Fixing Mistakes in Two-colour Brioche Rib

Remember when I said that brioche knitting is like parking a car? If you missed it, the basis of my argument was that (a) it looks harder than it is, (b) even when you can do it, you need to pay attention and (c) you sometimes forget your place. Well, this is a good example. 

I'm making a two-colour brioche project, in-the-round. I consider this to be the easiest type of brioche (learn 'how to' here) as one colour is used for the 'brioche knits' and the other for the 'brioche purls' and if you're using a stitch marker, it's obvious when it's time to change between them. You can pretty much let your fingers get on with it, allowing your thoughts to drift off. Which is precisely my problem - against my own advice, I lost focus until I suddenly realised there were two mistakes on a previous row. Can you see them?


It's simple enough to make this kind of error when you're knitting on automatic, but (contrary to what you might think) it's also quite easy to fix, and I photographed* the process to show you. You may like to bookmark or pin this post so that you can refer to it if you ever find yourself in this situation - if my experience is anything to go by, it's quite likely!

If you didn't spot the mistakes, the photo below shows the two stitches which needed adjustment - they are either-side of the dark 'column' indicated. From this side of the work it's tricky to imagine how to put it right... 


... but when you turn the work over it's much easier. Each side of this fabric has what look like columns of knit stitches, and it's easier to fix mistakes ON these columns, than between them - remember this and you won't go far wrong. I find it easiest to use a crochet hook, and to fix the stitches individually (it feels safer). In fact, it's pretty much the same as picking up regular dropped stitches, except that there are strands of the other colour between each of the picked-up stitches. If you've done that before, you're already half way there. 

Step 1: Work across the round/row until you get to the column containing the first faulty stitch, if necessary turn the work (as outlined above) so that the relevant 'column' is facing you. In this example, both the faulty stitches can be fixed from the light columns. I'll call the light yarn 'A' and the dark 'B' for ease. 

Step 2: Drop the first stitch of column A from the needle, and then drop it down through each row (below it), until you have dropped the faulty stitch. You may need to gently ease the stitches apart with your crochet hook if the yarn isn't very slippery. When you have dropped below the faulty stitch, continue to step 3. 

The process of picking up the dropped stitches, using a crochet hook 
Step 3: Place your 'live' stitch on the hook (that's the stitch below the faulty stitch). Then insert the hook under the yarn B strand which is immediately above, and pick up the next strand of yarn A. Pull yarn A through the first stitch on the hook to make a new stitch. Be sure to pull the yarn under yarn B only, you don't want to tangle it with other stitches of the same colour. You will have one new stitch on the hook. Repeat step 3, picking up one A stitch on each row / strand of yarn, until all dropped stitches have been picked up. 

Step 4: Place the stitch back on the needle, ready to fix the next stitch (below) or to continue your knitting, remembering to turn it back to right side, if necessary. 

One stitch fixed, one more to go! 
That's all there is to it! I hope you found this post useful. If so, you'll find lots more tips and tutorials here

*PS I also made a quick video recording when fixing the second stitch which I posted to Instagram (although there is no commentary, I've tried to point out where to pull the yarn through - i.e. only under yarn B, not both strands).

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