Buffalo Plaid Hat Knitting Pattern

here’s just something about buffalo plaid that’s extra cozy as the weather cools down. The classic checkered pattern takes me straight back to my childhood—a full-on Canadian winter, bundling up for nights of ice skating at our local lake and then warming up with hot chocolate by the fire.

This is the vibe inspired me to create this knit buffalo plaid hat pattern for you. I wanted it to have that cozy, homey feel that just works for fall and winter. Whether you’ve got similar memories or just love that classic, timeless look, this hat is the perfect way to bring those winter feels to your wardrobe. So, grab your needles and get ready to make some cozy, handmade memories!

If you are nervous to try stranded knitting (i.e. working with two colours), I urge you to watch my stranded knitting video tutorial. In the video, I demonstrate how I hold the yarn and switch colours in an easy way. Once you get some practice under your belt, you’ll be ready to knit up this simple, yet stylish winter hat!

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Materials:

• Knit Picks Swish worsted weight yarn:
  • 1 Skein Cobblestone Heather (Colour A).
  • 1 Skein Garnet Heather (Colour B).
• Size 4 (3.5 mm) and Size 8 (5 mm) 16” circular knitting needles.
• Size 8 (5 mm) double pointed knitting needles.
• Stitch Marker.
• Scissors.
• Yarn needle.

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Size:

Adult (head circumference 22 inches).

Gauge:

21 stitches, 22 rows = 4 Inches in stockinette stitch with size 8 (5mm) knitting needles.

Abbreviations:

K: Knit
P: Purl
K2Tog: Knit Two Together decrease

Notes:

This hat is knit in the round on circular knitting needles, switching to double pointed needles when necessary during the decreasing of stitches for shaping the top.

When working the stranded stitches, always hold the non-dominant color to the left, and the dominant color to the right.  As a result, the yarn held to the left will produce a slightly larger stitch than the yarn held to the right; which will ensure the stitches are consistent in size and also make the non-dominant color pop.

For those of you that are new to stranded knitting, I have also created a bonus video on stranded knitting, which shows you how I hold the yarn and switch colours.

Stranded Knitting

Pattern:

Using size 4 (3.5mm) circular needles and color A, cast on 100 stitches.  Place stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round and then join (being careful not to twist the stitches).

Rounds 1-18: *k1,P1; repeat from * to end of round to create 1X1 ribbing for the brim of the hat.

Slip stitches onto size 8 (5mm) circular needle to knit the remainder of the hat.  Note that the remainder of the hat is knit in stockinette stitch (knit all stitches). Follow the colour chart below by repeating stitches 1-20 five times per round for the next 30 rounds.  Colour A is represented by the grey squares, and colour B is represented by the red squares.

This is where we start decreasing, which will shape the top of the hat (you can switch to double pointed needles when necessary).  Follow Rounds 1-10 and colour chart below.

Decreasing Rounds:

Round 1:  *K8, K2Tog; repeat from * to end of round (90 stitches remain).

Round 2: Knit all stitches.

Round 3: *K7, K2Tog; repeat from * to end of round (80 stitches remain).

Round 4: Knit all stitches.

Round 5:  *K6, K2Tog; repeat from * to end of round (70 stitches remain).

Round 6: Knit all stitches.

Round 7: *K5, K2Tog; repeat from * to end of round (60 stitches remain).

Round 8: Knit all stitches.