– ch.5, cl ch w/sl.st to make ring
– ch.1, sc in middle of ring 7 times, cl w/sl st in ch.1 space from previous round & ch.1

Round 1:
– sc x2 in each st, cl w/sl.st & ch.1 (14)

NOTE: close each round with sl.st & begin each round with a ch.1

Round 2:
– hdc x2 in 1st st, hdc x1 in next… repeat to around, close with sl.st in ch.1 st from start of round, ch.1 (21)

Round 3:
– hdc x2 in 1st st, hdc x1 in following 2sts… repeat to around, cl.w/sl.st & ch.1 (28)

Round 4:
– hdc x2 in 1st st, hdc x1 in following 3sts … repeat to around, cl.w/sl st & ch.1 (35)

Round 5:
– hdc x2 in 1st st, hdc x1 in following 4sts…. cl w/sl.st & ch.1 (

Round 6:
– hdc x2 in 1st st, hdc x1 in following 5sts … cl.w/sl.st & ch.1 (49)

Round 7-17:
– hdc in each st around, cl.w/sl.st & fasten off

Ear flaps:
– *from back seam, count past 7sts & re-attach yarn in the 8th st.
– ch.1 & hdc in same st & in the following 7sts (8)
– ch.1 & turn work
– hdc in all 8sts, ch.1 & turn work
– hdc dec, hdc in next 4 sts, hdc dec, ch.1 & turn work
– hdc x1 in each st for 2 rows (6)
– hdc dec x3, ch.1 & turn work
– hdc dec, hdc x1 in next st, ch.1 & turn work
– cl.w/sl.st & fasten off *

Repeat to for other ear flap

Finishing off:
– reattach yarn anywhere in back of the hat (I always reattach in the back corner where one of the ear flaps meets the edge of the hat)
– ch.1, hdc in each st around, cl.w/sl.st & fasten off

Strings (optional)
– cut even lengths of yarn; 3 pieces each side
– Fold in half & feed one end of the half through the lowest st at point of ear flap; stop when middle of fold is in the stitch
– Separate strings evenly and braid, tie in a knot at the bottom
– repeat on the other earflap

Pom Pom:
– wrap yarn around your open palm 20 times
– carefully pull it off your hand keeping it in place
– Wrap another, longer, piece of yarn around the middle of this bundle and tie as tight as you can (will make the bundle of yarn you pulled off your hand into the shape of a bow)
– Cut the loops on both ends of the “bow bundle” to reveal a shaggy Pom Pom
– Weave the long strings used to tie the bundle in the middle through the top of the hat
– reach to the inside of the hat to pull the strings through and tie them tightly to secure the Pom Pom to the top of the hat

Use a yarn needle to weave all loose ends of the project in the stitches on the inside of the hat