Head circumference 58cm.

Cast on 90 (test 80 too tight). Too loose, so decreased to 83 stitches at about row 10. Decreased to 80 at row 18. After finishing, very snug, hope will stretch slightly!

Swatch gauge 22 stitches per 10cm, swatch stretched an additional 16 cm (36% stretch)

10 July 2024
Start on Lining, from crochet cast on up to crown
(Will help to estimate height of beanie and overall fit/size and make any corrections before starting visible outer side.)

From yellow provisional crochet cast on, knit up towards crown:
Rows 1-36 in Cerise (about 4 1/2 inches) including decreases for crown as below (as per Donnie’s hat):

Round 37: K8, k2tog around

Even rounds 38-50: Knit

Round 39: K7, k2tog around
Round 41: K6, k2tog around
Round 43: K5, k2tog around
Round 45: K4, k2tog around
Round 47: K3, k2tog around
Round 49: K2, k2tog around
Round 51: K1, k2tog around
Round 52: K2tog around
Round 53: K2tog around again (6 or 8 st remaining).
Cast off

12 July 2024
Complete rest of lining from crochet cast on down to fold point
Rows 1-20 Picked up 80 stitches from yellow provisional crochet cast on using Midnight Blue sparkle

Fold point and outer side of beanie

• Row 1-13 Continue in Midnight blue sparkle (to represent the sky from 0-54 mi (0-87km) altitude
• Row 14 Shocking Pink (to represent Aurora’s nitrogen border
• Rows 15-28 Green sparkle (to represent green Aurora)
• Rows 29-70 Cerise (to represent red Aurora)
• Row 53 - start decreases, see above, as for lining but using SSK instead of K2TOG (16 rows)
• Row 68 - Cast off (6 stitches left)

Provisional cast on ideas using crochet hook:

• https://ysolda.com/blogs/journal/crochet-provisional-cast-on
• crochet chain method https://youtu.be/eC-jT0JAh9c?si=__RdRGoytfkc1Fir
• more involved technique that I imagine would not be practical for casting on large number of stitches https://youtu.be/DXp8rUNxJtY?si=VtfrjZ3_Nf1vINSE

Other videos

• Knitting hat in the round https://youtu.be/uaoC__dKucA?si=xARXtangDYXyegAn

• Hat size guide https://www.knitpicks.com/learning-center/hat-size-chart

• Jogless joins
  For more seamless joins for colour changes when knitting in the round. When you reach the end of the first round of new colour, pick up stitch in the row below and knit it together with the first stitch. This creates an elongated stitch, hiding that beginning-of-the-round jog. See craftsy video https://www.craftsy.com/post/knitting-jogless-stripes-in-...

• Comparison of decrease techniques from Very Pink Knits (great videos) https://youtu.be/mtRBUpvUNuk?si=3Hxs4fiJiwjK0O9M

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Finished HelioCraft Altitudes hat for Aurora Australis obsessed son Timothy #HelioBigYear