Two-Color Brioche Rib Hat

by Mary Beth Kelso

 

Sizes & Measurements

XS [baby] (S [child], M, L)

Circumference: 14.25 (16, 17.75, 19.5)”/35.5 (40, 44.5, 48.75) cm

Length: 6.5 (7.5, 8.5, 9)”/16.5 (18.75, 21.25, 22.5) cm + 2-3” for folded brim if desired.

 

Gauge

18 sts x 50 rnds = 4”/10 cm in Brioche Rib

Brioche is very stretchy so gauge is approximate. Recommended negative ease of 2-3”/5-7.5 cm

 

Yarn

2 balls/skeins, or approx. 150 (175, 200, 225) yds total, DK weight yarn in two contrasting colors

If not making with a folded brim, less yarn will be needed.

 

Needles & Notions

US 6/4mm needles

• Straight for cast on and set-up row

• 16” circular for body of hat

• DPNs (or second circular or longer circular for magic loop if preferred) for working crown decreases

4 stitch markers, including 1 unique for beginning of round

Tapestry needle

 

Abbreviations

BOR                         beginning of round

brk                            Brioche knit – knit the stitch together with its paired yarn over from previous row

brp                           Brioche purl – purl the stitch together with its paired yarn over from previous row

brk3tog                Brioche k3tog (right-leaning double decrease) – knit 3 stitches together, including their paired yarn overs

brsssk                   Brioche sssk (left-leaning double decrease) – slip the next 3 stitches knitwise one at a time, with their yarn overs, to right needle; insert left needle into all 3 stitches and knit together through the back loops

brcdd                     Brioche centered double decrease – slip next 2 stitches, with their yarn overs, as if to knit 2 together; knit the next stitch; pass slipped stitches over

CC                            contrast color

CO                            cast on

cont                         continue/continuing

dec                           decrease

MC                           main color

patt                          pattern

pm                            place marker

rep                            repeat

rnd                            round

sl                                slip

sl1yo                       slip 1, yarn over – (on brk row) bring yarn to front of work, slip 1 purlwise, bring yarn over needle to work next stitch; (on brp row) bring yarn forward, slip stitch purlwise, bring yarn over needle and back around to front to work next stitch. This puts a paired yarn over on top of your slipped stitch.

sm                            slip marker

st(s)                         stitch(es)

wyif                          with yarn in front

 

Special techniques

Tubular Cast On involves working a cast-on row and two Foundation Rows (FR 1 & 2).

See video tutorial for demonstration of cast-on row: video link to come

FR 1: *k1, sl 1 wyif; rep from * to end. Turn work.

FR 2 (work onto circular needle): *k1, sl 1 wyif; rep from * to end. Do not turn.

 

Notes

• Hat is nearly reversible but the crown pattern looks a bit neater in the main color, so consider that when choosing the contrast color for your cast on.

• It begins with a Tubular Cast-On and set-up row in the contrast color on a straight needle.

• Body is worked in Two-Color Brioche Rib, with symmetrical decreases for the crown.

• The sl1yo creates a stitch with a yarn over on top of it. The slipped stitch and yarn over are treated as a single stitch.

 

Instructions

Cast on & set-up –

With CC and straight needle, CO 64 (72, 80, 88) sts using the Tubular Cast On. Turn work.

Work the two foundation rows, changing to the circular needle for FR 2.

Place marker for BOR and join, being careful not to twist your stitches.

Work one round of (k1, p1) rib.

Set-up Round: *sl1yo, p1; rep from * around, leaving CC in front at end of round.

 

Body –

Rnd 1 (brk rnd): With MC, *brk, sl1yo; rep from * to end, leaving MC in back at end of round.

Rnd 2 (brp rnd): With CC, *sl1yo, brp; rep from * to end, being sure to work last st with its paired yo, and leaving CC in front at end of round.

Rep Rnds 1 & 2 until work measures 4.75 (5.5, 6, 6.5)”/12 (14, 15, 16.5) cm, ending with Rnd 1.

Notes:

• Check row gauge as you approach this point to see if you need to knit more or less. Crown shaping will take 23 (26, 33, 32) rnds.

• For a folded brim, add 2-3” to these length measurements.

 

Crown –

Change to DPNs or preferred method for small-circumference knitting when needed.

Set-up rnd: Cont in patt on a brp rnd, *work 16 (18, 20, 22) sts, pm; rep from * 2 more times, work to end.

Dec rnd: *brk, sl1yo, brsssk, work in patt to 4 sts before marker, brk3tog, sl1yo, sm; rep from * to end. 16 sts dec; 48 (56, 64, 72) sts

Cont in patt, working a dec rnd every 10 rnds 1 (2, 2, 2) more time(s).

Size L ONLY:

Work 5 more rnds in patt, then work Dec rnd once more. 32 (24, 32, 24) sts

Work Rnd 2, then work Rnds 1 & 2  of patt 4 (1, 4, 1) more time(s), removing all but BOR marker on last rnd.

Remove BOR marker, slip last st back to left needle, replace marker.

Next rnd: *brcdd, (brk, sl1yo) 2 (1, 2, 1) times, brk; rep from * to end. 16 (24 , 16, 24 ) sts

Sizes XS & M ONLY:

Next rnd: *k1, ssk, k1, k2tog; rep from * to end. 16 sts

Next rnd: k2tog around. 8 sts

Sizes S & L ONLY:

Next rnd: *k2, k2tog; rep from * to end. 12 sts

Cut yarn, leaving a 10”/30 cm tail. Feed tail through remaining sts and cinch. Cont feeding tail around the circle through the same sts another 2-3 times, then feed to the inside. Weave in ends invisibly along columns of sts in matching color.

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@2025 Mary Beth Kelso

This pattern is for my teaching purposes only and is not

to be distributed outside of class.

Thank you for respecting copyright.