This the seventheenth pattern in the 7 Hats More ebook.

“The Buff” has a story.

Last spring, just before COVID-19 hit, I had a customer come into the store looking for a Buff. I gave her my best blank stare and said, and I quote, “A what?!”

I have been knitting and working in a yarn store for a good number of years and I thought that there wasn’t anything I could not identify. Apparently, I was wrong!

So I looked it up online. A Buff is a commercial cowl. A finely knit Merino tube about 20 inches long. A very versatile accessory.
This is my version of a Buff - a cowl, a face covering or 3 kinds of a hat! Knit in tiny welts (horizontal ribs) in two colours for warmth and stability with I-cords for shaping.

This “Buff” is constructed with a 4-round welting pattern, a technique that creates a texture that resembles horizontal ribbing. It is very stretchy both lengthwise and widthwise. The fabric created is very dense and warm. The Buff will fit most teen to adult heads as a hat and the same as a cowl or face cover.

As a cowl – 2 options – the buff can be worn with cords down with the I-cords tightened to keep the neck warm. Thread the bottom cord through the zipper of a jacket to keep the cowl tucked down and into the neck of the jacket. Wear the cowl with the cords on top and the upper cord can be tightened to the face to keep the nose and mouth covered and warm.

As a hat – 3 options – double brimmed hat – tighten edging I-cord, single brimmed hat – tighten both I-cords, Messy bun hat – edging I-cord is open and loose, tighten first I-cord around the messy bun.

Materials: 5.0mm US #8, 16-inch circ, 2, 4.0mm dpns (for I-cord), 130 yds (60 grs) each of 2 worsted weight yarns (one light and one dark) or 260 yds of one colour, marker and the regular notions.