Lockdown brioche school

If you’ve always wanted to learn brioche, now’s your chance. This scarf pattern leads you through a full range of brioche techniques, one step at a time, supported with photo tutorials and detailed explanations. What does "a full range of techniques" mean? It means single and two-colour brioche, syncopated (colour-flipping) brioche, fancy shaping stitches to create leaves and flowers, and even combining brioche with garter stitch. Each section introduces just one new idea, building on what came before, so you get quite comfortable with what you've learned before trying the next thing.

If you enjoy this free pattern, I would love for you to donate $10 to a hunger relief charity – such as the Trussell Trust in the UK (for food banks), or Food4Kids.

What do you need?

• At least two colours of yarn in any weight from fingering to aran (heavier is also possible). I recommend not using more than one strongly variegated colour. It's easiest to learn using about a DK or aran weight in a smooth construction.
• A circular needle in a suitable size for your chosen yarn. You’re not working in the round, you just need a double-ended needle. 60cm / 24in long is ideal but longer is also fine.
• Yarn needle for sewing in ends.
• Stitch markers are recommended.
• Scrap yarn for a lifeline (insert at your own discretion) is a really good idea.

These are estimated total yarn requirements for two common options:

* Fingering weight: 720m / 780 yds
3.25mm needle

* DK weight: 600m / 650 yds
4mm needle

For heavier weights, I’m not able to give accurate estimates but suggest either allowing at least 300g, or planning to make it a bit shorter (maybe wider too) and seaming to form a cowl.

See examples of what others have done with this pattern on Instagram or Ravelry.