Surfer’s Delight Easy Basic Brioche Hat
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Published December 11, 2018
Last Updated: June 15, 2019 - Current Version: 3.1
Update notes: Fixed decreases.
This basic Brioche hat is great for learning two-color brioche in the round. It features a no-roll brim that uses the Chinese Waitress Cast-On. The hat is reversible with perfect overlapping decreases at the crown.
Pattern Details
- Sizes: One size
- Finished Measurements: Finished size: 8 in. deep, 18 1/2 in. around unstretched. Stretches to fit a head up to 23 in. around.
Materials
- Yarn: 55 yds. (50 m) aran- or worsted-weight yarn in two colors DC (dark color) and LC (light color).
- Recommended Yarn: 55 yds. (50 m) Malabrigo Twist
- Needles: 2 pairs circular needles, 40-47 inches
- Needle size: US size 7 (4.5 mm) and 5 (3.75 mm)
- Notions: Measuring tape, tapestry needle, scissors
Abbreviations
Br-ssk – Brioche slip, slip, knit: Slip 1 st knitwise, slip next st knitwise. One of these sts will have a wrap. Slip the stitch along with its wrap. Knit slipped sts together.Brk – Brioche knit: Knit the stitch together with its wrap
Brp – Brioche purl: Purl the stitch together with its wrap
Sl 1 – Slip 1
Sl1 wyib – Slip one with yarn in back
Sts – Stitches
Work in Brioche stitch – On DC rounds, when you come to a DC stitch with a wrap, br-p (see above). When you come to a LC stitch without a wrap, yfsl1yo (see below). On LC rounds, when you come to a LC stitch with a wrap, br-k (see above). When you come to a DC stitch without a wrap, yfsl1yo.
Wyib – With yarn in back
Wyif – With yarn in front
Yfsl1yo – Yarn forward, slip 1, yarnover: Move yarn to front, slip next st, bring yarn over needle to back, making a yarnover. The yarnover will pass over the slipped stitch and sit next to it like a cape.
Shown: Blue and Green Hat: Malabrigo Twist in Lettuce (37) (DC) and Teal Feather (412) (DC); Red and Blue Hat: Malabrigo Twist in Stonechat (173) (LC) and Azul Profundo (150) (DC).
Recommended Course: Brioche Knitting

Brioche knitting is complicated. One-color, two-color, decreasing... and all those weird abbreviations!
Luckily, it is well within your abilities to knit Brioche, flat and in-the-round, with ease. By following along with the videos and exercises in this course, you'll be amazed at what you create.
I worked the surfers delight hat up to the decreases. The pattern rounds are described completely different than the instructions written out for the ssk decrease. I can’t watch the video, because I didn’t pay the money, but I thought the pattern was free. Do I follow the ssk’s video written instructions, or follow each row of the pattern. Cause the written instructions say a brioche ssk is done over 3 rounds. I’m very confused, and completely stuck on the decrease section. Can you help please?
Hi Tristan!
This is KnitFreedom’s Knitting Expert here to help with your question. To finish your hat, follow the written instructions of the pattern for the decrease section. Unlike a typical SSK, decreasing in brioche works a little differently due to the BRK and BRP stitches (which is why the decrease rounds are in a 4 row repeat rather than a typical two-row repeat). If you follow the pattern as is you’ll be finished in no time :) If you’re curious to know more about the “why” behind the brioche decreases, you can always enroll in our Brioche course to learn more.
Hope this helps. Thanks for reaching out and have a great rest of your day!
Hi, Thank you for providing this pattern and such clear instructions. I do have a question. I am woking with a 16″ circular needle. When you state “If not using Magic Loop, proceed to the directions below, preparing to work in the round. You will join the round as you KNIT the first stitch with the working yarn.” Does this mean Round 1 (LC) is worked flat and the joining of the round is done in Round 2 (DC)?
Thank you,
Susan
Yes! You can watch a video of how to do it here: https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/two-color-brioche-in-the-round/
You taught me Chinese waitress cast on and I use almost all the time, even neat cast-on thank you again for everything you taught and still teach me
Thank you Kim! I love that you enjoy this cast-on as much as I do. Isn’t it great! Love to hear from you, thanks for commenting :-D
-Liat
How many stitches to cast on?
Hi Peggy, right under “Pattern Instructions” at the top, under “CAST ON,” it says to cast on 64 sts using the Chinese Waitress Cast-On. There is a link to the Chinese Waitress Cast-On as well. I hope this helps!