3-5 lb Preemie; (infant/baby); (1-3 years old); (Child 4-9 years)  (tweens) (teen/woman)(large man) 
MATERIALS needed: Size 8 US (5 mm) knitting needles - can be made using circular needles too. 
3 oz of bright colored worsted weight #4 yarn

gauge is 6 rows = 1"  6 sts = 1 using size 8 needles

If you remember The MONKEES, Mike Nesmith almost always wore a green (or blue) knitted hat with a pompom, thus he gained the knickname "Woolhat".  One of the green versions had a stockinette stitch 2" x 3" or so panel up the front with white buttons sewed on.  You can create this for your hat too.  This pattern is based on the hats he wore on the weekly show in the 1960s! 

Cast on 48 sts 3-5 lb Preemie; ( 56 sts - infant/baby); (64 sts 1-3 years old); (72 sts - 4-9 years); (76sts - tweens); (84 sts- teen/woman); (88sts-mans)
Row 1: *K1, P1, repeat from * across line, ending with P1.  
Rows 2- ?: Repeat Row 1 until hat is 6" tall (7 1/2") (8 1/2") (9") (10") (11") (11")  from start.  This hat has a nice big cuff for warmth!  If you prefer a beanie with no cuff, just make the hat approximately 2" shorter than listed.
Decrease rows: 
Row 1: *K2 together, knit 1, repeat from * across row.  
Row 2: Knit  
Row 3: (K2 stitches together) repeat across row.
Last decrease row: Knit across.  

Cut a 24" tail of yarn, thread a yarn needle with it.  Carefully pull the last row of knitting from the needle and thread the needle through every stitch.  Pull tightly then whip stitch the side seam shut.  Roll up Brim to wear.

Add a Pom Pom to the top for kids or if desired.

Can also be made "in the Round" using 4 size 8 (5 mm) needles or a circular needle and then you don't need to seam.