craftgrrl | (this community is the nicest)

So I have an issue that I figured someone here might be able to address. Well, I recently taught myself how to crochet (and knit, too, but that's not what this is about), and I decided that I wanted to crochet myself a hat. A basic google search and glancing through several sites later, I decided that this was the hat for me, and it seemed easy enough. Now, I've been managing quite well so far, but the problem is . . . I don't have a crochet hook. So I've been crocheting using a pencil. The issue here is that the gauge is probably different (I think my stitches are smaller than the gauge they want) so I'm worrying about whether I should alter the instructions for the hat. I've gotten up through round nine, but it currently has a circumference of about fourteen inches . . . the finished product supposedly has a circumference of twenty-one inches. In the instructions, at this point, I'm supposed to be working even in single crochet stitches for three and a half inches; do you think it's supposed to already have the full circumference and from now on just be working down for the sides of the hat, or will it expand somewhat as I work? If it won't expand, should I just do another few rounds where I continue the previous pattern by doing now eight single crochet followed by two in one stitch all around and then nine single crochet followed by two in one stitch and so on until it has a decent circumference?

Wow, yeah, sorry that was so longggggg and just text. When I finish the hat, I will post a picture! I am also knitting myself a scarf (first knitting project). But hopefully someone can help with this . . .