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Knitting Fresh Brioche: Creating Two-Color Twists & Turns
Take your knits to the next level with this essential guide to the brioche stitch from a world-renowned expert.
In her groundbreaking knitting book, world-renowned brioche knitting expert Nancy Marchant works brioche – a versatile European stitch that creates a luxurious, reversible ribbed fabric – in two colors, forming graceful, undulating textures with increases and decreases. She explains everything from how to hold the yarn and cast on (offering multiple options) to creating the basic fabric and reading two-color charts. The stitch library presents 75 all-new brioche knitting patterns, and there are an additional 12 in luscious shawl and scarf projects.
Perfect for anyone looking for knitting books and patterns that teach new knitting techniques, Knitting Fresh Brioche is the ultimate guide to this trendy stitch. Whether it’s your first time knitting brioche or you’re in search of additional brioche knitting pattern books, this comprehensive volume has everything you need to make beautiful and colorful brioche knits.
In her groundbreaking knitting book, world-renowned brioche knitting expert Nancy Marchant works brioche – a versatile European stitch that creates a luxurious, reversible ribbed fabric – in two colors, forming graceful, undulating textures with increases and decreases. She explains everything from how to hold the yarn and cast on (offering multiple options) to creating the basic fabric and reading two-color charts. The stitch library presents 75 all-new brioche knitting patterns, and there are an additional 12 in luscious shawl and scarf projects.
Perfect for anyone looking for knitting books and patterns that teach new knitting techniques, Knitting Fresh Brioche is the ultimate guide to this trendy stitch. Whether it’s your first time knitting brioche or you’re in search of additional brioche knitting pattern books, this comprehensive volume has everything you need to make beautiful and colorful brioche knits.
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 26, 2015
If you've jumped into exploring the brioche stitch and are curious what new directions you can take with this technique, Knitting Fresh Brioche is for you. While it is beneficial to be familiar with the basic stitch before delving into this book, don't worry, there is an extensive review of basic techniques and Marchant's system to describe and chart the stitches.
This book is broken into three main sections: technique, stitch patterns, and projects. Throughout the entire book, the photos are crisp and clear. The page layout is thoughtful, most techniques and stitch patterns are on one page so there is no need to keep flipping back and forth or feeling that a key step was left out.
The technique section would be a remarkable book by itself. The photos match well with the written instructions. While knitting a swatch I kept knitting a decrease incorrectly. It was simple to turn to that technique and figure out exactly where I was going off track. Many techniques are spelled out in this section from casting-on to binding-off with all the shaping in-between. The photo tutorials are for both English and Continental style knitting, a little detail I appreciated. I have two small quibbles with this section, overall I find the order of the presented techniques disjointed; I found myself flipping around the section to find what I needed. I also wish the photos had a little more contrast between the backgrounds and the lighter yarns.
The stitch patterns are the star of this book and the attention to detail is apparent. There are clear photographs of both sides of each pattern. The yarn, including colour, for each swatch is consistent throughout, making it easier to see how each new stitch differs from the others. It would have been nice for a mini chart legend/key and even possibly a small list of techniques and their associated page numbers to be included, however I recognize that could quickly clutter the page. It was simple to add index tabs for the pages I needed to reference.
The shawl and wrap designs are in a variety of yarn weights and offer several differently constructed shapes. Before looking through the swatches, I hadn't thought much how yarn construction effects the brioche stitch. Single-ply yarns create a beautiful stitch, something I hadn't expected. Which patterns do I want to knit? Each offers interesting elements and help explore how the stitches can be incorporated into a design. As it's currently late winter, I'm drawn to anything remotely leaf-shaped and green and that is influencing my choice. The simplicity and asymmetry of Stegosaurus interests me the most right now, along with only having to cast on 3 stitches to start!
I was frustrated to find the Useful Information section at the very end of the book. This is where the technique to work two-color brioche in the round is discussed and is required for several of the pattern designs. Here we also learn how to work the conversion from a flat stitch pattern, to working it in the round, either for two-colour or even just one. I would have preferred to see this together with the other techniques, as I kept looking earlier to find tips for knitting in the round. There is also a one page short list of ideas on how to design your own stitch patterns and incorporate them into designs.
Knitting Fresh Brioche provides knitters with an amazing resource to transform this simple stitch pattern into new and exciting creations.
Note: The publisher provided me with a review copy.
This book is broken into three main sections: technique, stitch patterns, and projects. Throughout the entire book, the photos are crisp and clear. The page layout is thoughtful, most techniques and stitch patterns are on one page so there is no need to keep flipping back and forth or feeling that a key step was left out.
The technique section would be a remarkable book by itself. The photos match well with the written instructions. While knitting a swatch I kept knitting a decrease incorrectly. It was simple to turn to that technique and figure out exactly where I was going off track. Many techniques are spelled out in this section from casting-on to binding-off with all the shaping in-between. The photo tutorials are for both English and Continental style knitting, a little detail I appreciated. I have two small quibbles with this section, overall I find the order of the presented techniques disjointed; I found myself flipping around the section to find what I needed. I also wish the photos had a little more contrast between the backgrounds and the lighter yarns.
The stitch patterns are the star of this book and the attention to detail is apparent. There are clear photographs of both sides of each pattern. The yarn, including colour, for each swatch is consistent throughout, making it easier to see how each new stitch differs from the others. It would have been nice for a mini chart legend/key and even possibly a small list of techniques and their associated page numbers to be included, however I recognize that could quickly clutter the page. It was simple to add index tabs for the pages I needed to reference.
The shawl and wrap designs are in a variety of yarn weights and offer several differently constructed shapes. Before looking through the swatches, I hadn't thought much how yarn construction effects the brioche stitch. Single-ply yarns create a beautiful stitch, something I hadn't expected. Which patterns do I want to knit? Each offers interesting elements and help explore how the stitches can be incorporated into a design. As it's currently late winter, I'm drawn to anything remotely leaf-shaped and green and that is influencing my choice. The simplicity and asymmetry of Stegosaurus interests me the most right now, along with only having to cast on 3 stitches to start!
I was frustrated to find the Useful Information section at the very end of the book. This is where the technique to work two-color brioche in the round is discussed and is required for several of the pattern designs. Here we also learn how to work the conversion from a flat stitch pattern, to working it in the round, either for two-colour or even just one. I would have preferred to see this together with the other techniques, as I kept looking earlier to find tips for knitting in the round. There is also a one page short list of ideas on how to design your own stitch patterns and incorporate them into designs.
Knitting Fresh Brioche provides knitters with an amazing resource to transform this simple stitch pattern into new and exciting creations.
Note: The publisher provided me with a review copy.
January 21, 2015
After the disaster with her first book on Brioche, I was pleased to see that the photos in this sequel are larger and that the knitting abbreviations are in lowercase letters. Much easier to read. But seriously: the notation system nearly 40 years old -- I say it should be updated and made easier to understand. Bark, Burp...bleck.
December 22, 2022
More twists and turns than an English murder mystery.
Wool sweater books are a waste of time. First, you have to pay too much attention to detail. Second who is going to wear a wool sweater in Texas unless it is a pullover?
Now this book is my cup of tea it is just stitches; after learning them you can do it while watching T.V. At least that is the theory. However, brioche looks a tad complex. Also, the end product will make for good presents (that is if one can afford to part with them.)
The book is well laid out with good size visual charts; they are quite detailed and easy to follow. For those knitters who don't cotton to charts and like to see the actual instructions, they are also here in an easy-to-read font. The color pictures help you visualize what you're getting ready to knit and stay on target.
The appendix has helpful variants such as:
Two-Color Brioche in the round
Converting a Two-Color Brioche flat chart to a one color
Converting a Two-Color Brioche flat chart to a one-color Brioche in the round.
Wool sweater books are a waste of time. First, you have to pay too much attention to detail. Second who is going to wear a wool sweater in Texas unless it is a pullover?
Now this book is my cup of tea it is just stitches; after learning them you can do it while watching T.V. At least that is the theory. However, brioche looks a tad complex. Also, the end product will make for good presents (that is if one can afford to part with them.)
The book is well laid out with good size visual charts; they are quite detailed and easy to follow. For those knitters who don't cotton to charts and like to see the actual instructions, they are also here in an easy-to-read font. The color pictures help you visualize what you're getting ready to knit and stay on target.
The appendix has helpful variants such as:
Two-Color Brioche in the round
Converting a Two-Color Brioche flat chart to a one color
Converting a Two-Color Brioche flat chart to a one-color Brioche in the round.
May 23, 2024
I absolutely love this book and I've used it for stitch patterns for so many sweaters! I don't really look at the patterns in the back, but the instructions for each stitch in the front plus the charted and written instructions for each stitch pattern are all superb. 10/10, definitely recommend to anyone wanting to do more than basic 1x1 brioche!
July 3, 2018
Fabrics are beautiful but not really interested in 2-color brioche right now. Get it again & try sometime.
August 10, 2018
Lots of great patterns, though most are too advanced for me right now. Some great projects too!
May 7, 2019
This is a great book for those of us who love to turn to a good book with thorough detailed photos rather than head to our screens
if you have ever wanted to learn brioche knitting this is the book.
if you have ever wanted to learn brioche knitting this is the book.
January 30, 2020
Nancy Merchant is the diva of brioche. Here once again she triumphs with another compendium of wonderful projects!
April 17, 2026
This book is a wealth of information with beautiful color photography! It is making me want to knit and wear scarves which I never feel I look good in.
November 16, 2015
Brioche is an unusual and fairly uncommon knitting technique that produces a ribbed fabric both warmer and stretchier than the conventional "knit 1, purl 1" approach. It also allows some rather exotic two color techniques, since the fabric produced really consists of two intertwined layers. I have experimented a bit with brioche and wanted to see some more complex examples.
Marchant's book certainly contains such examples. The color effects are eye-boggling, the optical illusions worthy of Pop Art. Many of these pieces seem too gaudy to me, but the stitch patterns described could certainly be worked in more subtle colors provided the knitter can keep the complex sequences in order. As for myself, I'm still struggling with the basic brioche stitch, which involves steps that would be errors in ordinary knitting and thus seem counterintuitive at times.
Certainly this book is worthwhile for the advanced knitter, or the intermediate knitter looking for new horizons. There's a lot here to admire and quite a bit that can be learned. The color photos are amazing.
Marchant's book certainly contains such examples. The color effects are eye-boggling, the optical illusions worthy of Pop Art. Many of these pieces seem too gaudy to me, but the stitch patterns described could certainly be worked in more subtle colors provided the knitter can keep the complex sequences in order. As for myself, I'm still struggling with the basic brioche stitch, which involves steps that would be errors in ordinary knitting and thus seem counterintuitive at times.
Certainly this book is worthwhile for the advanced knitter, or the intermediate knitter looking for new horizons. There's a lot here to admire and quite a bit that can be learned. The color photos are amazing.
October 14, 2023
More twists and turns than an English murder mystery.
Wool sweater books are a waste of time. First, you have to pay too much attention to detail. Second who is going to wear a wool sweater in Texas unless it is a pullover?
Now this book is my cup of tea it is just stitches; After learning them you can do it while watching T.V. At least that is the theory. However, brioche looks a tad complex. Also, the end product will make for good presents (that is if one can afford to part with them.)
The book is well laid out with good-sized visual charts; they are quite detailed and easy to follow. For those knitters who don't cotton to charts and like to see the actual instructions, they are also here in an easy-to-read font. The color pictures help you visualize what you're getting ready to knit and stay on target.
The appendix has helpful variants such as:
Two-Color Brioche in the round
Converting a Two-Color Brioche flat chart to a one-color
Converting a Two-Color Brioche flat chart to a one-color Brioche in the round.
Wool sweater books are a waste of time. First, you have to pay too much attention to detail. Second who is going to wear a wool sweater in Texas unless it is a pullover?
Now this book is my cup of tea it is just stitches; After learning them you can do it while watching T.V. At least that is the theory. However, brioche looks a tad complex. Also, the end product will make for good presents (that is if one can afford to part with them.)
The book is well laid out with good-sized visual charts; they are quite detailed and easy to follow. For those knitters who don't cotton to charts and like to see the actual instructions, they are also here in an easy-to-read font. The color pictures help you visualize what you're getting ready to knit and stay on target.
The appendix has helpful variants such as:
Two-Color Brioche in the round
Converting a Two-Color Brioche flat chart to a one-color
Converting a Two-Color Brioche flat chart to a one-color Brioche in the round.
October 28, 2022
This is the first book I've read on brioche stitch and the first book by author Nancy Marchant but I am jazzed to give it a try. I'm a fairly intrepid intermediate knitter who has tried a lot of different techniques and, surprisingly for me, I found the explanations for how to do the stitches, increases, and decreases fairly straightforward. Great photos of the swatches, beautiful finished projects. Plentiful charts, though a bit small for me—nothing enlargement on a copier couldn't remedy. I think the appendix information (knitting in the round, converting two-color brioche to one-color, designing your own brioche patterns) should have been included in the front Technique chapter.
March 2, 2015
would like to own.
March 17, 2015
Nancy did it again. Lovely Patterns. Great how-tos.
October 14, 2019
Someday...
Read
September 10, 2017Some great knowledge for those ready to step up their game (two colors, ect) and patterns for those advance enough to work on their own to play with. Far about my level at this point!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews