Stripey Plaid Crochet Ear Warmer Pattern

I am a sucker for buffalo plaid! I love the classic look. I love the endless color combinations. Watching the design emerge while working a plaid pattern is just so satisfying. Mixing plaid with other design elements to create something that’s a little bit classic and a little bit trendy is just fun. Here is my Stripey Plaid Ear Warmer Pattern!

shades of green plaid ear warmer with stripes and red pink black ear warmer with stripes.

If you’d rather have a .pdf copy of the Stripey Plaid Ear Warmer, it can be purchased on Etsy and on Ravelry.

For the Stripey Plaid Ear Warmer you will need:

Yarn- A Worsted Weight (#4) yarn in at least 3 colors. This pattern is great for stash busting.

Dark Color (D) 34g/1.2oz 57m/63yd
Mid Color (M) 34g/1.2oz 57m/63yd
Light Light (L)13g/.5oz 17m/19yd


Hook- US size I crochet hook (5.5 mm)

Extras- yarn needle and scissors

Stitches used in this pattern

CH– Chain
FHDC-Foundation Half Double Crochet
HDC-Half Double Crochet
HDC3L-Half Double Crochet in the 3rd Loop
FPDC-Front Post Double Crochet
BPDC-Back Post Double Crochet
SLST-Slip Stitch
ST(S) – Stitch(es)
DLSLST-Drop Loop Slip Stitch *Drop the loop from the hook. Insert hook back to front through the first stitch of the round. Place loop back onto the hook and pull through the first stitch. A regular slip stitch join can be used in place of a DLSLST

Finished Size of the Stripey Plaid Ear Warmer

Approximately 4.75″Hx 8.5″W or 12cm x 21.5cm


red, pink, dark grey stripey plaid crochet ear warmer

Other things to know before you get making

This Pattern is written in US Terms.

The Stripey Plaid Ear Warmer is worked in the round.

CH 1 at the end of each row DOES NOT count as a stitch.

When starting the foundation round, leave a 4″ tail so you can close the gap left from the join when weaving in your ends.

All color changes on the buffalo plaid sections are made in the third stitch
of each 3 stitch set. You will HDC 2 STs of the specified color, then YO,
insert hook into 3rd ST, pull up a loop, YO with new color and pull through
all 3 loops on the hook.

Rounds 7, 8, and 9 are joined using DLSLST- Finish last HDC of the round.
Drop loop from hook. Insert hook through 1ststitch of the round
(back/wrong side to front/right side). Place dropped loop back on to hook
and pull through 1ststitch of the round. Gently tighten up any slack.

In each round of the buffalo plaid sections you will be carrying your unused
color across each 3 ST section. After making each color change, I suggest
gently giving the new color a very slight tug to bring up any slack. Do not
tug to hard.

You will need 3 colors, a Dark color, a Medium (or Mid)color and a Light
color. I never make my final decision on if my color choices are working
together until I have completed round 6. This lets me see all the colors
working together.

Play with different colors and yarn weights, but remember this pattern works on a multiple of 6 STs.

Let’s Get Making!

Round 1- With Color D, FHDC 72 ST. Join 1st FHDC to last FHDC,with a
SLST being careful not to twist the round. CH 1. (72 STs)

Round 2- FPHDC around the first stitch of the round. BPHDC around the
next stitch. Continue alternating FPHDC and BPHDC STs around,
ending the round with a BPHDC, Join with SLST, CH 1. (72 STs)

Round 3- FPHDC around the first stitch of the round. BPHDC around the
next stitch. Continue alternating FPHDC and BPHDC STs around,
ending the round with a BPHDC, Change to color M in the last BPHDC.
Join with SLST, CH 1. (72 STs)

Round 4- HDC in same space. HDC in next 2 ST changing to D. HDC in next 3 STs changing to M in last HDC, HDC in next 3 STs changing to D in last HDC repeat from to around to the last ST changing to color L in the final ST. Join with a SLST to 1st HDC. CH 1. (72 STs)

Round 5- HDC in same stitch (L). HDC in next 2 stitches changing to M. *HDC in next 3 STs changing to L in last HDC, HDC in next 3 STs changing to M in last HDC* repeat from * to* around to the last stitch. Do not change colors. Join with a SLST to 1st HDC. CH 1. (72 STs)

Round 6- HDC in same space. HDC in next 2 ch changing to D. *HDC in next 3 STs changing to M in last HDC, HDC in next 3 STs changing to D in last HDC* repeat from * to* around to the last ST changing to color L in the final ST. Join with a SLST to 1st HDC. CH 1. (72 STs)

Round 7- HDC in same space and in each ST around. Join with DLSLST to 1st ST. Change to M (this color change is made after the join and before the CH 1), CH 1. (72 STs)

Round 8-HDC3L in each ST around. Join with DLSLST to 1st ST. Change to L (this color change is made after the join and before the CH 1) , CH 1 (72 Sts)

Round 9-HDC3L in each ST around. Join with DLSLST to 1st ST. Change to M (this color change is made after the join and before the CH1), CH 1. (72 Sts)

Round 10- HDC3L in 1st ST. HDC3L in next 2 STs changing to D. *HDC3L in next 3 STs changing to M in last HDC3L , HDC3L in next 3 STs changing to D in last HDC3L* repeat from * to* around to the last ST changing to color L in the final ST. Join with a SLST to 1st HDC3L. CH 1. (72 STs)

Round 11- HDC in same stitch (L). HDC in next 2 stitches changing to M. *HDC in next 3 STs changing to L in last HDC, HDC in next 3 STs changing to M in last HDC* repeat from * to* around to the last stitich. Do not change colors. Join with a SLST to 1st HDC. CH 1. (72 Sts)

Cut Color L leaving a tail long enough to weave in.

Round 12- HDC in same space. HDC in next 2 ch changing to D. *HDC in next 3 STs changing to M in last HDC, HDC in next 3 STs changing to D in last HDC* repeat from * to* around to the last ST DO NOT change colors in the final ST. Join with a SLST to 1st HDC. CH 1. (72 STs)

Cut Color M leaving a tail long enough to weave in.

Round 13- With D, HDC in each ST around. Join with a SLST to 1st HDC. CH 1. (72 Sts)

Round 14- FPHDC around first FHDC. *BPHDC around next FHDC, FPHDC around next FHDC* Repeat from * to * around. Join with a SLST to 1st FPHDC. CH 1. (72 Sts)

Round 15- FPHDC around first FHDC. *BPHDC around next FHDC, FPHDC around next FHDC*. Repeat from * to * around. Join with a SLST to 1st FPHDC. (72 STs)

Cut Color D leaving a tail long enough to weave in. Weave in all ends.

And there you have it, a Stripey Plaid Ear Warmer! I love seeing your makes on social media! Be sure to tag @papiocreekcrochet or #stripeyplaidearwarmer so that I can admire your makes.

If you are looking for another great ear warmer to make, check out my Hickory Hill Ear Warmer on the website. This pattern is simple, but classic and has amazing stretch and recovery!

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