This is a circularly-knit, Aran-weight hat sized for the average adult (or teen) head. It has a deep, ribbed band which folds up for extra warmth around the ears. The optional stripes along the mid-portion can be done in your favorite team’s colors, using any row patterning you’d like. I’ve added notes for tweaking your stripes to smooth out the jogs. A jaunty pompom tops things off and ties in your colors.

Note: If you’d like a slouchier hat, you’ll have enough of the background yarn to add an inch or two of plain stockinette stitch rounds above the striped area, before you begin the crown decreases.

You’ll only need two different needle sizes for this hat, but I’ve listed three in the details, for I’ve found that loose knitters are apt to get gauge with US #7’s & #8’s; tighter knitters are apt to prefer US #8’s and #9’s.