Santa's Christmas Tree Elf Hat

As the Christmas season approaches, thoughts of white-brimmed red hats with tails of decreasing width come to mind. Rather than buy a head-covering of unknown materials and manufacture, why not knit what will surely become an heirloom and a treasured gift? This pom-pommed take on Kris Kringle's topper features an easy cable, a well-known gansey motif and beads worked on a stockinette/stocking stitch background. Warning - this hat may prove so popular among all of your friends and family who see it that you will be asked to knit more than one! Written and charted instructions are provided. Also offered are instructions as to how to enlarge or reduce the desired head circumference by an inch or a few centimeters.