Buffalo plaid is an iconic tartan pattern formed with large blocks of two intersecting colors, typically red and black. This pattern traveled from Scotland to North America in the 1800s and has since become a classic American fabric for winter woolens. Like a woven plaid, the buffalo pattern in this scarf is created with the intersection of 2 colors of yarn.

If you already know 2-color brioche, you may find the intarsia color changes in brioche stitch to be easier than they are in stockinette stitch! Intarsia is added to two-color brioche stitch to create the intermeshed vertical and horizontal stripes of the plaid. This project is a gentle introduction to brioche intarsia.The pattern has written and charted instructions, a brioche intarsia primer with some helpful tips and a photo guide to help you get started on the first few rows.

If you haven’t tried any brioche stitch before, you may want to try a simple project first to learn the terminology.

Finished Size: 78” (198cm) long, 12” (30cm) wide
Yarn: Harrisville Designs Shetland, 217 yards (198 m) per 50g; 100% wool.
Dark Color: 2 skeins Ebony
Light Color: 3 skeins Poppy
Needles: Size 3 (3.25 mm) 32” circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: 17 sts x 22.5 rows = 4 x 4” (10 x 10 cm) square in brioche stitch.
Materials: A scale accurate to the gram, crochet hook, blocking mats and pins.