Crochet Plaid Hat – Free Crochet Pattern

This crochet plaid hat is a classic. You need one in every color! You will love this fun and unique crochet plaid technique! Once you start crochet plaid, you can’t stop. The free pattern includes instruction for adults, but you can get additional sizing in the downloadable PDF!
This post included affiliate links which means I get a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you!)Thanks for supporting Whistle and Ivy!

Growing up, we spent most of our holidays in the very tip-top of Utah at my Grandma’s house. She made delicious meals, personal-sized pies for each grandchild, and the most amazing cheeseball you ever tasted. It was always snowy and wonderful. My grandpa, a retired dairy farmer, also wore a plaid jacket around the house during the cold months, and I especially remember it during our Christmas get-together. Every time I see red and black checked plaid, it reminds me of those wonderful snowy Christmas’s surrounded by family and my beloved grandparents. I don’t incorporate a ton of plaid into my wardrobe (I don’t wear a lot of red), but it screams HOLIDAY to me, and I love how this crochet plaid  hat turned out, perfect for this time of year!

This crochet plaid hat is almost ALL dc stitches (yay!), and works up pretty quickly. The color changes can slow you down a bit, but I made this hat in just a couple hours. My first plaid hat I put a yarn pom-pom on top which was okay, but when so many people suggested adding a fur pom-pom I decided I must give it a try! Quite a winning combination, I must say. 

Looking for a top-down version? Get it here!

CROCHET PLAID HAT  – FREE CROCHET PATTERN

Please remember: You are free to use this pattern to make and sell, but do not republish or distribute this pattern in any way. DO NOT use my photos in your listings. Please do share my blog links! It’s a quick and FREE way of supporting Whistle and Ivy and more free crochet patterns in the future. 

Watch a video tutorial for how to make a women’s size crochet plaid hat: 

What you need: 
Medium Weight Yarn (Knit Picks Brava in Red, Wine and Black, plus Dove Heather for pom-pom)
I Hook
Darning Needle

Abbreviations: (click for videos)
St – Stitch
Sc – Single Crochet
Ch – Chain
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Dc – Double Crochet

Gauge: 14 dc = 4″ (gauge pattern)

This free version includes one size: Women/Teen.  You can get a downloadable PDF with all 6 sizes (Newborn, 6-12 months, Toddler, Child, Women, Men). 

Get it in the Whistle and Ivy SHOP
Get it on Etsy
Get it on Ravelry 

Love this pattern but want MORE sizes, more patterns, and more videos? ALSO included is my LEARN CROCHET PLAID course! You will LOVE The Endless Bundle – my membership program full of patterns, videos, full tutorials, courses, community, and much more. See you on the inside!

WOMEN/TEEN SIZE:

Note: The height of the hat is a slouchy fit, to make it more fitted, simply work fewer rows. 

Ribbed Band (use black)
Ch 7. 
1. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook. Hdc 5. Turn. (6 sts)
2. Ch 1. Hdc in same st. Hdc 4 in BLO. Hdc in last st, going through both loops. Turn. (6 sts)

Repeat row two until your band reaches about 18″ – 19″ for adult. 

You will get this measurement by gently stretching your band and measuring the length, not the pre-stretch length. You want the hat to be snug and due to differences in yarn stretchiness, I am not providing a row count. Instead, use your measuring tape. Don’t break yarn.

Note: You can make the hat band longer to make the hat larger ( or visa versa). When you begin the hat body, make sure your first round is worked in multiples of 6. 

Fold long piece in half and sl st up the side, making a band. Turn so the seam is on the inside and your loop is at the top. 

Hat Body: 
1. Continuing where you left off from the band, Ch 1 and sc in same space. Sc all around the top of the band, achieving a total of 71 sts (multiples of 6 minus 1) . Join with a sl st. 

Watch this video to see why the “minus 1” in the multiples: 

Join Wine. 
2. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Begin a 2nd dc, but finish the final pull through with black. Drop wine and carry it through the next 3 stitches. Work 2 dc with black. Finished 3rd dc with wine. Continue this pattern all around the hat. Join with a sl st. (71 sts)

Join Red.
3. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Begin a 2nd dc, but finish the final pull through with Wine. Drop Red and carry it through the next 3 stitches. Work 2 dc with Wine.  Finished 3rd dc with Red. Continue this alternating pattern all around the hat. Join with a sl st. (71 sts)

4. – 15. Repeat rows 2 and 3 respectively until you reach 14 total rows. 
Tie off your yarn and weave in ends. 

(If you still need help, I have an extensive plaid course. You can enroll in Learn Crochet Plaid course here, OR you can join my all-access pass and get ALL my patterns, ALL downloads, ALL videos and MORE!

Alternately, to give your hat a bit more stretch, you can carry the yarn behind instead of working it inside. This gives you the strings on the inside of the hat, however, so you can decide which way you prefer.

You can also make the hat with larger-sized color blocks. To do this, just make sure your count will work with 72 sts (minus one). For the black and white hat, I made my blocks 8 sts wide, 3 rows tall. The multiple needs to be 16 (the width of two blocks) so you don’t end up with two blocks of the same color meeting up at the seam.

To close the hat, cut a length of yarn longer than the circumference of the hat and thread it through your darning needle. Turn your hat inside-out. Sew a running stitch all around the top of the hat.

Once you reach the beginning, pull the thread tight cinching the hat closed.  Tie a firm and sturdy knot. Clip ends. Turn hat right-side out.

Make and attach a pom-pom, you can make it with yarn or fur or plush sherpa! Learn how here.

Are you mad about crochet plaid?!
I hope you love your new crochet plaid hat :)

Love this pattern but want MORE? You will LOVE The Endless Bundle – my membership program full of patterns, videos, full tutorials, courses, community, and much more. See you on the inside!

xoxo,