The Brioche Panes Blanket mixes garter stitch and two-color brioche to create a colorful and extra squishy blanket. The panes of color stand out on one side and are subtle on the other. This is a free knit blanket pattern with two size options: baby and throw.
Garter stitch and brioche are both meditative stitch patterns, and alternating the two keeps things interesting. This pattern is easily memorized and relaxing to work on.
Have fun with the colors! There are so many possibilities. For the sample, I started with a variegated color and chose coordinating solids.
Experiment with a bright main color and neutral panes, a neutral main color with colorful panes. Feature a different color in each pane as written or make all panes the same color. Or go maximalist like the sample and choose all bright coordinating colors.
I designed the baby blanket for my daughter while I was waiting for her to arrive. I’m happy to report that she loves it!
Skills
Knit
Slip
Yarn Over
Two-Color Brioche, Flat (Here are tutorial videos for how to knit brioche: Continental Style Tutorial | English Style Tutorial)
Sizing
Baby (Throw)
Finished Measurements: 34” x 29” (46 x 58)”/86 x 74 (122 x 147)cm
Gauge
Garter stitch is stretchy and elastic and behaves differently when it’s alone versus next to another less compressed stitch.
Rows will be shorter in the garter sections (more rows per inch) and taller in the brioche sections (fewer rows per inch). Therefore, I am providing two gauges: one for your swatch and one for your final project.
Swatch Target
16 stitches and 36 rows over 4”/10cm in garter stitch, blocked
Final Project
16 stitches and 25 rows over 4”/10cm, blocked
Materials
Yarn
Manos del Uruguay Alegria Grande (75% Merino Wool and 25% Nylon/Polyamide, 197 yards per 100g skein)
Color A: Sample show in Teal. Note: The calculations for color A include a 5% buffer.
- 3 (8) Skeins
- 580 (1560) yards | 530 (1430) meters
- 294 (827) grams
Contrast Colors B, C, D, E, F, G: Sample shown in baby blanket size with contrast colors of Oxygen, Waterlily, and Wild Orchid. Note: The calculations for the contrast colors include a 10% buffer per color.
- 1 (1) Skein in each of 3 (6) colors
- 127 (197) yards | 120 (180) meters
- 65 (100) grams
Needles
US8 (5mm) circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge in your preferred length for working 34 (46)” width flat.
Notions
- Scissors
- 2 Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
Abbreviations
- brk brioche knit: knit the slipped stitch together with the yarn over
- brp brioche purl: purl the slipped stitch together with the yarn over
- k knit
- pm place marker
- rs right side
- sl slip
- sl1p wyif slip one stitch purl wise with yarn in front
- sl1yo with yarn in front, slip one stitch and work a yarn over
- slide slide stitches from one side of the needle to the other
- sm slip marker
- ws wrong side
Stitch Patterns
The following stitch patterns are referred to in the written instructions.
Garter Stitch Pattern
Row 1 (WS): Sl1p wyif, k to end. Turn.
Row 2 (RS): Sl1p wyif, k to end. Turn.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 a total of 8 times, ending with RS row.
Brioche Stitch Pattern
Set Up A (WS): Using Color A, sl1p wyif, k8, pm, (sl1yo, p1) to last 10 st, sl1yo, pm, k9.
Slide.
Set Up B (WS): Sl to marker, sm, with contrast color, (brk1, sl1yo) to one stitch before marker, brk1, drop contrast color to back, sl remaining stitches. Turn.
Row 1A (RS): Using Color A, sl1p wyif, k to marker, sm, sl1yo (brk1, sl1yo) to marker, sm, k to end. Slide.
Row 1B (RS): Sl to marker, sm, pick up contrast color brp1, (sl1yo, brp1) to marker, drop contrast color to front, sm, sl to end. Turn.
Row 2A (WS): Using Color A, sl1p wyif, k to marker, sm, sl1yo, (brp1, sl1yo) to marker, sm, k to end. Slide.
Row 2B (WS): Sl to marker, sm, pick up contrast color, brk1, (sl1yo, brk1) to marker, drop contrast color to back, sm, sl to end. Turn.
Repeat rows 1A-2B 16 more times, then work rows 1A-1B once more. Break contrast color.
Row 36 (WS): Using color A, sl1p wyif, k to marker, sm, brk1, (k1, brk1) to marker, sm, k to end. Turn.
Written Instructions
For all rows, begin by slipping one stitch with the yarn in front to create tidy edges.
Using Color A, cast on 135 (183) stitches.
All Sizes
Using Color A, work 1 garter section.
Using Colors A and B, work 1 brioche section.
Using Color A, work 1 garter section.
Using Colors A and C, work 1 brioche section.
Using Color A, work 1 garter section.
Using Colors A and D, work 1 brioche section.
Using Color A, work 1 garter section.
Throw Size Only
Using Colors A and E, work 1 brioche section.
Using Color A, work 1 garter section.
Using Colors A and F, work 1 brioche section.
Using Color A, work 1 garter section.
Using Colors A and G, work 1 brioche section.
Using Color A, work 1 garter section.
All Sizes
Bind off.
Weave in the ends and block.
Happy Knitting!
