I would love to introduce you to the brioche cardigan of my dreams!!! La Briohème is a bohemian open cardigan with drop sleeves, long brioche cuffs, a cozy brioche collar, and a large brioche hem as the focal point. This thick, cozy cardigan is meant to be worn with 2 – 4” / 5 – 10 cm of positive ease, a perfect fit over your favorite dress for a night out or even layered over a nice collared shirt for those chilly work days. You can find this pattern both on Ravelry and knitgraffiti.com! I am offering a celebratory discount: receive 20% off using coupon code HEM at checkout! This offer will end on Monday, October 22, 2018.
I thought of this cardigan idea earlier this year, and REALLY wanted it to be my Rhinebeck sweater. I couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out! I will be going to Rhinebeck (aka the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival) for the FIRST TIME this year, I am so so so so excited!! I am planning to wear this cardigan both Saturday and Sunday, so please keep a lookout for me and say hi!!
I am sort of obsessed with this chevron brioche pattern right now, and have used it in a few of my other designs. As soon as I lay my hands on La Bien Aimée’s Merino Aran yarn, I knew it was destined to be this cardigan! The Winterfell color way is so deep, it’s almost indigo blue. And paired with the speckled beauty of Rose Quartz for the Main Color of the brioche accents, it just POPS!!! Brioche creates such a luxuriously warm fabric, so I wanted to keep the accents to the places where you need it the most: the waist and bottom, the collar around the neck, and the wrists. The gigantic brioche hem (brioche hem = Briohème…get it??) is placed to accent the tiniest part of your waist, giving an Empire waistline effect. The scalloped edge that the brioche lace stitch pattern creates is the cherry on top for me. It is a feminine look to complete any outfit, dressed up or down. If you would like to use the same yarn for your own La Briohème, La Bien Aimée has a few color choices of Merino Aran available for pre-order on their website, here! Please note that these are not kits, but individual skeins. I have listed the yarn amounts on the pattern pages if you would like to know.
Here is a closer look at the back of the collar, which is knit in two pieces and them seamed together at the back of the neck. I know, I said SEAM! There is very little seaming at all in this pattern, actually. I do love a bit of seaming to add stability to a garment, such as at the top of the shoulders. And drop sleeves are just my favorite. But most of this garment is knit seamlessly and modularly, starting with the brioche hem, which is knit sideways! After completing, stitches are picked up along the top of the hem to make up the body. This is knit in plain stockinette up to the armholes, which are then separated and the Fronts and Back are knit separately up to the shoulders. A Three-Needle Bind off is used to seam the shoulders to give extra stability and a clean look. The sleeves are also mainly stockinette stitch, up to the decorative brioche cuff. For a finishing touch, stitches are picked up along the hem, the edges of the body and the back neck to add a brioche collar. So there ya go, that gives you an idea of the construction.
If you’d like to see more photos, please be sure to visit the pattern pages on both Ravelry and knitgraffiti.com.
Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy my newest pattern!! Hope to see you this weekend at Rhinebeck! xx
