aw thanks, I wasn't expecting all the compliments
Today I made a polar fleece insert for the hat and stitched it in; it's a little uneven on one of the ear flaps, and a bit big for the hat in general, but it worked out well enough. Now I'm making a scarf in a matching color (but thicker yarn)
Every fabric store I went to seemed to charge way too much for just a bit of fleece, so I ended up going to the dollar store and buying a plain white fleece throw for $3, with plenty enough material for five or six hats and a couple pairs of mittens.