Started with 20-inch size 8 circulars after doing 1/4 of a swatch & unraveling to use the yarn, as I only have 1 ball of it.

Nice easy pattern and the smocking looks great in this shade of Wonderfluff yarn. The YouTube tutorial link really was a big help.

Decided to add some color at the crown with the Crystal yarn. Used size 20 instructions (small Adult), but knitted to 6.5 inches instead of the stated 6.25 inches before starting decreases.

Threaded through 2 rows of contrast color yarn at the edge for balance of color. Made a tassel and sewed on 5 matching color (plum/aurora borealis) beads - knotted the remaining strands.

GAUGE:

SIZE NOTES: Small adult size seems correct -- too small for my large size head. Smocking stitch section seems too deep. Next time I would subtract the last repeat of smocking, however, replacing that number of rows with stockinette stitch so the crown area will be deeper.

NOTE TO SELF:

1. Watch next time for a place near the first cast on stitch where I somehow skipped one smocking in the 1st/2nd pattern repeat. I was able to correct it by cheating in the finishing (weaving in the cast-on tail up in order to catch/pull the rows together). In photo this appears up above the edge-bow.

2. Next time start the color work almost right away (second round) when stockinette rows are started so the color is only not on the tippy-top of the hat.