Melt the ICE hat

I bought the pattern on Ravelry and figured that was what was important, as the money goes to charity. Since I have SABLE (Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy), I did not want to buy red yarn just for this hat. But when I checked the stash, I found some red yarn. So I knit the hat.

Pattern: Melt the ICE Hat, by Paul S. Neary
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in 893 Ruby
Needles: US8
Modifications: Increased the ribbing from 6 inches to 7

Once I was beyond the 1x1 ribbing, the instructions puzzled me. Instead of decreasing at four places like a beanie, the decreases were in only two places, creating a different shape. I double checked this anomoly with a fiber friend who has knit several of these.

An alternative to the braided tassel could be a fat i-cord, but I like the braid because it is different. Were I to knit this hat again with this yarn, I would shift down a needle size, as it feels a bit loose on me (and I have a big head).