Aurora Boreale (Aurora Borealis in Italian) is a cozy infinity scarf entirely worked in brioche stitch in the round, alternating rows worked using only one color with rows worked in two-color brioche stitch. The result is an eye-catching garment featuring icy shades of white and blue.
Skill level: Intermediate.
Size: 10½” [27 cm] x 59” [150 cm]
Size is easily customizable, either using different yarn weight and needle sizes or working more repeats.
Gauge: 16 sts and 24 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in Brioche Stitch with MC on smaller needles.
Gauge is not critical for this project.
Materials
Yarn:
Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud Fingering (100% Alpaca; 200 yards [183 meters]/50 grams): 26903 Frances (MC), 3 balls
Ice Yarns Angora Gold Batik (55% Acrylic, 45% Angora; 601 yards [550 meter]/100 grams): fnt2-26799 white turquoise shades (CC), 1 ball.
Needles: US size 2.5 (3 mm): circular or DPNs; US 6 (4 mm): circular, used for casting on
Notions: Six marker (if possible, 1 in one color for beg of rnd, 2 in another, and 3 in a third color); tapestry needle.
Abbreviations
beg: begin(ning).
BO: bind off.
brk: (brioche knit) knit the stitch (which was slipped in the row before) together with its yarnover.
brp: (brioche purl) purl the stitch (which was slipped in the row before) together with its yarn over.
CC: contrasting color.
CO: cast on.
M: marker.
M1: marker 1 (beg of round).
MA: marker A.
MB: marker B.
MC: main color.
MDS: make double stitch (see techniques below).
PMA: place marker A.
PMB: place marker B.
RS: right side.
sl1yo: slip 1 purlwise, while bringing the working yarn over the slipped stitch.
sl: slip stitch (purlwise unless told otherwise).
SM: slip marker.
st(s): stitch(es).
WS: wrong side.
Special Stitches
Brioche Short Rows
The best way to work short rows in brioche stitch is very similar to the German Method.
The only difference is that the stitch is “doubled” not by distorting it, but simply passing the yarn over the needle to the other side of the work. This makes a stitch that is very similar to the normal sl1yo stitch, producing an invisible “turn”.
To make Doubled Stitch
Work to the stitch specified in the pattern. Turn the work with WS facing. Sl1 st purlwise with yarn in front from left to right hand needle. Bring yarn up and over the needle to the back of the work. Start working Brioche Stitch on WS.
To pick up Doubled Stitches
Knit to the Doubled Stitch. Knit through both legs of the Doubled Stitch as if it was a normal brk (or brp).
Elastic BO for Brioche Stitch
Brk, *p1, transfer 2 sts back to holding needle, and k2tog tbl, brp, transfer 2 sts back to holding needle, and k2tog tbl; rep from * until all sts are bound off.
One-Color Brioche Stitch (worked in the rnd)
CO an even number of st onto a circular needle.
Set-up Rnd 1: With MC, *k1, sl1 purlwise, work a yarn-over placed over the slipped st; rep from * around, ending with p1.
Set-up Rnd 2: *Sl1 purlwise, work a yarn-over placed over the slipped st, purl 1 st and the yarn-over worked in the previous rnd together; rep from * around.
Rnd 1 (RS): *Knit 1 st and the yarn-over worked in the previous round together, sl1 purlwise, work a yarn-over placed over the slipped stitch; rep from * around.
Rnd 2 (WS): *Sl1 purlwise, work a yarn-over placed over the slipped st, purl 1 st and the yarn-over worked in the previous rnd together; rep from * around.
Rep Rnds 1-2 for pattern.
Please note that I prefer to work 2 Set-up Rnds. In this way, we start the Brioche rnd with a knit (brk) stitch.
Two-Color Brioche Stitch (worked in the rnd)
Rnd 1 (RS): With the color used for brk, *knit 1 st and the yarn-over worked in the previous rnd together, sl1 st purlwise, work a yarn-over placed over the slipped st; rep from * around.
Rnd 2 (WS): With the color used for brp, *sl1 st purlwise, work a yarn-over placed over the slipped st, purl 1 st and the yarn over worked in the previous rnd together; rep from * around.
Rep Rnds 1-2 for pattern.
Pattern notes
Always slip markers when you encounter them if not instructed differently.
In this pattern, the round count corresponds to each round worked.
When the pattern says “6 rounds” you should actually work 6 rounds (3 with brk, 3 with brp), with the result of 3 visible columns.
I’m aware that this is not the standard way of counting brioche rounds, but the choice is due to the use of short rows: using the standard notation (2 worked rounds for each brioche rnd) would lead to the use of ½ rounds after the short rows sections.
Pattern
With larger needles and MC, CO 240 sts using long tail cast-on method and join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts.
Switch to smaller needles.
Set-up Rnd (see also techniques above):
Rnd 1: With MC, PM1, *(k1, sl1yo) 20 times (40 sts worked), PMA, *(k1, sl1yo) 20 times (40 sts worked), PMB; rep from * once more, (k1, sl1yo) 20 times (40 sts worked), PMA, *(k1, sl1yo) 20 times (40 sts worked).
Rnd 2: With MC, sl1yo, p1 to end.
Rep Rnds 1-2 of One-Color Brioche Stitch once more, then start working short rows:
Work to 1 st before the next M, turn.
Short Row Section 1
Row 1 (WS): With MC, MDS, work 25 sts (stop 13 sts before the previous M), turn.
Row 2 (RS): With MC, MDS, work 23 sts (stop 3 sts before the next M, turn.
Row 3: With MC, MDS, work 21 sts (stop 15 sts before the previous M), turn.
Row 4: With MC, MDS, work 19 sts (stop 5 sts before the next M), turn.
Row 5: With MC, MDS, work 15 sts (stop 19 sts before the previous M), turn.
Row 6: With MC, MDS, work 13 sts (stop 7 sts before the next M), turn.
Row 7: With MC, MDS, work 9 sts (stop 23 sts before the previous M), turn.
Row 8: With MC, MDS, work 7 sts (stop 9 sts before the next M), turn.
Row 9: With MC, MDS, work 3 sts (stop 27 sts before the previous M), turn.
Row 10: With MC, MDS, work 53 sts (to the following M), turn.
Rep Short Row Section 1 Rows 1-10, 4 more times, then work the last short row rep:
Row 1 (WS): With MC, MDS, work 25 sts (stop 13 sts before the previous M), turn.
Row 2 (RS): With MC, MDS, work 23 sts (stop 3 sts before the next M, turn.
Row 3: With MC, MDS, work 21 sts (stop 15 sts before the previous M), turn.
Row 4: With MC, MDS, work 19 sts (stop 5 sts before the next M), turn.
Row 5: With MC, MDS, work 15 sts (stop 19 sts before the previous M), turn.
Row 6: With MC, MDS, work 13 sts (stop 7 sts before the next M), turn.
Row 7: With MC, MDS, work 9 sts (stop 23 sts before the previous M), turn.
Row 8: With MC, MDS, work 7 sts (stop 9 sts before the next M), turn.
Row 9: With MC, MDS, work 3 sts (stop 27 sts before the previous M), turn.
Row 10: With MC, MDS, work 13 sts (to M1).
Work 3 more One-Color Brioche Stitch rnds using MC, then start working in Two-Color Brioche Stitch.
On a “RS” rnd, start working the brk in CC while maint MC for brp and work 6 rounds.
Invert brk with brp so to have CC as a background color, and work 6 rounds.
Break CC yarn and work 2 rnds in One-Color Brioche Stitch with MC, then start working short rows:
Work 25 sts, turn.
Short Row Section 2
Row 1 (WS): MDS, work 21 sts (stop 3 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 2 (RS): MDS, work 19 sts (stop 23 sts before next M), turn.
Row 3: MDS, work 15 sts (stop 7 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 4: MDS, work 11 sts (stop 19 sts before next M), turn.
Row 5: MDS, work 7 sts (stop 11 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 6: MDS, work to M, SM, work 25 sts, turn.
Rep Short Row Section 2 Rows 1-6, 4 more times, then work the last short row section:
Row 1 (WS): MDS, work 21 sts (stop 3 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 2 (RS): MDS, work 19 sts (stop 23 sts before next M), turn.
Row 3: MDS, work 15 sts (stop 7 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 4: MDS, work 11 sts (stop 19 sts before next M), turn.
Row 5: MDS, work 7 sts (stop 11 sts before previous marker), turn.
Row 6: MDS, work to M.
Work 3 more One-Color Brioche Stitch rnds using MC, then start working in Two-Color Brioche Stitch.
On a “RS” rnd, start working the brk in CC while maint MC for brp and work 8 rnds.
Invert brk with brp so to have CC as a background color, and work 6 rnds, then 2 rnds in One-Color Brioche Stitch with CC (do not break MC yarn).
Work 6 rnds with CC as a foreground color (for brk) and MC as background color (for brp).
Break CC yarn and work 2 rnds in One-Color Brioche Stitch with MC, then start working short rows:
Short Row Section 3
Row 1 (RS): Work to 31 sts after MA, turn
Row 2 (WS): MDS, work 59 sts (29 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 3 (RS): MDS, work 55 sts (27 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 4 (WS): MDS, work 51 sts (25 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 5 (RS): MDS, work 47 sts (23 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 6 (WS): MDS, work 43 sts (21 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 7 (RS): MDS, work 39 sts (19 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 8 (WS): MDS, work 35 sts (17 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 9 (RS): MDS, work 31 sts (15 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 10 (WS): MDS, work 27 sts (13 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 11 (RS): MDS, work 23 sts (11 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 12 (WS): MDS, work 19 sts (9 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 13 (RS): MDS, work 15 sts (7 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 14 (WS): MDS, work 11 sts (5 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 15 (RS): MDS, work 7 sts (3 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 16 (WS): MDS, work 3 sts (1 st passed the M), turn.
Rep Short Row Section 3 Rows 1-16, twice more, then work in One-Color Brioche Stitch around.
Work 4 more One-Color Brioche Stitch rnds with MC, then start working in Two-Color Brioche Stitch.
On a “WS” rnd, start working the brp in CC while maint MC for brk (CC is the background color) and work 6 rnds.
Invert brk with brp so to have CC as a foreground color and work 6 rnds.
Break CC yarn and work 2 rnds in One-Color Brioche Stitch with MC, inverting brp and brk so to beg each rnd with a brk, then start working short rows:
Row 1 (RS): Work 13 sts, turn.
Row 2 (WS): MDS, work 26 sts (14 sts passed the M), turn. Remember to switch from RS to WS after the M, i.e. start working brp instead of brk.
Row 3: MDS, work 24 sts (11 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 4: MDS, work 22 sts (12 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 5: MDS, work 20 sts (9 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 6: MDS, work 16 sts (8 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 7: MDS, work 14 sts (7 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 8: MDS, work 10 sts (4 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 9: MDS, work 8 sts (5 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 10: MDS, work 3 sts (1 st before the M), turn.
Short Row Section 4
Row 1 (RS): Work to 13 passed the M, turn.
Row 2 (WS): MDS, work 25 sts (13 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 3: MDS, work 23 sts (11 sts passed the M, turn.
Row 4: MDS, work 21 sts (11 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 5: MDS, work 19 sts (9 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 6: MDS, work 15 sts (7 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 7: MDS, work 13 sts (7 sts after the M), turn.
Row 8: MDS, work 9 sts (3 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 9: MDS, work 7 sts (5 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 10: MDS, work 3 sts (1 st before the M), turn.
Rep Short Row Section 4 Rows 1-10, 4 more times, then work in One-Color Brioche Stitch around.
Work 4 more One-Color Brioche Stitch rnds with MC, then start working in Two-Color Brioche Stitch.
On a “WS” rnd, start working the brp in CC while maint MC for brk and work 8 rnds.
Invert brk with brp so to have CC as a background color, and work 6 rnds, then 2 rnds in One-Color Brioche Stitch with CC (do not break MC yarn).
Work 6 rnds with CC as a background color (for brp) and MC as foreground color (for brk).
Break CC yarn and work 2 rnds in One-Color Brioche Stitch with MC, then start working short rows:
Work 33 sts, turn.
Short Row Section 5
Row 1 (WS): MDS, work 21 sts (11 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 2 (RS): MDS, work 19 sts (10 sts before next M), turn.
Row 3: MDS, work 15 sts (15 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 4: MDS, work 11 sts (14 sts before next M), turn.
Row 5: MDS, work 7 sts (19 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 6: MDS, work 53 sts (33 sts passed the next M), turn.
Rep Short Row Section 5 Rows 1-6, 4 more times, then work the last short row section:
Row 1 (WS): MDS, work 21 sts (11 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 2 (RS): MDS, work 19 sts (10 sts before next M), turn.
Row 3: MDS, work 15 sts (15 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 4: MDS, work 11 sts (14 sts before next M), turn.
Row 5: MDS, work 7 sts (19 sts before previous M), turn.
Row 6: MDS, work to end (21 sts).
Work 6 more One-Color Brioche Stitch rnds with MC, then start working in Two-Color Brioche Stitch.
On a “WS” rnd, start working the brp in CC while maint MC for brk and work 6 rnds.
Invert brk with brp so to have CC as a background color, and work 6 rnds.
Break CC yarn and work 2 rnds in One-Color Brioche Stitch with MC, inverting brp and brk so to beg each rnd with a brk, then start working short rows:
Row 1 (RS): Work 31 sts, turn.
Row 2 (WS): MDS, work 60 sts (30 sts passed the M), turn. Remember to switch from RS to WS after the marker, i.e. start working brp instead of brk.
Row 3: MDS, work 56 sts (27 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 4: MDS, work 52 sts (26 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 5: MDS, work 48 sts (23 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 6: MDS, work 44 sts (22 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 7: MDS, work 40 sts (19 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 8: MDS, work 36 sts (18 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 9: MDS, work 32 sts (15 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 10: MDS, work 28 sts (14 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 11: MDS, work 24 sts (11 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 12: MDS, work 20 sts (10 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 13: MDS, work 16 sts (7 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 14: MDS, work 12 sts (6 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 15: MDS, work 8 sts (3 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 16: MDS, work 4 sts (2 sts passed the M), turn.
Short Row Section 6
Row 1 (RS): Work to 31 after MB, turn
Row 2 (WS): MDS, work 59 sts (29 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 3: MDS, work 55 sts (27 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 4: MDS, work 51 sts (25 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 5: MDS, work 47 sts (23 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 6: MDS, work 43 sts (21 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 7: MDS, work 39 sts (19 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 8: MDS, work 35 sts (17 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 9: MDS, work 31 sts (15 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 10: MDS, work 27 sts (13 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 11: MDS, work 23 sts (11 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 12: MDS, work 19 sts (9 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 13: MDS, work 15 sts (7 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 14: MDS, work 11 sts (5 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 15: MDS, work 7 sts (3 sts passed the M), turn.
Row 16: MDS, work 3 sts (1 st passed the M), turn.
Rep Short Row Section 6 Rows 1-16, once more, then work in One-Color Brioche Stitch around.
Work Row 1 of One-Color Brioche Stitch.
BO all sts with elastic BO for Brioche Stitch.
Finishing
Weave in ends.
Wash the piece and let it dry flat.