The Spiral Drift Balaclava is a sculptural, cold-weather accessory featuring a bold, flowing spiral pattern created with two-color brioche. Knit from the bottom up, the design combines warmth, elasticity, and striking texture, making it both functional and visually distinctive. The twisting surface is formed through carefully placed brioche increases and decreases, resulting in a dynamic fabric that appears to drift across the balaclava.

Thanks to the exceptional stretch of brioche stitch, the Spiral Drift Balaclava can be worn comfortably over a ski helmet, as shown in the sample, making it an excellent choice for winter sports and cold outdoor conditions.
The spiral pattern is inspired by the work of Jonatan Tollow (@madebytollow) and his innovative approach to brioche knitting.

The pattern includes adjustable sizing for the face opening, allowing you to customize the fit:
Approx. 80 stitches: creates a snug, close-fitting face opening
Approx. 98 stitches: creates a larger opening designed to fit comfortably over a ski helmet

Finished measurements (sample shown):
Bottom circumference: approx. 61 cm (24 in)
Height: approx. 44 cm (17¼ in)
Due to the stretchiness of brioche fabric, the balaclava accommodates a range of head sizes.

Gauge
18 sts × 24 rows = 10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in)
measured in two-color brioche stitch, after blocking
Gauge is important to achieve the intended fit, especially for helmet wear.

Materials
Yarn: Two colors of DK / light worsted weight yarn
(yarns should be similar in weight and fiber content)

Needles:
4 mm (US 6) circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

Notions: Stitch marker, Tapestry needle

This pattern is well suited for stash-busting, provided the yarns knit up to a compatible gauge.

Yardage / Skeins
Sample shown was knit using:
Main Color (MC): approx. 150 g
Contrast Color (CC): approx. 200 g
Exact yardage will vary depending on yarn choice, gauge, and face-opening size.

Skill Level: Advanced
This pattern requires confidence with:
Two-color brioche
Working both in the round and flat
Increases and decreases within brioche stitch
Following structured, repetitive pattern sequences