Brick Stitch knitting pattern

A step-by-step tutorial showing you how to knit the brick stitch knitting pattern – super popular, super beautiful, and super easy.

One of the most popular mosaic knitting patterns is certainly the brick stitch. It’s a simple combination of garter stitch and stockinette stitch. While it uses two colors, you never knit with two strands held at the same time – perfect for beginners.

close-up view of a knitted brick stitch swatch on a wooden table

The pattern is actually remarkably easy and only has 6 rows. Most people prefer to offset the repeat by 3 stitches every 6 rows. So that’s why the full brick stitch pattern has 12 rows and looks a bit more complicated:

wrong side of brick stitch knitting pattern
  • CO multiples of 6 +1 – plus 2 selvage stitches on either side using color a (e.g. 23 or 29 or 35)
  • Row 1 (color a; skip once if you did a longtail cast-on or any other cast-on that creates the first row in the same breath): knit across
  • Row 2: (color a) k2, p1, yo, *p6, yo*, k2
  • Row 3: Join in color B
    k2, *drop yarn over off the needles, sl1p wyib, k5*, drop yo, sl1p wyib, k2
  • Row 4: (color b) k2, *sl1p wyif, k5*, sl1p wyif, k2
  • Row 5: (color b) k2, *sl1p wyib, k5*, sl1p wyib, k2
  • Row 6: (color b) k2, *sl1p wyif, k5*, sl1p wyif, k2
    Note: Repeat from here if you want your bricks to align
  • Row 7: (color a) knit across
  • Row 8: (color a) k2, p4, *yo, p6*, p3, k2
  • Row 9: (color b) k5, *drop yo, sl1p wyib, k5*, drop yo, sl1p wyib, k5
  • Row 10: (color b) k5, *sl1p wyif, k5*, sl1p wyif, k5
  • Row 11: (color b) k5, *sl1p wyib, k5*, sl1p wyib, k5
  • Row 12: (color b) k5, *sl1p wyif, k5*, sl1p wyif, k5
  • Repeat rows 1-12 if you want to offset the bricks by 3 stitches
full chart of the brick stitch knitting pattern in two colors

In rows 2 and 8 this version of the classic brick stitch pattern adds yarnovers. These yarnovers are dropped in the next row and will feed a little bit of slack into the stitches you slip. Barbara Walker (who popularized this pattern) added 3 wraps in this place, while people like Stephen West (etc), often don’t add any extra slack.

It will depend a bit on your preferences and how tight (or loose) you knit. Knit a swatch, block it, and see what you like best!

Note: Make sure to read my advanced mosaic knitting tips if you need to catch up.

work in progress: brick stitch kitting swatch

Knitting the brick stitch pattern in the round

You can, of course, also knit the brick stitch pattern in the round. It is a non-reversible pattern anyway, so this might actually be the smarter choice.

  • CO multiples of 6 using color a
  • Row 1 (color a; skip once if you did a longtail cast-on or any other cast-on that creates the first row in the same breath): knit across
  • Row 2: (a) *yo, p6*
  • Row 3: (b) *drop yarn over off the needles, sl1p wyib, k5*
  • Row 4: (b) *sl1p wyib, p5*
  • Row 5: (b) *sl1p wyib, k5*
  • Row 6: (b) *sl1p wyib, p5*
    Row 7: (a) knit across
  • Row 8: (a) p4, *yo, p6*, p2
  • Row 9: (b) k3, *drop yo, sl1p wyib, k5*, drop yo, sl1p wyib, k2
  • Row 10: (b) p3, *sl1p wyib, p5*, sl1p wyib, p2
  • Row 11: (b) k3, *sl1p wyib, k5*, sl1p wyib, k2
  • Row 12: (b) p3, *sl1p wyib, p5*, sl1p wyib, p2
  • Repeat rows 1-12

Anyway, that’s how to knit the brick stitch knitting pattern. Comment below if you still have any questions.

how to knit the brick stitch - a step by step tutorial for beginners

How to knit the brick stitch

someone showing how to knit the brick stitch knitting pattern using two colors

The classic brick stitch pattern is a 12 row repeat. You may consider stopping after row 6 if you want the bricks to align (instead of being offset)

Active Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Instructions

  1. CO multiples of 6 +1 - plus 2 selvage stitches on either side using color a (E.g. 23 stitches)


    cast on for the brick stitch pattern on the needle
  2. Row 2: (color a) k2, p1, yo, *p6, yo*, k2.

    Note: The longtail cast-on already creates the first row in the same breath.
    row 2 of the brick stitch pattern (just in color a yet)
  3. Row 3: (color b): k2, *drop yarn over off the needles, sl1p wyib, k5*, drop yo, sl1p wyib, k2.

    result after row 3 (right side)
  4. Row 4: (b) k2, *sl1p wyif, k5*, sl1p wyif, k2.

    result after row 4 (wrong side)
  5. Row 5: (b) k2, *sl1p wyib, k5*, sl1p wyib, k2.

    result after row 5 (right side)
  6. Row 6: (b) k2, *sl1p wyif, k5*, sl1p wyif, k2.

    result after row 6 (wrong side)
  7. Row 7: (a) knit across.

    result after row 7 (right side) - first repeat of brick stitch pattern finished
  8. Row 8: (a) k2, p4, *yo, p6*, p3, k2.

    result after row 8 (wrong side)
  9. Row 9: (b) k5, *drop yo, sl1p wyib, k5*, drop yo, sl1p wyib, k5.

    result after row 9 (right side)
  10. Row 10: (b) k5, *sl1p wyif, k5*, sl1p wyif, k5.

    result after row 10 (wrong side)
  11. Row 11: (b) k5, *sl1p wyib, k5*, sl1p wyib, k5.

    result after row 11 (right side)
  12. Row 12: (color b) k5, *sl1p wyif, k5*, sl1p wyif, k5.

    result after row 12 (wrong side)
  13. Row 13: Knit across & Repeat rows 1-12.

    brick stitch pattern after row 13





Notes

Note: Here is a tutorial, if you don't know how to read knitting patterns, yet.

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