This hat pattern is a very special one for me. When my son was born, the hospital staff gave him a handknit hat. It fit him so perfectly, not nearly as tight as all the hats I had knit him, plus the ribbing was long enough to cover his ears. That’s an extremely important feature to have in Wisconsin when you’re born in February!!

I searched high and low for a pattern that would create a similar hat, but I could not find one. Finally, I reverse-engineered the original hat. The pom-pom could be an optional feature for you, but I really think that it adds a big cuteness factor!