To use this pattern, you will need to know how to single crochet in the round and in rows, and how to increase, decrease and bind off. It is written right-handed, mirror everything to work left-handed. It is built from the top, in spiralling rounds (not stepped up), until starting the ear-flaps. They and the border are worked in back-and-forth rows.

This pattern uses Lamb’’s Pride worsted or an equivalent yarn to make a hat for a medium (about 22 inch) head. It can easily be adapted for other sizes (see notes along the way). Since a hat intended for warmth should fit snugly, and also will become slightly larger when it’s washed and blocked, it should be worked up slightly smaller than the head it is for. However, the ear-flaps and the ties will help it to stay on, so it doesn’’t need to be as tight as some other shapes of hat.

The gauge is 3.25 ST/inch on a size G hook. (For other sizes and gauges, figure out how many rounds of increases it will take till the hat is a little bit smaller than the head for which it is intended.)

Optional: chin ties and/or a dangle, pom-pom, or pom-pom attached to a dangle at the top of the hat.