This is a pattern I picked up some years ago when knitting hats in a group for newborns. It is perfect for a new knitter because it is knit flat then stitched up at the end. It can also be easily adapted for crochet.

To make the baby-sized hat pictured here I used an acrylic worsted weight yarn with US 8/5mm straight needles. Though any weight or kind of yarn can be used, just be sure to factor the gauge when determining the number of stitches to cast on.

NOTE: Since the length of the hat from the ear to the top is determined by how many stitches are cast on, keep in mind, the more stitches you have, the longer/floppier the hat will be. Although, a longer width could be used to create a fold-up brim for extra warmth.