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.

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:

• 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

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.

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.