Honeycomb Brioche Stitch in the Round (Knitting Tutorial)

The Honeycomb Brioche Stitch creates a thick, squishy, and beautifully textured fabric that looks intricate but is surprisingly easy once you understand the rhythm of the pattern. When worked in the round, the stitch forms a dense honeycomb texture that is perfect for hats, cowls, sweaters, and other cozy knit projects.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to knit the Honeycomb Brioche Stitch in the round, including the stitch pattern, abbreviations, and step-by-step instructions.

Stitch Multiple

Multiple of 2 stitches

When knitting this stitch in the round, you need an even number of stitches.

Abbreviation Guide

K – Knit

P – Purl

K1b (Knit 1 Below) – Insert the needle into the stitch one row below the next stitch and knit it. Drop the stitch above off the needle.

P2tog with lifted strand – Lift the horizontal strand behind the stitch onto the left needle, then purl it together with the next stitch.

Honeycomb Brioche Stitch Pattern (In the Round)

Rnd 1: K1, K1b

Rnd 2: P1, P2tog with lifted strand

Rnd 3: K1b, K1

Rnd 4: P2tog with lifted strand, P1

Repeat Rounds 1–4 for the pattern.

Pattern Notes

• The pattern alternates between knit rounds and purl rounds.
• On the knit rounds, you will alternate between knit stitches and knit-one-below stitches to create the textured structure.
• On the purl rounds, the lifted strand is worked together with the stitch to create the signature honeycomb effect.
• After the first few rounds, the pattern becomes much easier to read because the extra bars behind the stitches become more visible.

Tips for Knitting This Stitch

• Keep your tension relaxed, especially when lifting the strand.
• The lifted strand may be slightly difficult to see during the first couple of rounds, but it becomes clearer as the fabric grows.
• This stitch works beautifully with worsted or bulky yarns to highlight the texture using larger needles.

Perfect Projects for This Stitch

The Honeycomb Brioche Stitch is great for:

• Knit hats
• Cowls and scarves
• Brioche sweaters
• Textured cardigans
• Warm winter accessories

If you’d like to see the full step-by-step demonstration, you can also watch my video tutorial, where I show both English and Continental knitting styles for this stitch.