To decrease for the top of a hat in two-color brioche knit, the simplest decrease is worked in three rounds and is called br-ssk (brioche-slip, slip, knit).
To perform the decrease, you will need to learn these abbreviations:
wyif – with thread in front
sl 2 yo – slip the next two stitches, one after the other, then wrap the yarn around the back like a normal yarn over. You will have two slipped stitches accompanied by a lap.
To decrease in round bicolor brioche:
Round 1: Work brioche to 2 sts before the stitch you want to decrease (you can place a marker in this stitch if that helps). Slip next st as if to K, twice. Br-k the next st (the marked st). You will have two sts of the same color next to each other. I work in brioche until the end of the round.
Row 2: Knit in brioche until the two sts of the same color are next to each other. Wyif, sl 2 years. I work in brioche until the end of the round.
Round 3: Work brioche to the two slipped stitches. Br-k both slipped sts together with your turn. I work in brioche until the end of the round.
To knit a two-tone scarf in brioche stitch, you will need a needle that has two ends, since you will have to slide your work from one end of the needle to the other, to repeat the round with the other color. Either two double pointed needles or a circular needle will work, although two DPNs (double pointed needles) will be easier because there aren’t any wires to get in the way of what you’re doing.
Practice on the next sample. Keep in mind that you will be casting on an odd number of stitches and will work each edge stitch as an edge stitch so that the edges are even. Again, we designate LC as “light color” and DC as “dark color”.
Two-tone brioche fabric – flat:
Using both DPN joined (this makes the cast on looser) and with DC, CO an odd number of sts (eg 13 sts). Delete a DPN. Fold.
DC setup row: with DC, (p1, yf sl1yo) to last st, end p1.
Do not turn on work. Slip sts to other end of needle.
LC setup row: sl 1, with LC (br-k1, yf sl1yo) to last st, sl 1 wyif. Fold.
Row 1: with DC, k1, (yf sl1yo, br-k1) until the last 2 sts, yf sl1yo, k1. Don’t turn around. Slip sts to other end of needle.
Row 2: sl 1, with LC (br-p1, yf sl1yo) to last st, sl 1 wyib. Fold. Row 3: with DC, p1, (yf sl1yo, br-p1) to last st, finish p1.
Don’t turn around. Slip sts to other end of needle.
Row 4: sl 1, with LC (br-k1, yf sl1yo) to last st, s 1 wyif. Fold.
Repeat rows 1-4 until you are ready to bind off. With DC, BO with any elastic finish.
Now you can make a beautiful two-color reversible brioche scarf. Try it with different types and combinations of yarn: fine yarn on larger needles will give you a light and airy effect.