2-Color Brioche Ear Warmer Headband
Learn to knit an adorable 2-color brioche ear warmer! In this step-by-step knitting tutorial I show you each skill you need to create this ear warmer headband. This quick knit would make an excellent project to use as a gift this holiday season and it is the perfect project to use of some of your left over yarn!
Materials
• Lykke US 4 (3.5 mm) Circular Needle Amazon
• Tapestry Needle Amazon
• Ruler
• Scissors
Yarn
Yarn Weight: DK or Light Worsted that recommend between a US 6 – 7 knitting needle
Yarn A (solid purple or solid blue): 55 yds (50 m)
Yarn B (speckled purple): 35 yds (32 m)
Finished Measurements
• Width: 3.5” (9 cm)
• Circumference: 16” (40.6 cm) laying flat
Stretches to fit a 20” (51 cm) to 22” (56 cm) circumference
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Free Knitting Pattern
This two-color brioche ear warmer is reversible, with a contrasting loop covering the seam. Work the headband flat on circular needles so you can slide the stitches to work each row in both colors.
Size & Gauge
Finished width: 3.5 inches (9 cm). Circumference: 16 inches (40.6 cm) laid flat, stretching to fit 20–22 inches (51–56 cm).
Gauge: 11 stitches × 12 rows = 2 × 2 inches in two-color brioche worked flat, as listed in the PDF.
Yarn & Materials
DK or light worsted yarn labeled for US 6–7 needles. Color A: 55 yards (50 m), shown in Knit Picks High Desert in solid purple or blue. Color B: 35 yards (32 m), shown in Hedgehog Fibers Merino DK in speckled light purple.
US 4 (3.5 mm) circular knitting needles with a cord at least 24 inches long; tapestry needle; ruler; scissors.
Abbreviations
BRK: Knit the stitch and its yarn over together. BRP: Purl the stitch and its yarn over together. Slip 1: Slip one stitch purlwise. Repeat the instructions inside parentheses as directed.
Cast On
Using Color A, cast on 19 stitches. Do not turn. Slide the stitches to the other needle tip to work the set-up row in Color B.
Brioche Set-Up
Color B: Slip 1, (purl 1, slip 1, yarn over); repeat inside the parentheses until 2 stitches remain, purl 1, slip 1.
Brioche Repeat Row 1
Color A: Purl 1, (slip 1, yarn over, BRP); repeat until 2 stitches remain, slip 1, yarn over, purl 1.
Do not turn. Slide the stitches to the other needle tip to work the row again in Color B.
Color B: Slip 1, (BRK, yarn front, slip 1); repeat until 2 stitches remain, BRK, slip 1. Turn.
Brioche Repeat Row 2
Color A: Knit 1, (yarn front, slip 1, BRK); repeat until 2 stitches remain, yarn front, slip 1, knit 1.
Do not turn. Slide the stitches to the other needle tip to work the row again in Color B.
Color B: Slip 1, (BRP, slip 1, yarn over); repeat until 2 stitches remain, BRP, slip 1. Turn.
Continue the Headband
Repeat Brioche Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the work measures just over 16 inches (40.6 cm). Finish after Brioche Repeat Row 1.
Using Color A, cast off each stitch.
Seam the Headband
Lay the headband flat with the side you want to wear facing down. Fold the cast-on and cast-off edges toward the center. Use the cast-off tail to seam these edges together, then weave in the remaining ends.
Make the Loop
Using your chosen loop color, shown in Color A, cast on 10 stitches.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the piece measures 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) from the cast-on edge. Cast off each stitch.
Finish
Wrap the loop around the headband with the purl side facing inward. Seam the loop’s cast-on and cast-off edges together. Weave in the ends and move the loop to hide the seams.