forward to teaching increases and decreases with these. (Pint tumblers by JaMPDX)

The pattern is available through Ravelry and also through Payhip. The pattern is 15% off through January 30, no coupon code needed.

1 Comment

Posted in classes, Knit, pattern design, yarn

Tagged anzula for better or worsted, aspen leaf coasters, Brioche knitting, malabrigo worsted

Seafoam Latte Scarf

Posted on November 14, 2022 | 5 comments

My lovely book, Brioche Knit Love, celebrated its birthday last month. Now I’ll be making some of the patterns available individually. First: Seafoam Latte Scarf. This was the first piece I designed for the book. In my head, it was called Beachcomber Scarf, before the great theme renaming. Seafoam Latte works!

The Seafoam Latte Scarf is a two color brioche scarf, knit flat. Regular increases and decreases create the rhythmic wave pattern. Syncopating the third wave highlights the crest of the wave. I’m looking forward to using this pattern in brioche classes.

Pattern requires two balls of worsted weight yarn in contrasting colors. Knit to the length you like. Gauge is not critical. I knit mine with 2 balls of Knit Picks Chroma Worsted in Surf’s Up and Bare.

The pattern is now available through Ravelry and Payhip; click either of those hyperlinks to purchase.

Knit on!

5 Comments

Posted in Knit, my book project, pattern design

Tagged brioche knit love book, Brioche knitting, Seafoam Latte Scarf

Coming soon: Brioche Buddies!

Posted on October 7, 2022 | 1 comment

I’m teaming up with Shaina Bilow and Keith Leonard to bring you Brioche Buddies! We’ll spend a month exploring the loveliness that is brioche. Weekly classes will be via Zoom, and are limited to 40 participants. Registration went live yesterday, and there are 18 spots left. If you want to be part of this brioche extravaganza you should register now.

Classes will be recorded, and you’ll have access for a year. We’ll also have an option for recorded classes only. That’s a great option if the schedule doesn’t fit your schedule, or if the Live Zoom classes are sold out.

For the Brioche Buddies event, I’ll be teaching fixing mistakes,

and brioche increases and decreases, which is how we get the lovely patterning in 2 color brioche rib.

Shaina and Keith are engaging, experienced teachers. I met Keith at VKLive Columbus in 2019, and I met Shaina at VKLive Seattle 2022. Shaina and I taught at Knit Maine last month, and that’s where I learned that they’ve been buddies ever since she taught Keith to knit. All three of us will be teaching at VKLive NYC in February 2023. I’m thrilled to be joining this dynamic duo!

If you’re brioche-curious, and want to really get it down, this series is for you. You’ll have plenty of time to practice during the week between classes, and just keeping it rolling will help you gain the muscle memory for the rhythm of brioche. I hope you can join us!

1 Comment

Posted in classes, events, Knit

Tagged brioche, brioche buddies, brioche classes, Brioche knitting

Crowning glory

Posted on May 17, 2022 | 4 comments

I have crowns on my mind. More hat crowns.

For Better or Worsted MCN from Anzula Luxury Yarns, yum

I love a pretty crown on a hat. This one hits all the right notes. It’s for the hat and cowl pattern that I’m designing for the class I’m teaching on the Vogue Knitting Cruise in August. The class covers beginning 2 color brioche rib in the round, and brioche increases and decreases. Does this sound like Brioche Pastiche? Yes and no! This set includes a cowl, for non-hat wearers. An a nautical theme!

Malabrigo Rios, a favorite yarn for brioche

This crown is slightly simpler, but the overall effect is the same. I just sent the pattern off to my tech editor, and I’m looking forward to moving on with these designs.

There are a few spots left on this cruise. Do you have to cruise with us to knit this hat and/or cowl? Of course not. But it would be really fun! Here’s a list of the places we’re going.