This tutorial uses the simple person model from a previous tutorial. If you didn't do it, go back and do it now---or find it pre-made just for you here. Alternatively, if you just want to make the hat without putting it on a person at the end, you can go ahead and do that without having completed the other tutorial.
Making animations can sound very intimidating, but it is often easy, even for beginners to make their very first animation without great harassment. This tutorial is there to show you how to do it.