Little Lantern Brioche Pod: Free Knit Baby Cocoon Pattern

Little Lantern Brioche Pod: A Free Knit Baby Cocoon Pattern

If you have ever admired those impossibly soft newborn photo cocoons and thought, "I could never make that," this pattern is for you. The Little Lantern Brioche Pod is a gently rounded tube knitted in two-color brioche rib, which gives it a deep, squishy, cord-like texture that looks far more complicated than it actually is. Worked in alternating bands of teal and coral DK merino, it finishes with a drawstring channel at the top so the opening gathers softly around a newborn like the top of a little lantern. The finished cocoon is smooth, matte, and softly fuzzy, measuring 15 in/38 cm around and 17 in/43 cm tall — perfect for a photo prop or a treasured handmade gift. It is written for a confident beginner who has knitted and purled before and is ready to learn one new, very rewarding stitch.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: DK weight merino wool (approx. 100% merino, 125 yd/115 m per 50 g skein). You will need 2 skeins teal (approx. 140 yd/128 m) and 2 skeins coral (approx. 140 yd/128 m). The sample uses a soft, smooth DK merino.
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) 16 in/40 cm circular needle, a set of US 6 (4.0 mm) double-pointed needles (or use the magic loop technique), and a US 6 (4.0 mm) circular needle at least 24 in/60 cm long for the drawstring channel.
• Stitch markers: at least 1, for the beginning of round.
• Stitch holders or scrap yarn: 2 small ones.
• Tapestry needle: for seaming and weaving in ends.
• Scissors.
• Drawstring: 1 yd/1 m smooth cotton cord or twisted teal yarn.
• Finished size: Circumference 15 in/38 cm (unstretched, relaxed). Height 17 in/43 cm from lower edge to top edge. Drawstring channel depth 1.25 in/3 cm. Fits newborn approx. 0–3 months as a photo cocoon.

Abbreviations and Beginner Glossary

• st / sts – stitch / stitches (one loop on your needle).
• K – knit (insert the right needle into the front of the stitch, wrap yarn around, pull a loop through).
• P – purl (insert the right needle into the front of the stitch with yarn in front, wrap yarn, pull a loop through).
• sl1 – slip 1 stitch (move one stitch from the left needle to the right needle without working it).
• sl1yo – slip 1 stitch purlwise, then bring the working yarn over the right needle to create a yarn over. This pairs a slipped stitch with a wrap.
• yo – yarn over (wrap the yarn over the right needle to create an extra loop, which makes a small hole).
• brk – brioche knit: knit the stitch together with its accompanying yarn over as if they were one stitch.
• brk2tog – brioche knit 2 together: knit two brioche stitches together with their yarn overs, decreasing by one stitch.
• BOR – beginning of round (the marker that tells you where each round starts).
• tbl – through the back loop (insert the needle into the back of the stitch instead of the front).
• RS / WS – right side (the outside, public face) / wrong side (the inside).
• CO – cast on (create the first row of loops on your needle).
• BO – bind off (finish the edge so stitches cannot unravel).
• rep – repeat.

Gauge

18 sts and 26 rows = 4 in/10 cm in two-color brioche rib worked flat, lightly blocked. Gauge is critical here: the cocoon must measure 15 in/38 cm in circumference and 17 in/43 cm tall. If your stitches are too loose, the cocoon will be baggy and the drawstring will not gather neatly; if too tight, it will not fit a newborn.

How to make a gauge swatch: Cast on 30 stitches with teal, then work in the two-color brioche rib as described in the Set-Up below for about 4 in/10 cm. Bind off loosely. Soak the swatch in cool water, squeeze gently, lay flat, and let it dry completely. Lay a ruler across the middle and count how many stitches fit in 4 in/10 cm. If you have more than 18, go up a needle size; if fewer, go down. Always swatch before you begin.

Beginner Tips Before You Start

• Use stitch markers to track rounds. Place one at the beginning of round and move it up as you go. Brioche rounds can look alike, so the marker keeps you honest.
• Do not pull the yarn too tight. Brioche needs a little slack to create its soft, rounded texture. Keep your tension relaxed and even.
• Keep your two colors in order. Always work teal (A) and coral (B) in the same sequence. If you lose your place, look at which color is on the needle and match it to the round you are on.
• Count your stitches after every band. You should always have 68 stitches. If you are off, fix it before moving on.
• Carry the unused color loosely up the inside. Do not cut the yarn unless you are changing bands for a long stretch.
• Remember this is a photo prop only. Never leave a baby unattended in it and never use it for sleep.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Set-Up

With teal (A), cast on 68 stitches using the long-tail cast-on. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a beginning-of-round (BOR) marker.

Round 1 (set-up, A): *K1, sl1yo; repeat from * to end. Do not turn. (68 sts)

Join coral (B) and begin two-color brioche in the round.

Round 2 (B): *Sl1yo, brk1; repeat from * to end. (68 sts)

Round 3 (A): *Brk1, sl1yo; repeat from * to end. (68 sts)

These two rounds set the brioche rib pattern. The fabric will measure approx. 15 in/38 cm in circumference, relaxed.

Lower Body — Teal and Coral Bands

Work in the established two-color brioche rib, changing colors in alternating bands as follows. Carry the unused color loosely up the inside of the work; do not cut unless changing bands for a long stretch.

Band 1: Work 12 rounds in teal (A) and coral (B) as set (6 rounds of each color). (68 sts)

Band 2: Work 12 rounds in coral (B) and teal (A), reversing which color is worked on which round so the dominant color alternates. (68 sts)

Band 3: Work 12 rounds in teal and coral as in Band 1. (68 sts)

Band 4: Work 12 rounds in coral and teal as in Band 2. (68 sts)

Band 5: Work 12 rounds in teal and coral as in Band 1. (68 sts)

Band 6: Work 12 rounds in coral and teal as in Band 2. (68 sts)

Band 7: Work 10 rounds in teal and coral as in Band 1. (68 sts)

Total body: 82 rounds, approx. 12.5 in/32 cm from cast-on. Piece measures approx. 12.5 in/32 cm tall. Remove the BOR marker and replace it after the next round so the channel opening sits at the side.

Drawstring Channel

Change to the longer circular needle (24 in/60 cm) to work the channel comfortably.

Round 83 (A): *Brk1, sl1yo; repeat from * to end. (68 sts)

Round 84 (B): *Sl1yo, brk1; repeat from * to end. (68 sts)

Round 85 (eyelet round, A): *Brk1, sl1yo, brk1, yo, brk2tog; repeat from * to end. This creates small eyelets evenly around the channel for the drawstring; 17 eyelets total. (68 sts)

Rounds 86–94: Work in established two-color brioche rib as for the body, maintaining the teal/coral band sequence (approx. 1.25 in/3 cm). (68 sts)

Round 95 (turning round, A): *Brk1, sl1yo; repeat from * to end. (68 sts)

Rounds 96–104: Work in established two-color brioche rib for the inner facing of the channel, approx. 1.25 in/3 cm. (68 sts)

Finishing the Channel

Bind off loosely in pattern using teal (A): *brk1, slip the next stitch purlwise with yarn in front; repeat from *, passing the slipped stitch over the brk stitch. Do not cut the yarn yet. Fold the inner facing to the inside of the cocoon along Round 95 and whipstitch the bound-off edge to the inside of Round 84 using the tapestry needle and teal yarn, leaving a 1 in/2.5 cm opening at one side for the drawstring. Weave in ends.

Drawstring

Cut a 1 yd/1 m length of smooth cotton cord or twisted teal yarn. Thread it through the eyelets of Round 85 using a tapestry needle, beginning and ending at the small opening in the channel facing. Knot the ends together securely. Pull gently to gather the top into a soft lantern shape; the drawstring should slide easily but hold a gentle gather.

Assembly and Finishing

Seaming: There is no side seam — the cocoon is knitted in the round. The only seam is the folded channel facing, which you whipstitch to the inside of Round 84. To whipstitch, bring the needle from the inside out through the bound-off edge, then through the fabric of Round 84, and repeat, keeping the stitches small and even so the join is invisible from the outside.

Weaving in ends: Thread each yarn tail onto the tapestry needle and weave it through the wrong side of the fabric for about 2 in/5 cm, changing direction once so it cannot work loose. Trim close to the fabric.

Blocking: Soak the cocoon in cool water with a wool wash for 15 minutes. Squeeze gently — do not wring — then roll it in a towel to remove excess water. Lay flat to dry, shaping to 15 in/38 cm in circumference and 17 in/43 cm tall. Do not hang. Lightly steam the drawstring channel if needed.

Safety note: This cocoon is a photo prop only. Never leave a baby unattended in it and never use it for sleep. Remove the drawstring before giving the cocoon to a child.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change the colors: Swap teal and coral for any two contrasting DK shades — mustard and cream, sage and blush, or navy and grey all look lovely in brioche.
• Adjust the size: To make a slightly larger cocoon, add one extra 12-round band before the channel. Each band adds about 1.8 in/4.5 cm in height. Keep the stitch count at 68 so the circumference stays the same.
• Substitute the yarn: Any smooth DK weight yarn will work, but choose a soft, non-scratchy fiber such as merino or a merino-cotton blend. Avoid fuzzy or textured yarns, which hide the brioche texture.
• Make the drawstring removable: Instead of knotting the cord permanently, thread it through and tie a bow so it can be removed easily before the cocoon is given to a child.