Hi Andrea! Thanks for reaching out so I can help, you are not doing anything wrong!
You will join with the top 2 of the first dc. Yes, it definitely looks like 4 sts, which is how I did my first designs back when I was pioneering the crochet plaid color work technique. You can choose to join with the chain if you prefer, just make sure you count the ch 2 as a stitch in your overall round count.
Because I prefer *not* to count the ch 2 as a stitch, and I realized it looks a bit wonky, I came up with a fix a few months later, but I never had a chance to retroactively fix older patterns. The fix is this: the hat will be worked in multiples of 6 MINUS one. This makes the first block of plaid consist of 2 dc sts and the chain, which makes it look nice and uniform with the other blocks.

This is a bit tricky with the top down, so I think the best way would be to NOT work the first increase of round 4, working one dc in each of the first 2 sts. This will bring the count to 71 (multiples of 6 minus 1), so that gives the first block 2 dc + the ch 2. Please note, the chain still does NOT count, you will join with the first dc, but it will just look nice and uniform this way.

You can see more info on this fix here: https://www.whistleandivy.com/plaid-stitch-joining-new-way/
Does that help?

You’re welcome!

Yay! Thank you!! I hope you do!