†
brioche An obsolete, fancy knit fabric; used for sofa cushions and waistcoats.
Archival marking. Indicates the entry applies to a textile, fabric, process, or term that is no longer current. This does not mean that this term is never used, but rather that it is not in common usage. †
Tortora, Phyllis G., and Merkel, Robert S., Fairchild’s Dictionary of Textiles, 7th Edition (New York: Fairchild Publications, 2009), p. 72. 1
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Introduction Exploring Brioche While researching the brioche stitch, I discovered something that surprised me. All the Northern European countries have used the stitch since the late 1800s, yet not one country, to my knowledge, claims it as part of their knitting culture. The brioche stitch has no tradition anywhere. Only a few examples can be found in museums, and they are mainly machine-made. When I combed stitch dictionaries, I again found a few examples, but not many, and they were mostly one color. This luscious, cushy stitch, which so many of us want to wrap up in, has no significant history. The dictionary entry at left is an indication of how this wonderful stitch has come to be viewed: obsolete. I figured it was time to give the brioche stitch some history, and I am inviting you to be part of its creation. This stitchionary of two-color patterns is a compilation of my designs, using only increases and decreases on a two-color brioche fabric. I hope you will use these stitches in your knitting, creating scarves, shawls, collars, sweaters—anything can be made using two-color brioche. Since these stitch patterns translate so easily into scarves and shawls, I have chosen twelve of my stitch patterns and created scarf and shawl designs that use them to beautiful effect. This book deals only with stitches worked in two-color brioche knitting. However, in the appendix, you will find explanations of how to translate these patterns into one-color brioche, as well as how to work the patterns in the round. Let’s explore two-color brioche together and give this stunning style of knitting the attention it deserves.
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