I tried following the pattern as described in the site. I just couldn’t. Maybe it was too simplified for someone like me, and because the hat that came out was too big for anyone: male or female. So I switched to following graphs ( I have attached a couple in the images), where a chain 3 is a necessity at the beginning of each row.
My version starts with 14 double crochets instead of 16.
The most important observation I can make regarding this pattern is that one MUST keep the 3 chain stitches at the beginning of the row RIGHT BEFORE THE FIRST FRONT POST DOUBLE CROCHET, or else you lose the spiral effect.

One more of what I used to consider as ‘prohibitively difficult patterns’ finished. Now for something new.