Belle Epoque is a cowl that combines elegance with practicality. It is practical simply because it’s a cowl, easy to wear and to use, and elegant due to the color choice, striking and subtle at the same time, and to the stitch pattern whose sinuous movement reminds me of art nouveau drawings.

Don’t be scared by the apparent complexity of the design because this is a very easy project to knit: it is knitted entirely in the round in a two color brioche stitch with basic increases and decreases strategically placed to create a floral design. Once you get the hang of the stitch, it’s a breeze to knit and finishing is minimal: just weave in ends and you’re done!

Size

8” x 20” (20×50 cm).

Size is easily customizable, either using a different yarn weight and needle sizes or working more repeats.

Yarn

Katia Concept Merino Silk (70% merino, 20% silk, 10% nylon; 104 yds [95 m]/25 gr):

Colors:    1 ball 107 for MC1

1 ball 106 for MC2

1 ball 112 for CC1

1 ball 104 for CC2

Needles

Size US 6 (4 mm): 24” circular

BELLE EPOQUE Chart

BELLE EPOQUE stitch pattern

Rnds 1, 3 and 5: Using MC1, *(brk, sl1yo) x 10, sm, repeat from *.

Rnds 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10: Using CC1, *(sl1yo, brp) x 10, sm, repeat from *.

Rnds 7, 9 and 11: Using MC1, *brRsl, (sl1yo, brk) x 2, (sl1yo, brkyobrk) x 2, (sl1yo, brk) x 2, sl1yo, brLsl, sl1yo, sm, repeat from *.

Rnds 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22: Using CC2, *(sl1yo, brp) x 10, sm, repeat from *.

Rnds 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21: Using MC2, *(brk, sl1yo) x 10, sm, repeat from *.

Rnds 23, 25 and 27: Using MC2, *brRsl, (sl1yo, brk) x 2, (sl1yo, brkyobrk) x 2, (sl1yo, brk) x 2, sl1yo, brLsl, sl1yo, sm *, repeat from *.

Rnds 24 and 26: Using CC2, *(sl1yo, brp) x 10, sm, repeat from *.

Rnds 28, 30 and 32: Using CC1, *(sl1yo, brp) x 10, sm, repeat from *.

Rnd 29 and 31: Using MC1, *(brk, sl1yo) x 10, sm, repeat from *.

Notions

3 markers in one color; 1 marker in another color for beg of round; tapestry needle

Gauge

20 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking.

16 sts and 16 rows = 4” [10 cm] in two-color brioche stitch.

Abbreviations

Please see our standard abbreviations.

brk: (brioche knit) knit the stitch (which was slipped in the row before) together with its yarnover.

brkyobrk: (brioche increase) brk1, yo (yarn forward under needle then over needle to back), then brk1 into same stitch. 2 sts increased

brLsl:(brioche decrease that slants to the left, involving 3 sts) slip the first stitch knitwise, brk the following two stitches together, pass the slipped stitch over; 2 sts dec’d.

brp: (brioche purl) purl the stitch (which was slipped in the row before) together with its yarn over.

brRsl: (brioche decrease that slants to the right, involving 3 sts) slip the first stitch knitwise, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over, place stitch on left hand needle and pass the following stitch over. Place st on right hand needle; 2 sts dec’d.

CC1: contrasting color 1

CC2: contrasting color 2

MC1: main color 1

MC2: main color 2

sl1yo: slip 1 purlwise, while bringing the working yarn over the slipped stitch.

Techniques

One-color Brioche Stitch in the round

Two partial rounds are worked for every complete brioche round: first a “brk” round is worked, then a “brp” round is worked. All rounds use the MC.

Setup rnd: *sl1yo, p1 , repeat from * to the end of rnd.

Rnd 1 (brk): *brk, sl1yo, repeat from * to the end of rnd.

Rnd 2 (brp): *sl1yo, brp, repeat from * to the end of rnd.

For more information see Nancy Marchant’s tutorial.

Two-color Brioche Stitch in the round

Two partial rounds are worked for every complete brioche round: first a “brk” round is worked with MC, then a “brp” round is worked with CC. Do not cross yarns on the back of the work at the beg of the round.

Rnd 1 (MC): with MC, *brk, sl1yo, repeat from * to the end of rnd.

Rnd 2 (CC): with CC, *sl1yo, brp, repeat from * to the end of rnd.

For more information see Nancy Marchant’s tutorial.

Elastic Bind off

See our tutorial on the decrease bind off. 

Pattern

With long tail and MC1, CO 80 sts, being careful to work very loosely (it’s possible to use a bigger needle only for CO, then continue with “normal” needles).

To obtain a wider piece it’s possible to add more repeats of the pattern. Each repeat is 4.75” [12 cm] wide and is worked on 20 sts, so CO accordingly.

Pm A to mark the beg of rnd and join to work in the rnd, then work 2 complete rnds (i.e. work both knits and purls twice) in one-color brioche stitch in the rnd with MC1.

Join CC1 and work the setup round for Belle epoque pattern:

Rnd 1: With MC1, *(brk, sl1yo) x10, pm B, repeat from * twice again, end with (brk, sl1yo) x 10.

Rnd 2: With CC1, *sl1yo, brp to the end of rnd, slipping markers as you encounter them.

Start working following the Belle Epoque stitch pattern, working 1 repeat between each set of markers.

Work the pattern twice (or until the cowl has reached the desired height), then work 2 complete rounds in MC1.

The cowl should measure 8×20” (20×50 cm).

BO very loosely using the decrease BO.

Finishing

Weave in ends.

Wash the piece and let it dry flat.