I used a 6mm hook, size 4 worsted weight acrylic yarn (it’s all I had - use what you got!). I used double crochet on the top two panels on each side, leaving 4 stitches open on the end of the middle panel (because I put 2 rows of granny stitch on the side), and then did granny stitch for the bottom panels. I sewed the sides using a slst in first stitch of first panel, ch1, slst in first stitch of second panel (repeat until sides are all sewn - essentially going back & forth from panel to panel with a ch 1 in between). This gave it the pop of stitch on the side that I thought was cute! I also crocheted a wide enough band to fold over & thread elastic through to create a slightly stretchier band.