Panda Beanie Success?

Sup humans,
So A friend asked me to make her a panda beanie, and since I have never made a beanie I went searching for a pattern. I stumbled across this one by Little Yarn Friends. In the end I modified this pattern a bit because it just wasn't working for me. I had to start this project 3 times due to some errors from me as well as the pattern.

1. I used half the ply, so of course the hat seemed too small. However I didn't want to waste my supplies so I just used 2 strands of the 4ply for take 2.

2. I used the 5.0mm hook with the 8ply acrylic yarn but still the beanie seemed too small and way too tight...

So I modified the pattern to this:

Panda Beanie:

White Yarn, 6.0mm hook.

R1: MR, Ch 2, 9 dc in MR, join to first dc, ch 2. (9)

R2: 2 dc in each dc around, join to first dc, ch 2. (18)

R3: [2 dc in first stitch, dc 1], repeat around, join, ch 2. (27)

R4: [2 dc in first stitch, dc 2], repeat around, join, ch 2. (36)

R5: [2 dc in first stitch, dc 3], repeat around, join, ch 2. (45)

R6: [2 dc in first stitch, dc 4], repeat around, join, ch 2. (54)

R7: dc around, join, ch 2. (54)

R8: [2 dc in first stitch, dc 8], repeat around, join, ch 2. (60)

R9: [2 dc in first stitch, dc 9], repeat around, join, ch 2. (66)

R10: [2 dc in first stitch, dc 10], repeat around, join, ch 2. (72)

R11-13: dc around, join, ch 2. (72)

Begin with first earflap, do not finish off.

1st Earflap:

White Yarn, 6.0mm Hook.

Row 1: Chain 1, sc in next 12, chain 1 and turn. (12)

Row 2: dec 1, sc 8, dec 1, chain 1 and turn. (10)

Row 3-4: sc across, ch 1 and turn. (10)

Row 5: dec 1, sc 6, dec 1, chain 1 and turn. (8)

Row 6: sc across, ch 1 and turn. (8)

Row 7: dec 1, sc 4, dec 1, chain 1 and turn. (6)

Row 8: sc across, ch1 and turn. (6)

Row 9: dec 1, sc 2, dec 1, chain 1 and turn. (4)

Row 10: sc across, ch 1 and turn. (4)

Row 11: dec 2, chain 1 and turn. (2)

Row 12: dec 1. (1) Finish off.

2nd Earflap:

White Yarn, 6.0mm Hook.

Leave 26 stitches between 1st and 2nd earflaps.

Row 1: Chain 1, sc in next 12, chain 1 and turn. (12)

Row 2: dec 1, sc 8, dec 1, chain 1 and turn. (10)

Row 3-4: sc across, ch 1 and turn. (10)

Row 5: dec 1, sc 6, dec 1, chain 1 and turn. (8)

Row 6: sc across, ch 1 and turn. (8)

Row 7: dec 1, sc 4, dec 1, chain 1 and turn. (6)

Row 8: sc across, ch1 and turn. (6)

Row 9: dec 1, sc 2, dec 1, chain 1 and turn. (4)

Row 10: sc across, ch 1 and turn. (4)

Row 11: dec 2, chain 1 and turn. (2)

Row 12: dec 1. (1) Finish off.

With White Yarn, sc around hat and earflaps, finish off and weave in the ends.

Braided Tails:

Cut 9 (90cm) strands of White Yarn and 9 (90cm) strands of Black Yarn, separate them into 9 strands for each sides respectively (one side with 4 strands of white yarn, 5 strands of black yarn and the other side with 5 strands of white yarn and 4 strands of black yarn). Pass through last space on earflap. You should now have 18 strands to braid with. Make a knot and braid to desired length, knot again and trim the ends.

Panda Ears: (make 2)

Black Yarn, 6.0mm hook.

R1: MR, Ch 2, 8 dc in MR, join to first dc, ch 2. (8)

R2: 2 dc in each dc around, join to first dc, ch 2. (16)

R3: [2 dc in first stitch, dc 1], repeat around, join, ch 2. (24)

R4: dc around. (24)

Finish off.

I didn't add the facial features because first of all I was short for time also, personally, I think it looks better. XD

Not allowed to put my face on the internet, so I had to make do...

Hope this helps. XD