Lavanya Patricella

In the winter of 2003 I asked my Grandmother to teach me how to knit. I took to it quickly and began knitting my own sweaters and accessories almost immediately. I started teaching beginner knitting at local yarn shops and art spaces a few years later. I also did yarn bombing, exhibited in galleries, sold my hand-knit accessories at local boutiques, and worked part time at local yarn shops helping people with their own knit projects. It wasn’t until the spring of 2013, after I had my first son, that I decided to try my hand at pattern writing in an effort to work from home.

In the winter of 2015 I came across a dress pattern by Stephen West that would change my life. I’d never seen the stitch before and knew as soon as I saw the fabric that I had to learn how to make it. I had no idea how much this magic little stitch would influence my creativity. The fabric was unique: it had a clear background and foreground, there were two colors and it was reversible. I made it my mission to learn how to make it and went on to knit my dream dress using the brioche technique. After finishing, I was hooked. I was inspired to design simple patterns, then more complex ones. I started teaching my first brioche classes at Conversational Threads Fiber Arts Studio in the summer of 2015. Before I knew it I was traveling around the country teaching knitters my favorite new stitch.

Here we are, almost a decade later, and not much has changed. I’m still in love with the stitch and still teaching dozens of people how to knit it every month. It’s not a terribly hard stitch to learn but there are certain knitting rules that get broken or bent with brioche. Understanding the dynamics of how this fabric is made can really speed the learning process along. My hope with this book is to share with you what I’ve learned, through years of teaching both beginner and advanced knitters, about how to navigate the unique construction and terminology needed to knit this beautiful fabric successfully. You’ll find clear written instructions with accompanying photographs, along with a collection of 15 patterns designed to follow you through your journey from mastering the beginning steps to more advanced skills. I also hope this book serves as a good reference for those who know how to work brioche but need a refresher, or are just looking for some inspiration.

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