Designer Nancy Marchant, the Queen of Brioche, is the one who realized Brioche knitting was really underdeveloped, as compared to other knitting techniques. She created the key terms of Barking and Burping as well as a charting system which uses symbols for each brioche stitch or technique, so knitters across the world could share their patterns using the same language.
Her research shows that the name “brioche” arose in reference to a type of cushion that was fashionable for ladies to make in England in the mid-1800s. These brioche pillows were named for the fluffy French baked goods, and the special ribbed fabric that lent them extra poof took on the same name.
The Brioche Stitch resembles a ribbed knitting stitch pattern, and its fabric is loose, stretchy and super soft. The interlocking technique – knitting stitches from the previous row together with the current row – makes for a deceptively simple looking knitting technique.
I was introduced to Brioche by the very talented team of Purl Soho. I was mesmerised by Gina’s brioche cowl. And who wouldn’t be – I mean, the colour combinations were of course craaaaazy, but what on earth was going on with the technique?!
Slowly I started to read more, understand more and practice more. Two coloured brioche is my jam, and I find it is really dramatic and makes a very BOLD statement. I mean, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, subtle about brioche.
What I love the best about brioche is that it makes for a great reversible fabric. The only hitch I see is that it uses twice as much yarn as compared to any other technique. But well, when a thing of beauty is joy forever, what’s the harm in using one more skein of yarn?
