I am so excited to announce my newest knitting pattern release, Taking Turns! This includes patterns for two different hats – Hat #One is full of texture using one-color brioche syncopating stripes, while Hat #Two creates exciting two-color brioche Alternating Color stripes! Brioche in a light bulky weight yarn creates the squishiest fabric, so grab a skein or two and let’s go!
These hats were actually a complete experiment for me! I had been thinking about a new technique with brioche knitting that would create interesting color-changing stripes by switching which color yarn is used in the middle of a row or round. I started experimenting with this technique using two skeins of beautiful bulky yarn hand-dyed by Melissa of Hey Lady Hey, in colors Scabosia and a custom speckled colorway, Books and Pens. I was having a lot of fun playing with syncopating and Alternating Color stripes, but the combination of solid and speckles just wasn’t working. It was too much for one hat pattern! So I decided to make the Books and Pens SHINE by using it alone in one hat design! The speckled yarn with the texture the syncopated brioche stripes creates is just magical.
Of course, this meant that I had to get another skein of the bulky yarn to go with the Scabosia! So I went for a beautiful contrasting color, Ephemera, which is a bright yellow-green! Deep eggplant purple with the bright yellow-green was exactly what the Alternating Color stripes needed to really pop. And it worked! I am delighted to have sort of UNvented this new technique, and I’m looking forward to creating more brioche designs with it! In case you’re a little intimidated to try a new technique with an already complicated stitch, I did put together a short photo and video tutorial that goes with the pattern.
This pattern is another in my fun collaboration with Andrea Mowry, KNIT in COLOR! I have so enjoyed working with indie yarn dyers like Melissa and hope that you will check out her gorgeous yarn!!
You can get your copy on Ravelry, and right now I have a special Back To School sale going on! Use coupon code BACKTOSCHOOL at checkout and receive a 25% discount on ALL Knit Graffiti Designs!! This sale will run from Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11 at midnight Eastern!!
