Lesson 2: Exercise (Emilia Brioche Crochet Square)

In this exercise, we’ll follow a brioche crochet pattern exclusively designed for this workshop. The pattern has been carefully created to help you practice all the essential elements of the brioche crochet technique and to deepen your understanding of its structure and logic. 

As you work through each section, you’ll reinforce the skills you’ve learned so far and gain confidence in applying them to more complex brioche projects.

You can either follow the written instructions below, or download the ready-to-print PDF HERE. This pdf-file includes even more step-by-step pictures to help you. And print friendly copy of the pattern is available for download HERE.

And if you’d like a bit of extra support, I’ve also created a video tutorial (watch below) where I share helpful tips on reading written instructions confidently — so you can follow any pattern with ease and independence.

Let's start!  

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EMILIA BRIOCHE CROCHET SQUARE 

Copyright. An original Lilla Björn Crochet Design (Taťána Kuprijančik). Copyright 2014-2025. All rights reserved. This pattern is for personal use only. It cannot be sold, redistributed, or edited in any way. Translations and video tutorials are not allowed. Please, always credit me as a designer of this pattern. Thank you! 

Materials 

If you are new to Brioche crochet, please, choose thick enough and softer yarn in two contrast colors. Solid colors with high contrast work the best for this technique. 

For my samples shown in the video, I used Scheepjes Unity yarn (70% Superwash Merino Wool x 30% Polyamide; 100g/400m). 

And for my sample shown in the pictures below, I used Scheepjes Catona yarn (100% mercerised cotton; 50g/125m). 

3.5mm crochet hook (a slightly bigger hook is recommended than you would normally use with the chosen yarn) 

Gauge: after 8 rounds the square measures approx. 10cm/4in. If you use yarn in different weigh, your gauge and finished measurements will differ. 

Measurements: finished square measures approx. 14cm/5½in across, blocked 

Abbreviations (US terms) 

beg begin(ning) 

ch chain stitch 

ch-sp(s) chain space(s) 

ch2-sp(s) chain 2 space(s) 

cont continue 

crn(s) corner(s) 

lp(s) loop(s) 

opp opposite 

rep(s) repeat(s) 

RS right side 

sp(s) space(s) 

st(s) stitch(es) 

prev previous 

yo yarn over the hook 

WS wrong side 

 

Stitch guide 

dc double crochet: yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, [yo, pull through 2 lps] 2 times. 

FPdc front post double crochet: yo, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of indicated stitch, yo, draw up a lp, [yo, pull through 2 lps] twice. 

FPdc2tog front post double crochet 2 together: *yo, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of next stitch of same color below, yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook; rep from * once more, yo, pull through all three lps on hook. 

FPtr front post treble crochet: yo twice, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of indicated stitch, yo, draw up a lp, [yo, pull through 2 lps] 3 times. 

hdc half double crochet: yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook. 

sc single crochet: insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook. 

ss slip stitch: insert hook in next st, yo, draw up a lp, pull second lp through first lp on hook. 

tr treble crochet: yo 2 times, insert hook in indicated st, [yo, pull through 2 lps] 3 times. 

Special stitches 

brdc brioche double crochet: yo, insert the hook in sp of same color from two rounds below in front of ch-sp of previous round, yo, draw up a lp, [yo, pull through both lps] twice. 

fan-st: work 1dc on top of the corn st of same color below, ch2, 1FPtr around same corn st, ch2, 1dc on top of same corn st. 

Pattern repeats 

[…] repeat instructions inside […] as many times as indicated in the pattern. 

*…; rep from * repeat after * as many times as indicated in the pattern. 

(…) work several sts in/around the same st 

Pattern Notes

• All rounds are worked on RS (unless otherwise instructed). 
• One color is used for one round; do not cut yarn at the end of the rounds but carry it up to next rounds on WS.  
• Change color in ch1 at the beginning of every round, unless otherwise instructed. 
• FPdc/FPdc2tog are always worked around sts of same color from 2 rounds below.  
• Ch-sps behind front post stitches will always be skipped. 
• You can stop at any round, working your squares in different sizes. The best is to stop after the round made with Yarn B. Replace all ch2 with ch1 on that last round. 

 

 

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INSTRUCTIONS 

Copyright. An original Lilla Björn Crochet Design (Taťána Kuprijančik). Copyright 2014-2025. All rights reserved. This pattern is for personal use only. It cannot be sold, redistributed, or edited in any way. Translations and video tutorials are not allowed. Please, always credit me as a designer of this pattern. Thank you!

Round 1: Beg with Yarn A. Make an adjustable ring, ch1 (does not count as a st), 8sc into ring, ss to beg sc – 8 sts. 

Round 2: Ch1 while changing to Yarn B (do not cut Yarn A). Ch5 (counts as first dc and ch2-sp), 1dc in same st as join, [ch2, skip next st, (1dc, ch2, 1dc) in next st] 3 times, ch2, ss to beg ch5-sp – 8 dc and ch2-sps. 

Round 3: On this round, work all tr and dc in front of ch2-sps. Ch1 changing to back to Yarn A grabbing it up on WS (do not cut Yarn B, make sure the float of yarn on WS does not pull – here and throughout), beg in same sp as join, [1sc in next ch2-sp, 1tr in st of Round 1 below already occupied with 2 dc from prev round placing tr between them, 1sc in same ch2-sp, ch2, skip next st of opp color, 1dc in next skipped st of Round 1 below, ch2] 4 times, ss to beg sc, ss to crn tr – 2 sc, 1 dc and 2 ch2-sps per side, 1tr in each crn. 

Round 4: Ch1 changing to Yarn B, beg in same st as join (here and all even rounds), *(1sc, ch2, 1sc) in crn tr, [ch2, skip next st of opp color, 1FPdc around next st of same color below] 2 times, ch2; rep from * 3 more times, ss to beg sc, ss to next ch2-sp – 2 sc, 2 FPdc and 3 ch2-sps per side, 1 ch2-sp in each crn. 

Round 5: Ch1 changing to Yarn A, beg in same crn ch2-sp as join (here and all odd rnds), *1sc in crn ch2-sp, 1FPtr around crn tr below, 1sc in same ch2-sp, ch2, skip next st of opp color, 1FPdc around next sc of same color below, ch2, skip next st of opp color, 1FPdc around next dc of same color below, ch2, skip next st of opp color, 1FPdc around next sc of same color, ch2; rep from * 3 more times, ss to beg sc, ss to next FPtr – 2 sc, 3 FPdc and 4 ch2-sps per side, 1 FPtr in each crn. 

Round 6: Ch1 changing to Yarn B, *(1sc, ch2, 1sc) in crn FPtr, ch2, skip next st of opp color, 1FPdc around sc of same color, [ch2, skip next st of opp color, 1FPdc around next FPdc of same color] 2 times, ch2, skip next st of opp color, 1FPdc around sc of same color, ch2; rep from * 3 more times, ss to beg sc – 2 sc, 4 FPdc and 5 ch2-sps per side, 1 ch2-sp in each crn. 

 Note: On all remaining rounds, work front post stitches around sts of same color from 2 rounds below (first and last front post stitch will be worked around sc of same color); sts of opp color and ch2-sps will be skipped. 

Round 7 (RS): Cont working on RS. Ch1 changing to Yarn A, *1sc in crn ch2-sp, 1FPtr around crn FPtr below, 1sc in same ch2-sp, ch2, 1FPdc2tog around next sc and FPdc of same color (skipping st of opp color between two “legs” – here and for all FPdc2tog), ch2, fan-st in next st of same color, ch2, 1FPdc2tog around next FPdc and sc of same color, ch2; rep from * 3 more times, ss to beg sc, ss to next FPtr – 2 sc, 2 FPdc2tog, 1 fan st (including 2 ch2-sps) and 4 ch2-sps pre side, 1 FPtr in each crn. 

Round 8: Ch1 changing to Yarn B, *(1sc, ch2, 1sc) in crn FPtr, ch2, 1FPdc, ch2, skip FPdc2tog, 1FPdc, [ch2, 1brdc in next V] 2 times working in same ch2-sp, ch2, 1FPdc, ch2, skip FPdc2tog, 1FPdc, ch2; rep from * 3 more times, ss to beg sc, ss to next ch2-sp – 2 sc, 4 FPdc, 2 brdc and 7 ch2-sps per side, 1 ch2-sp in each crn. 

Round 9: Ch1 changing to Yarn A, *1sc in crn ch2-sp, 1FPtr around crn FPtr below, 1sc in same ch2-sp, ch2, 1FPdc2tog around next sc and FPdc2tog, ch2, (1FPdc, ch2, 1FPdc) around next st, ch2, 1FPdc, ch2, (1FPdc, ch2, 1FPdc) around next st, ch2, 1FPdc2tog around next FPdc2tog and sc, ch2; rep from * 3 more times, ss to beg sc, ss to next FPtr – 2 sc, 2 FPdc2tog, 5 FPdc and 8 ch2-sps per side, 1FPtr in each crn. 

Round 10: Ch1 changing to Yarn B, *(1sc, ch2, 1sc) in crn FPtr, ch2, 1FPdc, ch2, skip FPdc2tog, 1FPdc, ch2, 1brdc in next V, [ch2, 1FPdc] 2 times, ch2, 1brdc in next V, ch2, 1FPdc, ch2, skip FPdc2tog, 1FPdc, ch2; rep from * 3 more times, ss to beg sc, ss to next ch2-sp – 2 sc, 6 FPdc, 2 brdc and 9 ch2-sps per side, 1 ch2-sp in each crn. 

Round 11: Ch1 changing to Yarn A, *1sc in crn ch2-sp, 1FPtr around crn FPtr below, 1sc in same ch2-sp, ch2, (1FPdc, ch2, 1FPdc) around next sc, ch2, 1FPdc2tog around next FPdc2tog and FPdc, [ch2, 1FPdc] 3 times, ch2, 1FPdc2tog around next FPdc and FPdc2tog, ch2, (1FPdc, ch2, 1FPdc) around next sc, ch2; rep from * 3 more times, ss to beg sc, ss to next FPtr – 2 sc, 7 FPdc, 2 FPdc2tog and 10 ch2-sps per side, 1 FPtr in each crn. 

For Round 12 you can choose either simplified version, or a challenging one (see below). 

Round 12 (simplified): Ch1 changing to Yarn B (cut Yarn A leaving long enough tail for safe weaving), Working all sc in sts of opp color and all FPdc around sts of same color below, *(1sc, ch2, 1sc) in crn FPtr, 1sc, 1FPdc, 1sc, 1brdc in next V, [1sc, 1FPdc] rep to next V, 1sc, 1FPdc, 1sc; rep from * 3 more times, ss to beg sc, fasten off – 23 sts per side, 1 ch2-sp in each crn. 

Round 12 (challenging): Ch1 changing to Yarn B (cut Yarn A leaving long enough tail for safe weaving), *(1sc, ch2, 1sc) in crn FPtr, 1sc in next st of opp color, 1FPdc around next st of same color, (1dc in sp behind next st, 1brdc in V, 1dc in sp behind next st) working in same ch2-sp, [1FPdc around next st of same color, 1dc in sp behind next st of opp color] 5 times, 1FPdc around next st of same color, (1dc in sp behind next st, 1brdc in V, 1dc in sp behind next st) working in same ch2-sp, 1FPdc around next st of same color, 1sc in next sc of opp color; rep from * 3 more times, ss to beg sc, ss to next ch2-sp – 23 sts per side. 

Round 13 (WS): Turn and cont working on WS with Yarn B. Ch2 (does not count as a st), [1hdc in ch2-sp, 1FPdc around each st crn ch2-sp, 1hdc in ch2-sp, ch2] 4 times, ss to beg sc, fasten off – 25 sts per side, 1 ch2-sp in each crn. 

FINISHING 

Weave in all ends. Block square to measurements. 

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Have a question about the Emilia Square? Comment below — I love hearing from you!

With love,

Tatsiana 

P.s. See you in Lesson 3 (will be published on October 28th, around 3pm, Prague time), where I will explain how to read and follow brioche crochet charts.