I only used this pattern only as an idea.

Doubled yarn throughout. Ear flaps were worked in short rows, increasing to 19 sts each.

Made the braids first and wound 3 stitches and worked ear flaps from the braids on size US 8 DPNS.

I knitted earflaps onto US 8 circular needles while casting on additional front (16 sts) and back (16 sts) stitches to make the round. (70 sts)

Knitted until I had ~ 4 inches.

Decreased as follows:

Row 1: K7, K2tog, K7, K2tog, K7, K2tog, K6, K2tog
Row 2: K6, K2tog, K

As you can see, I did not like how the Dino spikes turned out so I decided to make a big pompom