Difficult to know exactly what needles to use. I don’t do hat gauge swatches - they’re never accurate. It’s just as easy to start the hat and take it apart and start over if needed.

After looking at many projects I chose a size 6. Cast on 100 stitches. Gauge of 21 stitches in 4 inches. I like the fabric, I’m thinking that if I go to a smaller needle it’ll become far too firm. As is, it’s going to be bigger than I hoped. (daughter in -law and grandchild both have much smaller heads than this, and I was hoping to make this as a gift.)

I expect I’ll start over.

I’m getting better at the specialty stitch. These seem to come right on top of the stitch from the previous round. That is probably an argument for starting over with a different gauge too, right?

Yep, started over using size 5 needles, still with 100 stitches. Got the suggested 22 st/4in gauge. However, still caused the stochastic stitches to clump, right on top of each other. I noted that some knitters had broken their yarn to make this work, but I just worked some stochastic stitches in the plain grey. I think they look pretty cool.

Yule gift - I’ll have to get a picture modeling after she receives it. It may be plenty loose (adorable tiny little head)