Polka Dot Brioche Blanket

Free Blanket Knitting Pattern

This cozy blanket is made using two stitch patterns: 2-color brioche and 2-color garter stitch. The design features raised brioche dots that pop against a garter stitch background. The texture is created by switching between the two stitch patterns and using two yarns at a time. The blanket is worked flat in rows and finished with a neat edge. It's a relaxing knit with a fun pattern that builds row by row. Whether you’re making it for yourself or as a gift, this blanket is sure to stand out.

Skills required: To knit this scarf, you need to know how to knit 2-color brioche stitch and 2-color garter stitch, make brioche decrease and increase.

Size: 38” x 38” (95 cm x 95 cm)

Materials: 100% worsted weight wool, 220 yards (201 meters) / 100 gr, color beige – 3 skeins (LC)
100% worsted weight wool, 220 yards (201 meters) / 100 gr, color brown – s skeins (DC)

Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) 47” (118 cm) circular needles OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Gauge: 16 sts x 32 rows = 4" (10 cm) in garter stitch.

Please note, that 1 row of brioche consists of 2 rows: 1 row of light color (LC) and 1 row of dark color (DC)

Abbreviations

Please note that I use Nancy Marchant's terminology for brioche stitch. I highly recommend her books Knitting Brioche: The Essential Guide to the Brioche Stitch and Knitting Fresh Brioche: Creating Two-Color Twists & Turns, as well as her lessons on craftsy.com.
yf - yarn forward: bring the yarn to the front, between the tips of the needles.
yb - yarn back: take the yarn to the back, between the tips of the needles.
yfsl1yo - yarn forward, slip 1, yarn over: bring the working yarn between the tips of the needles to front of work, slip the next stitch purlwise, then bring the yarn over the needle and the slipped stitch. Leave yarn in back, ready to knit the next stitch.
brk - brioche knit: knit the stitch together with its accompanying yarnover
brp - brioche purl: purl the stitch together with its accompanying yarnover.

br8st-inc – (brk1, yo) four times, brk1 into the same stitch: 1 stitch increased to nine (9).

br8st-dec –brioche 8 st decrease (worked over 9 sts, 8 sts dec): slip 1st brioche st knitwise, slip 2nd brp st knitwise, slip 3rd brioche st knitwise, slip 4th brp st knitwise, place next (5th) brioche st on cable needle or stitch marker and hold in front of work, knit next (6th) st on LH needle, pass slipped (4th) brp st on RH needle over (1 st dec), move st to LH needle, pass next (7th) brioche st over (1 st dec), move st to RH needle, pass slipped (3rd) brioche st over (1 st dec), move st to LH needle, pass next (8th) brioche st over (1 st dec), move st to RH needle, pass slipped (2nd) brioche st over (1 st dec), move st to LH needle, pass next (9th) brioche st over (1 st dec), move st to RH needle, pass slipped (1st) brioche st over (1 st dec), move st from marker to LH needle, move st on RH needle to LH needle and pass held brioche sts over (1 st dec), move st back to RH needle.

LS – light side
DS – dark side
LC – light color
DC- dark color
k – knit
p – purl
sl – slip the first st


Pattern Notes:

Two-Color Brioche Stitch – Basic Instructions

These instructions are included as a guide to the technique, and as instructions for swatching.

A single brioche row is worked in two passes, one in light color (LC) and the other in dark color (DC). Both colors are worked in one direction, then the work is turned and both colors are worked in the other direction, one by one. The light side (LS) of the project is first worked in light color (LC) yarn, then in dark color (DC) yarn. (The LS of the work is where brioche knit (brk) stitches are worked in light color (LC) yarn.

Odd number of stitches
Set-up row (LC): k1, *sl1yof, p1, rep from *, to last 2 sts, sl1yof, p1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Set-up row (DC): sl1, yb, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * to last 2 sts, brk1, yb, sl last st. Turn.
Row 1 (LS, LC): k1, *yfsl1yo, brk1, repeat from * to last 2 sts, yfsl1yo, k1. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Row 1 (LS, DC): sl1, yf, *brp1, sl1yof, repeat from * to last 2 sts, brp1, yb, slip last st. Turn.
Row 2 (DS, LC): p1, *sl1yof, brp1, repeat from * to last 2 sts, sl1yof, p1. DO not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Row 2 (DS, DC): sl1, yb, *brk1, yfsl1yo, repeat from * to last 2 sts, brk1, yf, sl last st. Turn.


Two-Color Garter Stitch

These are included as a guide to the technique, and as instructions for swatching.

Row 1 (LS LC): purl. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Row 1 (LS DC): knit. Turn.

Row 2 (DS LC): knit. Do not turn, slide work to the other end of the needle.
Row 2 (DS DC): purl. Turn.

Chain Selvage

When working the selvage stitches at the beginning and the end of the row, at the start of the LC rows, always bring LC under the DC.


Short Overview of the pattern

The blanket is worked in one piece from bottom up. The lower and upper borders are worked in one-color garter stitch, while the main body of the blanket is worked in 2-colors garter stitch. The dots and the left and right borders are worked in 2-color brioche stitch.


Blanket

Using LC yarn, cast on 147 sts LOOSELY. Knit 2 rows.

SR (DS LC): Sl, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k139, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, p1. (147 sts)
SR (DS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p139, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p1. (147 sts)

Row 1 (LS LC): Sl, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p139, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p1. (147 sts)
Row 1 (LS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k139, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, p1. (147 sts)

Row 2 (DS LC): Sl, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k139, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, p1. (147 sts)
Row 2 (DS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p139, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p1. (147 sts)

Repeat rows 1-2 six (6) more times.

Row 15 (LS LC): Sl, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p7, (p4, br8st-inc, p24) 4 times, p4, br8st-inc, p11, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p1. (187 sts)
Row 15 (LS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k7, (k1, ssk, k1, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, k2tog, k21) 4 times, k1, ssk, k1, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, k2tog, k8, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, p1. (177 sts)

Row 16 (DS LC): Sl, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k10, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, brp, k3, (k23, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, brp, k3) 4 times, k7, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, p1. (177 sts)
Row 16 (DS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p10, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 4, yf sl1yo, p3, (p23, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 4, yf sl1yo, p3) 4 times, p7, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p1. (177 sts)

Row 17 (LS LC): K1, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p7, (p3, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 4, brk, p23) 4 times, p3, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 4, brk, p10, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, sl. (177 sts)
Row 17 (LS DC): K1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k7, (ssk, k1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, k2tog, k20) 4 times, ssk, k1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, k2tog, k7, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, sl. (167 sts)

Row 18 (DS LC): Sl, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k9, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, brp, k2, (k22, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, brp, k2) 4 times, k7, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, p1. (167 sts)
Row 18 (DS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p9, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 4, yf sl1yo, p2, (p22, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 4, yf sl1yo, p2) 4 times, p7, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p1. (167 sts)

Row 19 (LS LC): K1, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p7, (p2, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 4, brk, p22) 4 times, p2, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 4, brk, p9, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, sl. (167 sts)
Row 19 (LS DC): K1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k7, (k1, m1, k1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, m1, k21) 4 times, k1, m1, k1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, m1, k8, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, sl. (177 sts)

Row 20 (DS LC): Repeat row 16. (177 sts)
Row 20 (DS DC): Repeat row 16. (177 sts)

Row 21 (LS LC): K1, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p7, (p3, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 4, brk, p23) 4 times, p3, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 4, brk, p10, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, sl. (177 sts)
Row 21 (LS DC): K1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k7, (k2, m1, k1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, m1, k22) 4 times, k2, m1, k1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, m1, k9, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, sl. (187 sts)

Row 22 (DS LC): Sl, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k11, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, brp, k4, (k24, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, brp, k4) 4 times, k7, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, p1. (187 sts)
Row 22 (DS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p11, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 4, yf sl1yo, p4, (p24, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 4, yf sl1yo, p4) 4 times, p7, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p1. (187 sts)

Row 23 (LS LC): Sl, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p7, (p4, br8st-dec, p24) 4 times, p4, br8st-dec, p11, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p1. (147 sts)
Row 23 (LS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k139, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, p1. (147 sts)

Row 24 (DS LC): Repeat row 2. (147 sts)
Row 24 (DS DC): Repeat row 2. (147 sts)

Rows 25-34: Repeat rows 1-2 ten (10) times.

Row 35 (LS LC): Sl, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p1, (p24, br8st-inc, p4) 4 times, p22, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p1. (179 sts)
Row 35 (LS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k1, (k21, ssk, k1, (yf sl1yo, p1) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, k2tog, k1) 4 times, k22, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, p1. (171 sts)

Row 36 (DS LC): Sl, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k22, (k3, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, brp, k23) 4 times, k1, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, p1. (171 sts)
Row 36 (DS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p22, (p3, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 4, yf sl1yo, p23) 4 times, p1, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p1. (171 sts)

Row 37 (LS LC): K1, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p1, (p23, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 4, brk, p3) 4 times, p22, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, sl. (171 sts)
Row 37 (LS DC): K1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k1, (k20, ssk, k1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, k2tog) 4 times, k22, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, sl. (163 sts)

Row 38 (DS LC): Sl, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k22, (k2, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, brp, k22) 4 times, k1, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, p1. (163 sts)
Row 38 (DS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p22, (p2, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 4, yf sl1yo, p22) 4 times, p1, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p1. (163 sts)

Row 39 (LS LC): K1, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p1, (p22, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 4, brk, p2) 4 times, p22, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, sl. (163 sts)
Row 39 (LS DC): K1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k1, (k21, m1, k1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, m1, k1) 4 times, k22, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, sl. (171 sts)

Row 40 (DS LC): Repeat row 36. (171 sts)
Row 40 (DS DC): Repeat row 36. (171 sts)

Row 41 (LS LC): K1, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p1, (p23, (brk, yf sl1yo) × 4, brk, p3) 4 times, p22, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, sl. (171 sts)
Row 41 (LS DC): K1, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k1, (k22, m1, k1, (yf sl1yo, brp) × 4, yf sl1yo, k1, m1, k2) 4 times, k22, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, sl. (179 sts)

Row 42 (DS LC): Sl, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k22, (k4, (brp, yf sl1yo) × 4, brp, k24) 4 times, k1, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, p1. (179 sts)
Row 42 (DS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p22, (p4, (yf sl1yo, brk) × 4, yf sl1yo, p24) 4 times, p1, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p1. (179 sts)

Row 43 (LS LC): Sl, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p1, (p24, br8st-des, p4) 4 times, p22, brk, yf sl1yo, brk, p1. (147 sts)
Row 43 (LS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, k139, yf sl1yo, brp, yf sl1yo, p1. (147 sts)

Row 44 (DS LC): Sl, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, k139, brp, yf sl1yo, brp, p1. (147 sts)
Row 44 (DS DC): Sl, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p139, yf sl1yo, brk, yf sl1yo, p1. (147 sts)

Rows 45-54: Repeat rows 1-2 ten (10) times.
Rows 55-134: Repeat rows 15-54 two (2) more times.
Rows 135-154: Repeat rows 15-34 one more time.
Rows 155-162: Repeat rows 1-2 four (4) times.
Rows 163-166: with LC, knit all sts.
Bind off.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Block.

Enjoy!