As soon as Fall decor started showing up at the craft stores this year, it was clear that buffalo check was going to be a staple of the season. And I’m not complaining… because I love it.
So I was especially pumped to see that the theme is carrying on into Christmas decor, too!
Buffalo check, buffalo plaid… whatever you call it, there’s something downright cozy about this familiar fabric. It takes me back to a little cabin in the Tennessee mountains where our family vacationed a few years back, and I can almost smell the pine trees!
But as “American” as buffalo check feels to, well, Americans, we’re only responsible for the name. The original fabric has much earlier origins in Scotland. Cool, right?
There are a lot of color variations these days, too. You can go with the classic red and black, opt for a modern black and white, or get creative with a different choice altogether. Do whatever suits your personality!
About the Yarn
I used Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Cotton for all three of my potholders. It’s important to use 100% cotton yarn for potholders, and ILTC has an awesome selection of colors. Here are the three color schemes I crocheted, and their colorways:
COLOR A: Aubergine
COLOR B: Black
COLOR C: Burnt Sienna
COLOR A: Pewter
COLOR B: Black
COLOR C: White
COLOR A: Dove
COLOR B: Pewter
COLOR C: White
I’ve seen some other pretty combos in the craft stores, like green and white, and red and white. If you do decide to stray from the colors I crocheted with, you’ll get best results by starting with white, adding a dark color, and finally choosing a lighter version of the dark color. (True buffalo check fabric is woven and actually only uses 2 colors; the medium color is the result of the dark and light threads crossing paths.)
Free Downloadable Label
Since Buffalo Check Potholders would make a great holiday gift, I’ve included a free downloadable PDF for a wraparound-style label! These wrappers will take your gift presentation up a notch, and would also be great for displaying your potholders as a part of your craft show inventory. Whatever your needs, just click the image to download. (I printed mine on lightly textured, cardboard-colored cardstock to achieve this rustic look.)
Prefer a PDF?
This pattern is also available as an ad-free, printable PDF! And if you love PDFs, you might want to check out my All Access Pass. It’s an awesome deal! (Or, scroll down for the free version!)
BUFFALO CHECK POTHOLDERS
View on Ravelry
Language: American Standard
Difficulty: Intermediate
Finished Size: 7.5″ x 7.5″
Hook: 4.0mm or whichever hook is needed to obtain correct gauge
Gauge: 22 CSC x 17 rows = 4″ square
Yarn: #4 medium weight cotton yarn in three colors:
- COLOR A (midtone): 80 yards
- COLOR B (darkest): 45 yards
- COLOR C (lightest): 45 yards
I used Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Cotton for all three of my Buffalo Check Potholders. Check up in the blog post for the colorways used in each one!
You’ll Also Need: Yarn needle, 10″ length of 3mm leather or suede cord for handle
Terms and Abbreviations:
ST/STS (stitch/stitches)
SL ST (slip stitch)
CH (chain)
CSC (crossed single crochet: Insert hook into stitch. Yarn UNDER, pull through; 2 loops on hook. Yarn over, pull through both loops.)
FLO (front loop only)
JOIN (join with a SL ST to the top of the first ST of the round)
Notes:
(1) CH1s at the beginning of rounds do not count as a stitch in the final stitch count.
(2) This is an intermediate level pattern because it involves a lot of color changes and carrying yarn. I go through the first round very thoroughly with lots of photos, and then basically set you free with a color chart after that. If you can crochet the first round and it’s all making sense to you, you’ll be just fine to complete the pattern!
(3) Pattern is worked in joined, unturned rounds around a base chain and seamed closed at the end, resulting in a sturdy, double-thickness potholder.
INSTRUCTIONS
To begin: With COLOR A, CH43.
Round 1: CSC in 2nd CH from hook. CSC in next CH. CSC in next CH, but complete the ST with COLOR B (see photo).
With COLOR B, and carrying COLOR A along behind your stitches, CSC in each of the next 5 CHS. CSC in next ST, but complete the ST with COLOR A (see photo).
Carrying whichever color you are not actively using, continue across the chain, following a color pattern of 6 STS per color (excluding the very first set of 3 STS) until you have three empty chains remaining. Complete the final 3 STS with COLOR B (photo).
Next, you’re going to complete the other half of this set of six COLOR B stitches on the other side of the chain. Place your next 3 STS where indicated in the first image (shown completed in the second image), and don’t forget to complete the final ST with COLOR A to prepare for the color change:
Continue to CSC into the remaining chains, following the 6-stitches-per-color pattern, until only 3 STS remain; complete those STS in COLOR A. (Notice how the first 3 STS and the last 3 STS of the round make a full set of 6 for COLOR A.)
JOIN to the top of the very first ST of the round (indicated in the first photo and shown completed in the second photo). (42)
Rounds 2-30: CH1, do not turn. In FLO, CSC in each ST around, following the color chart below. Join. (42)
A few tips for following the color chart:
- To save space, the chart has been condensed using a repeated section, just like a written pattern would. Read it from right-to-left (or left-to-right, if you’re a leftie), and be sure to complete the repeated section the indicated number of times before finishing with your final 3 stitches (or final 9 if you’re a leftie).
- The pattern is worked from the bottom up, so start at the bottom of the chart.
- Don’t forget, you’ve already completed Round 1.
- Remember, when changing colors, always complete the last ST of the previous color by drawing the new color through the two loops on the hook.
- When you get to Round 6 and add COLOR C, you can drop COLOR B until you need it again (you don’t need to carry it along). This applies to whenever you get to a round where the blocks of color are different from the previous round.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for seaming. Weave in all other ends.
Seaming
Hold top edges of potholder together so that the color blocks line up with each other, and seam the edges together in your preferred method. Here’s how I seamed mine:
Fasten off and weave in your final end.
Handle
Cut a 10″ length of leather or suede cord (mine was 3mm thick) and use a yarn needle to run it through the potholder near the corner. Tie a knot at the top and trim as necessary.
Done! If you’re sharing on social media, be sure to tag me @yarnandchai.design so I can see your beautiful work!
(And don’t forget to download these FREE wrapper labels!)
Beautiful potholder, what is the stitch multiple?
Thanks Sharon Mahoney
I would like to suggest to those having problems getting the “Square” shape properly that you use a ROW MARKER on the very 1st stitch of the round. It is possible you might be going into the SS (slip stitch) that ends the round instead of the 1st SC of the round which could cause the square to slant or pull. I hope this is helpful.
You can find basic videos on YouTube with picture (and explanation) on carrying the previous color with your working yarn when working the check pattern. You basically crochet over it with the new color. I searched for a video showing Buffalo Check in the round to now avail.
Rounds 2-30 say to FLO, CSC… do you CSC FLO for the entire pot holder or just round 2?
Wonderful pattern!! Clear and concise instructions. I enjoyed making the red version and can’t wait to get started on the next color patterns. Thank you for sharing, Rebecca!
Also….we share the same surname 🙂
I struggled too at first to figure out this pattern. I thought I would be making one long swatch then folding over and sewing up three sides. The join at the end and chain one were throwing me off. But then I realized after a couple rows that it started to form a pocket, so that essentially you are crocheting in a loop and joining at the end. I found using a stitch marker helped when I came back around to the first CSC where the join happens, So at the end, the bottom and both sides are closed and you just have to sew the top together. Hope this helps.
I love this pattern and I’m on my second one. How do you get your squares so straight? Mine slant to the right really bad. At the end, when I make sure to line up the correct squares/colors before stitching together, it bunches up weird and doesn’t want to lie flat. Like the edges and corners are weird. I’ve been trying super hard with this second one to have the exact same tension throughout, but it still seems like some squares are smaller. I consider myself a fairly advanced crocheted too!
Anyhow, your work and your patterns are gorgeous! Thank you!
I’m struggling with this pattern too. Is it possible to see a video of the first couple rows just to understand the process? I was so excited, bought this yarn for a couple gifts and gave up. I’m not a quitter but I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Thank you.
This could be an issue with how you’re joining — you might be getting off by one stitch every round. Crochet Ever After has a good video on making invisible straight seams in the round.
I had a hard time at first too, then realized it’s done in rounds and not back n forth.
I agree with the previous comments. I have really had a hard time with following this pattern and would really appreciate a video or more pictures explaining the color changes. I have experience with color work, but I can’t understand what you are doing with the color work across the rows. Are you crocheting with one color when you pass the yarn under and then with the main color when you go through the stitch the second time and go through both stitches? A slow motion video would help those of us struggling with this! I had planned to take this project on a trip over Thanksgiving, but I guess it will have to wait a couple of weeks. I’m disappointed!
I love this, but I too am struggling with the pattern. A video of the chain and first three rows would be great!
I also am a bit confused. I don’t understand the csc. Pics are not that good.
I have tried this pattern several times but am so confused. more pics or a video would be very helpful.
#1, yarn and chai are my fav, too! #2, I love the Buffalo plaid potholders, but am struggling to get the pattern. Do you have a video by chance?
Thank-You very much for the pattern, I can’t wait to give it a try.
I purchased the pattern for the buffalo pot holders, and the program will not allow the download. Very disappointed.