Brioche Jacket Knitting Pattern

Brioche Jacket in Rowan Brushed Fleece

What is Being Made

The Brioche Jacket is a structured knitted cardigan-style jacket designed by Quails Studio. This garment is available in nine size options ranging from 71-76cm to 152-157cm chest measurements, making it suitable for various body sizes. The finished jacket features an actual chest measurement range from 98cm to 178cm, providing comfortable, relaxed fit options across all sizes.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to create its distinctive appearance and structure. The primary construction method uses fisherman rib, a textured stitch pattern that creates a dense, reversible fabric with excellent drape and elasticity. The pattern incorporates brioche knitting, a specialized technique that creates the characteristic bumped texture and visual interest throughout the garment. Shaping is accomplished through strategic cast-off decreases at the beginning of rows to form shoulder seams and armhole shaping. The pattern also includes stitch holder techniques for managing live stitches during construction, particularly for back neck shaping.

Stitches Used

The Brioche Jacket utilizes a focused selection of stitches to achieve its elegant texture:

• Fisherman Rib: The primary stitch pattern, worked over multiple rows to create the main fabric body
• Brioche Knit (K1b): A signature stitch that lifts and knits into the yarn over from the previous row, creating the brioche texture
• Knit (K): Basic knit stitch used in ribbing and pattern edges
• Purl (P): Used in combination with knit stitches to create the rib pattern structure
• Slip Stitch (Sl1p): Used at row edges for a neat, finished selvage edge

Materials and Gauge

This pattern calls for Rowan Brushed Fleece yarn in 50-gram balls, photographed in the colorway Crag 253. The yarn is held double throughout the project, creating a thicker, more substantial fabric. The pattern requires 9mm (US 13) needles, available in both straight needle and circular needle options (80cm, 120cm, 140cm, 160cm, or 180cm lengths are optional). The specified tension is 10 stitches and 18 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over fisherman rib using 9mm needles with yarn held double. Achieving proper tension is essential for obtaining the correct finished garment measurements across all nine size options.