How to Knit an Easy Brioche Cowl

A brioche cowl is a great project to knit if you're looking for something that's quick and easy, but still has the look of being more complicated than it actually is. The stitches used in this pattern are very similar to those used in regular knitting, so even if you've never tried brioche before, this project will be easy for you!

The benefits of knitting a brioche cowl include:

*   A warm neckline that keeps out the cold air when it's chilly outside (and looks great with any outfit).
*   An opportunity to learn new techniques like casting on or binding off with two colors at once--and then show off how cool your skills are by wearing them around town!

Supplies Needed

*   Yarn: The yarn you use will depend on the size cowl you want to make. If you are using a bulky weight yarn, such as Lion Brand Hometown USA (which I used), then your finished product will be bigger than if you were using a worsted weight like Cascade 220 Superwash.
*   Needles: You'll need needles that are appropriate for the type of yarn that you're using; this is usually a size 6 or 7 circular needle with 24" cable length but can vary depending on how thick your chosen yarn is.
*   Stitch markers: These help keep track of where in each row your pattern repeats so that when it comes time to decrease stitches, decreases line up correctly with those from previous rows' increases/decreases. They also help keep track of where each round starts so there won't be any confusion about whether or not something needs to be increased/decreased again at some point later on down the road!
*   Tapestry needle: This will allow us both weave in ends after we've finished knitting our project as well as sew up any holes created when attaching buttons onto our cowls later down their respective roads."

Gauge

To ensure that you're knitting the right size, it's important to check your gauge. The gauge for this pattern is 4 stitches per inch in Brioche Stitch. If you want a looser cowl and don't mind a little extra yarn, try going up one needle size (to a US 10). If you want a tighter cowl with less drape, go down one needle size (to US 8).

If you don't have time or patience for swatching, just cast on and start knitting! You'll be able to tell if your swatch is too small by how much yarn remains after completing it; if there's more than half an inch of leftover yarn after finishing the swatch, chances are good that your stitches will be too tight and won't stretch enough when worn around the neckline.

Sizing

This cowl is designed to be worn in multiple ways. It can be worn as a regular cowl, wrapped around your neck twice and buttoned in front (pictured). Or you can pull both ends through the loop at the back of your neck, which makes it into a long scarf that you can wrap around your shoulders or tie in front.

The yarn I used for this project was Malabrigo Rios (100% merino wool; 210 yards/100 grams), which comes in gorgeous colors! You'll need about 2 balls of MC and 1 ball each of CC1 and CC2 for this pattern.

Pattern

Cast on the stitches, as you would for any other project. For this cowl, I cast on 60 sts using a provisional cast-on technique.
Once you've finished casting on your stitches and have joined them in the round (if necessary), it's time to start knitting! The first row of brioche is simply a plain old k1 p1 ribbing pattern that looks like this:
Row 1: \*k1b; repeat from \* to end of round
Row 2: p1b; repeat from \* to end of round

Cowl Body

*   Cast on 100 sts.
*   Join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.
*   Work 1x1 ribbing for 2 rounds (k1, p1).
*   Next round: \*k2tog; repeat from \* until end of round--50 sts rem.

Cowl Edging

To knit the edging of the cowl, you will need to cast on an additional 20 stitches. This is done by casting on 1 stitch, then knitting 2 together (k2tog) across until you have 20 stitches total.
Once you've gotten to this point, work 2 rows of garter stitch (knit every row) and bind off loosely in pattern.

ishing

Once you've finished knitting the cowl, it's time to weave in your ends and block the cowl. Weaving in ends is an easy process that can be done while watching TV or listening to music. To weave ends use a tapestry needle (or any blunt-end needle) and run it through each stitch on both sides of the fabric until there are no more loose strands of yarn left.

Blocking is a step that helps make your knits look their best by getting out any wrinkles or uneven stitches from being worked with needles instead of hands. It makes even simple projects look more professional!

Conclusion

The Brioche Cowl is a great project for beginners and experienced knitters alike. It's easy to follow, but looks like it took you hours to make! The pattern uses only one color at a time, so it's perfect for using up your stash of yarns in different