Genius Tips
Fixing Brioche: The Case of the Missing Yarnover
I love teaching brioche knitting. And I really love teaching people how easy it can be to fix mistakes.
As I wrote in my last column, my top tip for brioche knitting is to slow the heck down and really look at your stitches as you go. Many problems can be easily addressed if you spot them immediately, on the next row. One of the most common is when there’s apparently a missing yarnover.
The situation: you’re working your way along, and you realize that the next stitch should have a yarnover, so that you can work a brioche knit (brk) or a brioche purl (brp). You can see it in this picture:
I’m demonstrating fixes with two-color brioche so it’s clear what’s what, but the same fixes work for single-color brioche.
I had just worked a sl1yo, and so I should expect to see a doubled stitch next. But it’s not! Another clue is that there are two single stitches (i.e., not-wrapped-with-a-yarnover) in a row.
The yarnover is there, it’s just lying down on the job.
Sometimes, as in the picture above, it’s easy to spot. You can see the horizontal strand lying across the front of a column of knit stitches.
Sometimes it’s hiding. In the image below, it’s on the other side, wrapped around the purl bump. Can you see that there are two strands resting around the base of the stitch, rather than the usual one?
Peekaboo.
As long as the strand is there, you can grab it and pull it up onto the needle. How you do that depends on what type of stitch it is, and where the strand-that-should-be-a-yarnover is. In each case, you’ll start with the stitch-missing-its-yarnover on the left needle.
And as with any knitting fix, the usual tips apply: make sure you’re not overly tired, you’ve got good light, and your reading glasses.
Case 1: You’re working a brk row, and the strand-that-should-be-a-yarnover is at the front, on the knit column
Step 1 Slip the stitch-that-should-have-a-yarnover-wrap-but-doesn’t to the right-hand needle, slipping purlwise so it doesn’t twist.
Step 2 Use the tip of the left needle to scoop up the strand-that-should-be-a-yarnover from underneath, and place it on the right needle:
Step 3 Return the newly doubled stitch to the left needle.
Case 2: You’re working a brk row, and the strand-that-should-be-a-yarnover is at the back
Step 1 Use the tip of the right needle to pick up the strand-that-should-be-a-yarnover from the back:
Step 2 Place the just-picked-up stitch onto the left needle.
Case 3: You’re working a brp row, and the strand-that-should-be-a-yarnover is at the front
Step 1 Slip the stitch-that-should-have-a-yarnover-wrap-but-doesn’t to the right-hand needle, slipping purlwise so it doesn’t twist.
Step 2 Use the tip of the left needle to pick up the strand-that-should-be-a-yarnover and place it on the right needle:
Step 3 Return the newly doubled stitch to the left needle.
Case 4: You’re working a brp row, and the strand-that-should-be-a-yarnover is at the back
Step 1 Turn your work so that you have a knit stitch with a strand at the front, on the right-hand needle.
Step 2 (Same as Step 2 of Case 1) Use the tip of the left needle to scoop up the strand-that-should-be-a-yarnover from underneath, and place it on the right needle:
Step 3 Turn your work again so that you’re facing the working side, the brp row.
Ta da!
(And please take a bow, MDK Atlas in Seaglass and Cork.)
Keep it handy! Here’s how to save this article to your MDK account.
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So glad that you have addressed this, Kate. It’s those pesky mistakes that are difficult to fix that keep so many of us, I, assume, not just me, that keep us/me from taking on brioche and other more adventurous techniques. If I ever go forward with brioche (took a class, did not fall in love, but things could change) I will be comforted to know that I can turn to your column here when I would – inevitably – need it.
Thank you so much! I ripped out the cushiest cowl because I couldn’t figure out the repairs. I am going to get started again today!
As usual, clear as a bell.
Thanks!
Dang. I could have used this yesterday! This post is definitely a keeper.
Thanks! And what are those beautiful yellow needles?
Hello Susan! Sheepishly, I must admit I don’t know what they are. I’ve had them for years and years. They’re a cheerful yellow plastic, and they provide good contrast when you need to see your stitches. Sorry I don’t have more info.
Thank you so much for such a detailed and well-illustrated article on this. I find watching videos hard to follow, but these photographs are just crystal clear.
I’ve been knitting for decades and struggle with brioche. Thank you for this. So concise and clear!
Aaah, yes, definitely a post to save! Just this week I had needles on a single-color brioche scarf release the last 1/4 or so of stitches off the end and into oblivion in my project bag in the road trip hustle and bustle. It’s righted now, but a darkish one-color brioche is so much harder for me to fix than a two-color for sure. And yes, I found and applied my stitch stoppers!!
Thank you, Kate! I frogged my first brioche cowl because I couldn’t figure out how to fix my mistakes, and have been reluctant to try again without knowing what to do when I make a mistake. I now feel ready to give it another try!
Thank you for this timely post! I am working on a Honeycomb Scarf and progressing up the learning curve with help from MDK, but still doing a fair amount of ripping back when things didn’t look right. This has already saved me several time today and I feel so smug that I am able to fix it on the spot!
Thanks Kate! This is so timely! I just restarted the Cushiest Cowl because of mistakes ( and I am definitely putting in lifelines this time…)
Thank you for this valuable information with pictures.