Two Skeins, One Showstopper

Pattern: Brain Freize Bandana

Designer: Susan Ashcroft

Yarn:  Malabrigo Rios

Malabrigo Rios

Some yarns just make you want to cast on immediately. Malabrigo Rios is that yarn.

Spun from 100% superwash merino, Rios is soft enough for next-to-skin wear, strong enough to hold up to life, and washable enough for the things that actually get worn — hats, cowls, garments, and yes, a bandana you'll reach for again and again. The tight 4-ply construction resists pilling beautifully, which means your finished piece stays looking as good as the day you cast off.

What really sets Rios apart, though, is the colour. Malabrigo's watercolour-inspired dyeing process gives each skein a depth that's hard to describe until you're holding it. Semi-solids shift and glow. Variegated colourways tell a whole story from cast-on to bind-off. For a project like Brain Frieze — where two contrasting colours are doing all the talking — choosing your Rios pairing is half the joy.

Pattern Spotlight

Don't let the name intimidate you. Brain Frieze looks like something that would take pages of notes to track, but knitters who've made it consistently say the same thing: it's much easier than it looks. (We'll keep that between us.)

The bandana is worked flat and finished with a short seam at the back — no complicated construction, no fussy finishing. You can even use straight needles if you prefer. The real magic is in the stitch pattern itself, which rewards a little row-tracking with a seriously impressive result. The kind of project that makes people ask, "Did you really make that?"

If you fall hard for the stitch (and you might), there's also the Brain Frieze Cowl by the same designer — same pattern, wrapped into a cozy accessory that works beautifully with any two skeins of Rios.

Construction Overview

Worked flat on straight or circular needles, the Brain Frieze Bandana is an approachable project for confident beginners and a satisfying one for more experienced knitters looking for something tactile and beautiful. You'll want to keep track of your rows as you go — a simple row counter makes this easy — but the repeat becomes intuitive quickly. Allow roughly 150–165 yards of each of your two contrasting colours, and plan to work from two balls at once for the most even colour distribution.

The short seam at the back is straightforward and results in a clean, polished finish. Blocking will open up the stitch pattern and let it really shine.

Materials List

Everything you need for this project is available at The Wool Pirate:

Malabrigo Rios — 100% superwash merino, 100g / 210 yards per skein You'll need 1 skein each of 2 contrasting colours. Choose two semi-solids for crisp definition, or try one semi-solid paired with a variegated for extra depth and movement.

Pick your two colours of Malabrigo Rios here

Suggested Tools: Row counter, tapestry needle for finishing, blocking mats and pins

Ready to cast on? Malabrigo Rios is waiting for you in the shop — and the hardest part will be choosing just two colours.