The messy bun pattern includes instructions for making it a closed top hat.

A slouchier, longer hat may be made by knitting one or two extra rows after the band, and/or by increasing the knit rows between the pattern bands.

The 5mm straight needle is only used for casting on. You may also hold 2 4.5mm needles together. This keeps the cast on edge from being too tight.

Switch to double pointed needles when the hat becomes too small to comfortably knit on the circular needles.

For very thick hair/dreads you may bind off sooner to create a larger opening. Be sure to use a super stretchy bind off method.