One freezing afternoon in New York City, I struck up a conversation with a woman on the subway who was wearing an old wool ski hat that she had cut up the back so that it framed her head like a bonnet. She told me that she had simply wanted the hat out of her eyes and to fall more comfortably around her ears. Inspired by the fit she achieved, I came up with this top-down knitted version in a cheery pumpkin color. I then lined the inside with fleece -- a simple step that adds warmth and structure.