The Squarshy hat pattern, by Alaina Andersen, was just what I was looking for.  Specifically, I wanted a hat pattern that was knit with a bulky weight yarn (#5).  Also, I was looking for something that was simple but not just basic and plain.  The Squarshy hat pattern fit the bill.  It is enjoyable to knit.  The pattern is adjustable to make a larger or smaller sized hat.

Pom pom or Not

The designer of the Squarshy hat pattern has an optional pom pom.  She suggests a pom pom for the top.  I do not really care for them, so I did not add any to the hats I made.  That is certainly an option, and gives the project a bit of a different look.  You could make one out of the same yarn as the hat. Another idea is to use a coordinating yarn or contrasting yarn to stand out. Still another option would be to purchase a pom pom.  There are several to choose from, including removable ones.  They are helpful when washing the hat. Just detach the pom pom, wash the hat, then reattach after the hat is cleaned. 

Yarn choice

This hat pattern looks great in a variety of color ways of yarn.  For example, solid and speckled yarns show off the detail of the slipped stitches.  A lightly variegated yarn is good, too.  However, yarns with narrow or wide stripes, or even a pattern are not the best.  The hat looks fine, if that is your preference.  The detail of the slipped stitches, though, gets lost in the color changes and mosaics of the yarn. 

Pattern itself

As with almost all of the patterns that I knit, the Squarshy hat pattern can be found on Ravelry. This is a free pattern, as of the moment of writing this post.  It is designed by Alaina Anderson. While I really like this pattern, I do not care for the unnecessary cursing.  They are mixed in throughout the pattern, in the designer’s notes. There is not too much cursing, but it is still unnecessary and makes the designer seem very immature.