Mist top pattern is available as individual digital patterns NOW! Use code MIST for 20% off through Sunday, March 23rd, 2025!

Also available in my book, Brioche Knitting for Beginners and Beyond!!

Chapter 1, Pattern 4: Mist.
A boxy cropped short-sleeved top, knit using a combination of two-color brioche and garter stitch stripes.

This boxy crop top is basically the pullover of my dreams. It can be layered over a dress or paired with a long-sleeve tee and high-waisted jeans. I wanted to design a sweater that uses brioche knitting, but in a way that isn’t scary. The simplicity of two-color brioche in the round, combined with garter stripes knit flat (two of my favorite stitch patterns) merge together harmoniously while creating the horizontal and vertical stripes that are so graphically pleasing. If this is your first sweater or garment, I have written this especially for you. I had a very difficult time knitting my first sweater. There was a lot in the pattern left to be assumed by the knitter, as if thinking that the knitter was a seasoned garment maker. Well, I certainly wasn’t, and I am determined to always write my sweater and garment patterns to leave nothing to the imagination. Everything explained, with hopefully no confusion at all! Using a lighter weight yarn helps this top to feel not so heavy. Brioche can be super squishy, which is a good thing, but in a sweater can feel like a bit much! I chose a single ply fingering weight yarn so that the brioche stitches could really shine.

Yarn Notes:
The yarn that I originally used to create my sample is no longer being dyed. You can easily substitute ANY sock or fingering weight yarn, especially any single ply. I chose colors with subtle contrast, but high contrast can also be very cool and create a statement piece!

Skill Level:
Beginner Brioche Friendly! This is a fantastic first sweater / top project if you are brand new to working this technique!!

Techniques Used:
Twisted German / Old Norwegian Cast On, knit, knit increases, yarn overs, brioche knit (brk), brioche purl (brp), sl1yo, knitting in the round, short rows, Elastic Bind Off, Three-Needle Bind Off.

Video Tutorials:

Twisted German Cast On:
http://bit.ly/TwistedGermanCO

Elastic Bind Off:
http://bit.ly/ElasticBO

Three-Needle Bind Off:
http://bit.ly/ThreeNeedleBOBrioche

Construction Notes:
This lightweight top is knit seamlessly from the bottom up. You will begin with a cropped Two-Color Brioche hem, which is worked in the round, that will continue all the way up the body until you separate for the armholes. After separation, you will start knitting garter stitch stripes flat, or back and forth, to create the Front and Back. These are each worked separately, with the Front neck bound off a bit earlier than the back to raise the Back neck a bit. Short rows will be worked to shape the shoulders slightly, which are then seamed together using the Three-Needle Bind Off method. Please be aware that the Three-Needle BO method does create a visible seam. This will help add stability to the shoulders, which are my absolute favorite part of this top. Drop shoulders are such a flattering shape for all sizes! The sleeves and neck are finished with Two-Color Brioche, which adds a stark contrast to the garter stitch.

I have designed this top to be cropped, with the bottom of the brioche hem ending at the small of my waist. Feel free to modify this pattern to be the length of your choice, but please be aware that there will be differences in the amount of yarn used.

Sizes Offered:
1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7) (8, 9, 10)

Finished Chest Circumferences:
32 (36, 40, 44) (48, 52, 56) (60, 64, 68)’’ / 81
(91.5, 101.5, 112) (122, 132, 142) (152.5, 162.5,
173) cm; meant to be worn with 4–6″ (10–15 cm) of positive ease at the chest. See Schematic included in the last photo here for more measurements.

Shown in size 4 on model with a 38″ (96.5 cm) chest, worn with 6″ (15 cm) of positive ease.

Gauge:
26 stitches and 56 rows = 4″ (10 cm), measured in garter stitch stripes knit flat (taken after blocking)

MATERIALS:

Yarn:Fingering / Sock weight
Main Color (MC): 435 (503, 576, 651) (730, 813,
899) (988, 1082, 1179) yds / 398 (460, 527, 595)
(667, 743, 822) (903, 989, 1078) m

Contrast Color (CC): 402 (466, 533, 603) (676,
753, 832) (915, 1002, 1091) yds / 367 (426, 487,
551) (618, 688, 761) (836, 916, 997) m

Shown In:
Old Soul Fiber Co. Soul Single fingering (100% Superwash Merino; 400 yds 366 m per 100 g)

MC: 2 (2, 2, 2) (2, 3, 3) (3, 3, 3) skeins in Smitten (dusty pink)

CC: 2 (2, 2, 2) (2, 2, 3) (3, 3, 3) skeins in Deb’s Floor (gray)

Needles:
16–40″ (40.5–101.5 cm) US 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles (40″ 101.5 cm may be used for Magic Loop or US 3 3.25 mm DPNs, whichever method you prefer for small-circumference knitting in the round. Adjust the needle size as needed to achieve the proper gauge.)

Tools and Notions:
3 lengths of smooth waste yarn or stitch holders, 1 contrasting stitch marker for noting beginning of round, 1 additional gauge needle for Three Needle Bind Off, tapestry needle, row counter or your preferred method for keeping track of pattern, optional locking stitch marker for noting MS of work, additional stitch markers for noting short row turns (optional)