Rodekool: “Red cabbage” in Dutch

One of the most interesting design elements of brioche knitting is that it creates two separate yet connected layers making the knitting reversible. Each of the layers can have their own characteristics. The layers can be different colors, different yarns and even worked differently like adding increases on one side and decreases on the other.

The “keyhole” in this scarf came naturally. You begin with a 2-color brioche “lace” stitch pattern. You use “make 1 (m1)” to increase and work 5 stitches together to decrease.

After working the pattern and creating one cabbage leaf, you separate the layers and work each layer in ribbing, hence the keyhole. To continue, you place the stitches back onto one needle and brioche to the following keyhole opening. You finish by making the second cabbage leaf.

If you work this pattern in a thinner yarn such as a kid mohair/silk, the pattern is then much “lacier”.

If you work with two high contrasting colors your result would be distinctly reversible. Whatever your yarn choice, your “Rodekool” will always be an attention-grabbing piece.