Circular Prime Rib (Brioche) by Megan Mills, email:megan@kiwi.gen.nz
Terms:
K
Knit
P
Purl
K2T
Knit two together
P2T
Purl two together
SSK
Slip 1 knit-wise, Slip 1 purlwise, insert left-hand needle
through both stitches from left to right and knit them together.
Rib
K1, P1 rib.
Method
Cast on an even number of stitches and put a marker between
your last and first stitch
Foundation Round:
Knit 1, *bring yarn to the near side between the
needle tips as if to P, slip 1 purlwise, K1 - allowing yarn to make a
sloppy diagonal loop over right-hand needle. Repeat from * to last
stitch, bring the yarn to the near side between the needle tips as if to
P, slip 1 purlwise, yarn around needle (starting and finishing on the
nearside).
Round 2:
*Slip 1 purlwise, yarn around needle, P2T (namely the purl
stitch and sloppy diagonal loop); repeat from *
Round 3:
Take yarn to the far side between the needle tips if to K.
K2T (namely the knit stitch and the sloppy diagonal loop), *bring yarn
to the near side between the needle tips as if to P, slip 1 purlwise,
K2T (namely the knit stitch and the sloppy diagonal loop) - allowing
yarn to make a sloppy diagonal loop over right-hand needle. Repeat from
* to last stitch. Bring yarn to the near side between the needle tips
as if to P, slip 1 purlwise, yarn around needle.
Repeat the last two rounds.
A Simple Hat
I ran out of my unspun wool so this was made with four strands of
double knitting left over from the slippers, there are 32 stitches.
This teacosy is done with two strands of double knitting and is
worked over 60 stitches. At the top I left a hole for the teapot
lid's knob.
You will need to experiment with gauge. This is
an amazingly stretchy stitch so I don't try to gauge it over the Prime
Rib. I use a gauge of about 5 stitches to 5cm over Stocking Stitch
for an average adult head.
With very thick wool, (the unspun type is very good) and
needles about 8 or 9mm in diameter cast on 30 stitches in rib VERY LOOSELY
(leave about 5mm between each stitch).
Work in Circular Prime Rib until it is about 5cm shorter
than the depth you need.
To Shape the Crown:
Change to ordinary Rib for three rounds (work the diagonal
loop with its corresponding stitch on the first round).
Starting at a knit stitch, SSK to the end of the round.
K 1 round.
If you like a light spiral effect then SSK for another
round, if not then K2T for a round to last stitch, K1
K 1 round.
Break off wool leaving a 15cm tail and using a needle
or crochet hook thread it through the remaining stitches and draw them
up tight. Secure the end and darn in cunningly. You now have
a very warm and reversible hat with no seam to sew.
As a bit of an experiment I've tried putting a video of the Knit Brioche and Purl Brioche stitches
below. Just click the in the window and with a little luck you'll see the clip.