General Brioche Stitch Terminology and Abbreviations

It was necessary to create new terminology and abbreviations for the brioche stitch. Thoughout this site, in my books and patterns, I have used the definitions as described in this terminology/abbreviations page.  Terminology specific to one pattern will be defined within that pattern and will not be found on this page.

Please print this page and keep it handy.

brk (brioche knit – also known as a bark) =  knit the stitch that was slipped in the previous row together with its yarn over.

brp (brioche purl – also known as a burp) =  purl the stitch that was slipped in the previous row together with its yarn over.

The sl1yo is the action that creates the shawled stitch. This action works differently for a bark row than for a burp row, but one manipulation remains standard–that the working yarn must always be in front before slipping the stitch. On a burp row the working yarn is in place before slipping the stitch but in a bark row you need to first bring the yarn to the front and then slip the stitch. This stitch, with its yarn-over shawl, is considered one stitch when worked.
sl1yo following a k or brk st = bring the working yarn under the needle to the front of the work, slip the next stitch purlwise, then bring the yarn over the needle (and over the slipped stitch) to the back, in position to work the following stitch.
sl1yo following a p or brp st = working yarn is already in front, slip the next stitch purlwise, then bring the yarn over the needle (and over the slipped stitch), then to the front under the needle, into position to work the following stitch.

brkyobrk (2-stitch increase) = brk1 leaving st on LH needle, yo (yarn forward under needle then over needle to back), then brk1 into same stitch — 2 stitches increased. When a brkyobrk increase is used, three single stitches bloom out of the center of one stitch. These 3 stitches will be worked separately in the following row since they are not yet “shawled”.

brLsl dec (2-stitch decrease that slants to the left, involving 3 sts) = slip the first stitch kwise, brk the following two stitches together, pass the slipped stitch over.

brRsl dec (a 2-stitch decrease that slants to the right, involving 3 sts) = slip the first stitch kwise, 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.

LH = left hand needle

RH = right hand needle

k = knit

p = purl

k1tbl = knit one through the back of the loop

sl = slip stitch purlwise, unless told otherwise