Two-Colour Long Tail Cast On

A firm but stretchy edge that works for two-colour brioche knitting projects.

The two-colour long-tail cast on (or two-color long tail cast on for my American readers) works well for starting two-colour brioche knitting projects in the round and more. For brioche projects, either use a needle three sizes larger than your project calls for, or cast on over two of the project-size needles, as shown here.

This variation makes the bottom “nubs” all one colour on one side, and the other colour on the opposite side. To have the colours alternate on both sides, use this same method, except start with colours reversed. Do Steps 1 & 2, then skip to step 6. After adding each stitch, change the position of the yarns, and ONLY pick up stitches through the loop on your thumb.

How to Do It

Basic Principle:

You will be using two different-coloured strands of yarn to create alternating-colour stitches by creating a loop in one colour yarn that will serve as the base for the stitch of the opposite colour which you pull through it. Then you will switch and make the opposite colour stitch. In other words, the base or anchor of any given cast on stitch is a loop in the opposite colour yarn.

Steps

Text included in the images is written out below each step to make this Low Vision Accessible. Instructions on the images are for right-handed people. Instructions in the written text is non-hand specific.

Step One

Holding two strands of yarn together as one, make a slip knot. Make sure it tightens when you pull on the ball end of the yarn, not the tail end.

Step Two

Put loop of slip knot around two needles held together in your dominant hand and tighten until snug. (Cast on over two needles to keep it loose.)

Keep the tail ends out of the way by holding them next to the needles. Grab the tail ends of the yarn in the fourth and fifth fingers of the non-dominant hand, pressing them against your palm. Insert your non-dominant thumb and forefinger between the two strands of yarn, then flip your hand over so the palm is upward while widening the thumb and forefinger into a U.

The yarn should now be coming from the slip knot around the needles in your dominant hand, through the centre of the U in your non-dominant hand, with one strand of yarn each travelling around the back of your thumb and forefinger and into your palm. The Light Colour, or LC, should go over your forefinger, and the Dark Colour, or DC, should go over your thumb.

Holding the ends of the yarn in your non-dominant palm keeps tension on the yarn. Throughout the cast-on process, use these to keep the yarn taut.

Step Three

While keeping yarn taut, move the tips of the needles outward, then inward to catch the LC yarn trailing from the back of the index finger to your palm. Pull the yarn toward you to create a loop in the LC yarn.

The needle tips should be passing through the loop toward the centre of the U between your thumb and forefinger on your non-dominant hand.

Step Four

Move the tips of the needles toward your body past the thumb, then back toward the centre of the U, catching the DC yarn section between your non-dominant thumb and palm as you move the needles back through the LC loop. Be sure you are keeping the yarn taut.

Step Five

Release the LC loop from around your forefinger, then pick up the LC yarn again so it travels from the needles through the centre of the U and around the back of the forefinger.

Tug on the needles in your dominant hand and the yarn in your non-dominant hand to tighten the stitch around them. You have just created a DC stitch.

Step Six

Now we’re going to create an LC stitch.

Move needle tips toward your body past the non-dominant thumb, then move them back toward the centre of the U while catching the DC yarn between the back of your thumb and your palm. This will press that section of the yarn against the DC yarn between the needles and your thumb, creating a loop in the DC yarn.

Revolution Toque

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CA$9.00

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Learn Brioche Stitch with this simple knit cap!

Inspired by the Liberty Caps of the French Revolution, this striking toque would look amazing with many colour combinations. It can be worn inside-out or outside-in to make black or red (or your two colour choices) the more predominant colour. This simple ribbed watchman’s cap design is the perfect way to start knitting brioche. You never know—it just might start you on a knitting revolution!

Worked from the brim up in the round. All needed brioche stitches are explained in the pattern.

PROJECT LEVEL: Intermediate

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Digital download includes:

PDF (standard) - best for printing or for sighted knitters

Refer to “Accessibility” below for more information about file types.

About Collection

Revolution Collection

Start a knitting revolution with these starter two-colour brioche-knitting projects. Learn the basics of knitting this lush, striking stitch with projects that teach you how to knit two-colour brioche in the round.

Patterns include a wide range of sizes and have full tutorial support.

About Design

Construction

Hat is worked in the round from the bottom up.

Variants

Matching-Colour Brim
Inverse-Colour Brim
Brimless

Sizes

Measurements given are head circumference, not garment dimensions. Age ranges are approximate. This garment has slight negative ease.

EXTRA SMALL (Infant / Toddler): 15 inches to 18 inches (or 38 to 46 cm)
SMALL (Child): 17 inches to 20 inches (or 43 to 51 cm)
MEDIUM (Youth): 18 inches to 22 inches (or 46 to 56 cm)
LARGE (Adult Small): 20 inches to 24 inches (or 51 to 61 cm)
EXTRA LARGE (Adult Large): 22+ inches (or 56+ cm)

Supplies

Yarn

1 ball each of two contrasting colours of worsted-weight yarn with 100.6 metres in 50 grams (or 110 yards in 1.76 ounces) of a natural fibre yarn. (100% synthetic fibres not recommended for brioche stitch. Wool or alpaca is best.)

Needles

3.5 mm (US 4) eight-inch (twenty-centimetre) double-pointed needles OR two short (approximately 16 to 29 inches or 40 to 72.5 cm) circular needles OR one long (approximately 42 inches or 105 cm) circular needle for use with Magic Loop Method OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE.

Notions

Yarn needle
Stitch markers

Gauge

24 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) over normal stockinette stitch knit flat OR

18 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) over brioche stockinette stitch in the round.

About Samples

Red and Black Matching Brim (Older Boy):

Knit Picks Swish Worsted, a plied 100% Superwash Merino worsted-weight yarn with 100.6 metres in 50 grams (or 110 yards in 1.76 ounces) that knits up to 18 to 20 stitches in four inches (or ten centimetres) with size 4.0 to 5.5 mm (US 6 to 9) needles over stockinette stitch knit flat.

Colourway: Serrano

Knit Picks Swish DK, a plied 100% Superwash Merino DK-weight yarn with 112.5 metres in 50 grams (or 123 yards in 1.76 ounces) that knits up to 22 stitches in four inches (or ten centimetres) with size 3.75 mm (US 5) needles over stockinette stitch knit flat.

Colourway: Coal
Size: 4 (Adult Small)

Red and Black Brimless (Younger Boy and Woman):

Knit Picks Swish Worsted

Colourways: Coal and Serrano
Size: 3 (Youth)

Green and Black:

Knit Picks Swish Worsted

Colourways: Black and Peapod
Size: 3 (Youth)

Techniques & Resources

Skills you will need:

Knit
Purl
Make a gauge swatch in stockinette stitch

All other required stitches are explained.

Techniques used:

Knitting in the round using circular and / or double-pointed needles
Two-Colour Long Tail Cast On OR Two-Colour Italian Cast On
Two-Colour Brioche in the Round
Brioche ribbing (including brioche knit and brioche purl)
Brioche decreases

The brioche stitches have definitions and photos showing what they look like.

Included resources:

A comprehensive list of links to online tutorials on my website for necessary skills. Tutorials are screen-reader accessible, with instructions relayed fully in text, and also include videos and downloadable photo tutorials.
Full glossary
Schematic
Instructions for alterations

Publishing Information

Release Date: 2012

Most recent revision: 2024

Publisher: My Secret Wish Publishing

Knitting pattern type: Multiple Design Options

Project type: Hat, Beanie, Toque

Page Count: 9

ISBN (Standard PDF): 978-1-989800-85-0

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSING NOTICE:

This pattern is copyright My Secret Wish Publishing. Your purchase of this pattern gives you the right to use it for personal, non-profit use only. To license the pattern to use for profit, please e-mail me for permission. You do NOT have the right to print the pattern for other people (unless they reside in your household) or to transfer the digital file to any other person. This pattern may not be sold, copied, or distributed in any way.

Update History

December 2017:

Revised formatting of PDF to align with current template style.
Clarified language where necessary.

June 26, 2024:

Updated URLs for new store and social links.
Updated PDF to match current formatting style and allow use of bookmarked headers to navigate.

You will get a PDF (4MB) file

Visit product page

Step Seven

With the tips of the needles, circle around outside the LC yarn leading to your forefinger, then move them back toward your body, catching the LC yarn between your finger and the needles as you do so. Pull the LC yarn back through the DC loop (toward your body).

Step Eight

Release the loop from around your thumb, then pick up the DC yarn with your thumb again so it goes from the needles, through the centre of the U, and around the back of the thumb. Tug on the needles and yarn ends to tighten the new LC stitch on the needles.

Step Nine

Repeat from step three. After you have cast on several stitches, pull your original slip knot off the needles.

Step Ten

Cast on required number of stitches, remove one needle, and you’re done!

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Talena Winters wears a textured scarf and smiles at the camera.

About My Secret Wish Knitting

Hi! I’m Talena Winters (a.k.a. the Yarn Mermaid).

I started My Secret Wish Knitting in 2010 to empower and delight knitting heroes like you who want to elevate your knitting and make magic with yarn. When I’m not concocting new yarn potion recipes, I’m creating story magic as a fantasy and romance author and fiction editor (at talenawinters.com). I live with my family and pets in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, where sweater weather lasts at least nine months a year and my closest neighbours are bears and wood nymphs.

This website is a labour of love by a team of one (me!). If you found value here, please support the effort by purchasing a pattern. If you want more knitting magic, check out my community events and newsletter in the Knitting Circle. We’d love to have you!