You are currently viewing Hyggelig

Hyggelig

Last winter, I spent a lot of time wearing a sweater that I had handknit – supposedly – for my husband. There was something really comforting about a slightly over-sized and marvellously warm sweater. So this year, I decided to make one just for me. I knew I wanted it warm and squishy for the ultimate in winter self-care, and really, there was only one choice. For me, brioche knitting hits all of the above and repays the investment of time needed to work it in full. It truly is hyggelig – meaning cozy, comfortable, snug. I love the look of brioche cables, and I have much, much, respect for those crafters who have the patience to work them, but I quickly discovered that the technique was not for me. The good news is that there is always more than one way to approach knitting, and a similar effect can be made with careful use of increasing and decreasing.

This free pattern is available from Knitty. A low vision accessible version of this pattern will be coming soon.

 

Techniques

You will need the following techniques to work this pattern. Follow the links to head over to Base Camp if you need a refresher for a particular techniques.
  • brioche knit and purl
  • brioche increase
  • brioche left and right decrease
  • brioche star stitch
  • brioche honeycomb stitch
  • two colour brioche worked in the round
  • two colour brioche worked in the round
  • picking up stitches

Essential Information

Measurements

Women’s XS [S, M, L,1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X].

Sample is size M with 6 inches/15 cm of positive ease.

A – Chest circumference at underarm: 35.5[39.25, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 55, 59, 63, 67] inches / 90[100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170] cm

B – Centre back to underarm: 9[9.75, 11, 11.75, 13, 13.75, 15, 15.75, 17] inches / 23[25, 28, 30, 33, 35, 38, 40, 43] cm

C – Shoulder drop: 1.5 inches/4 cm

D – Armhole depth: 7.75[8, 8.5, 8.75, 9.25, 10, 10.5, 10.75, 11.25] inches / 19.5[20.5, 21.5, 22.5, 23.5, 25.5, 26.5, 27.5, 28.5] cm

E – Back neck width: 6.25[6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 7.75, 7.75, 7.75, 7.75, 7.75] inches / 16[16, 16, 16, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20] cm

F – Sleeve length: 18.25[18.25, 18.25, 17.5, 17.5, 17.5, 16.75, 16.75, 16.75] inches / 46.5[46.5, 46.5, 44.5, 44.5, 42.5, 42.5, 42.5, 42.5] cm

G – Cuff circumference: 9[9, 9, 9, 9, 10.75, 10.75, 10.75, 10.75] inches / 23[23, 23, 23, 23, 27, 27, 27, 27] cm

H – Lower body length: 14.5 inches/37 cm

I – Total length: 23.25[23.5, 24, 24.5, 24.75, 25.5, 26, 26.5, 26.75] inches / 59[60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68] cm

Yarn

Stylecraft Highland Heathers DK [100% acrylic; 297 yd/272 m per 100g skein];
  • [L – light] Gorse; 3[3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6] skeins
  • [D – dark] Marmalade; 3[4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6] skeins
The sample shown uses a DK-weight 2-ply acrylic yarn. The yarn is spun to have a heathered colour and rustic feel.

Recommended needle size

US #6/4mm circular needle, 24-inch / 60cm or longer, for body

US #6/4mm circular needle, 16-inch / 40cm for working flat (optional, but it does make it easier)

US #6/4mm in your preferred needle(s) for working a small circumference in the round

Notions

5 stitch markers

scrap yarn (optional)

yarn needle

Tension

20 sts/20 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in brioche stitch

Additional notes

This brioche sweater is a celebration of all things brioche, featuring two color brioche, syncopated brioche, brioche mock cables and brioche honeycomb stitch. The pattern uses an 8-row repeat to capture the essence of intricate celtic knots. The knotwork pattern really pops as the main part of the jumper is worked with the dark color prominent – that’s the syncopated part. The mock cables are created with brioche star stitches. A technique that combines an increase with either a left or right decrease, giving the impression of crossing cables. The left version of the star stitch is easier to work than the right, so you could simplify the pattern by only using the left star stitch. The end result would be very similar.

The brioche sweater pattern grew from the idea of having an unbroken celtic knot winding its way from cuff to cuff, across the yoke at the back of the sweater. In order to achieve this, the sweater is knit from cuff to cuff. The first sleeve is worked in the round to the shoulder, before splitting and working flat for the body. The neck is shaped by binding off and then casting on stitches before the work is rejoined in the round for the second sleeve. Stitches for the body are picked up and the body is also worked in the round, with a brioche honeycomb panel down the front. Finally, the collar is worked flat and seamed onto the brioche sweater. This construction means that the brioche is worked both in the round and flat. Each brioche row is worked with two passes, once in the light color, then a second pass in the dark color. To work this flat, you will need to work with a circular or double-pointed needles.

Make it your own

I’ve been wearing my version of this brioche sweater for a few months now, and I am considering some modifications for the neckline.  If (or when) I do this, I will post the pattern instructions here.