I Need Another Challenge!

Okay, I finished my first hat.  It was a number of firsts - first time knitting in the round, first time doing color changes where it mattered that I did it neatly.  First time with double pointeds.  First time resizing a pattern.  Um first time measuring for gauge.  Click on the pic for a larger view.

Here's the thing.  The hat is still too big!  The gauge is exactly right, but it still looks like it would fit that kid from So I Married an Axe Murderer - the one with the huge noggin....  I got the pattern from The Knitting Room and either Ben has a gigundous melon or I did something really wrong.  I changed the color pattern and, rather than 90 stitches, I cast on 81.  I totally could have gone into 70 or so.  I also made it about 10 rows shorter. 

I don't know how to change colors very seamlessly.  I keep trying to do it like crochet.  I was figuring I could put a flower over the gaps, but now it doesn't look like a very flower-embellish-y type hat.

So, back to the hat drawing board.  My Secret Craftster will have to wait until I make a less jacked up hat. Until next time, children.....