Knitty Couture

One of the patterns provided to the campers at Knitting Camp was Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Prime Rib hat, otherwise, known as brioche in the round.

The brioche stitch is a knitting technique that creates very elastic ribbing. Though a single color can be used, it is equally, if not more often, seen using two colors which, in turn, creates wonderful shadow effects.

I didn’t have a chance to get to this pattern during Knitting Camp so I started it on the drive home. Oh, my roommate was the one driving.

The instructions for shaping the top of the hat suggest switching to one color and decreasing. When this is done, the top is a single color, much like a captop.

I didn’t want a captop, and preferred instead that the brioche stitch carried itself to the very end. After a bit of frustration and a lot of thinking, I figured out a way to make the stitch reversible using both colors. I actually finished it right before arriving home!

My favorite little person, Marley, joined me for the photo op. Isn’t she so adorable?!

I had underestimated the quickness of the decrease so the trial hat, worn by Marley, came out a bit short. For the second hat, I increased the number of cast-on stitches and continued the brioche a bit longer. It’s stretchy enough to fit my husband.

I was also pleasantly surprised to turn the hat inside-out after finishing and finding a cute swirl at the very top!

This technique is offered as a class this fall/winter semester.