I was using the 'char.png' file that the Minecraft website gives you.
I was not even aware that there was a 'hat' one could wear (which seems to be more of a helmet).

You can just toggle the 'hat' off to see.

I was told that having an outside hat could have a small conflict with equipment worn in-game, but since these are my first skins, I may ignore that advice and draw on the hat layer anyway.

Can one use an alpha channel to make the hat (if hatless) layer 'clear'?