12/21/19 - Cast on 96 sts using the Old Norwegian cast on with both colors, holding the dark grey around my thumb and the light grey around my index finger. Then did corrugated ribbing for 8 rounds. Did 1 round of light grey, 1 round of dark grey, then did 3 repeats of the chart with 3 dark grey stitches between each repeat. After the chart, did 1 round of dark grey, then added in flecks of light grey and started six 2-stitch neutral decreases (slip2tog knitwise, k next stitch on left needle, pass slipped sts over the st just knit), 1 centered above each skull, and 1 centered in the 3 sts that divided each chart repeat (12sts decreased).
Did 1 round without decreases, then repeated decrease round and rest round until there were 48sts. Then did decrease round on each round until 12 sts left. Did 1 round of ssk. Cut yarn, with both strands of yarn threaded thru tapestry needle, slipped all 6 sts off the needles knitwise, cinched it up, made a tiny knot, then wove in the ends.
After I soaked it and inflated a balloon within the hat to help even out stitches, it grew a LOT and I got really nervous! By the time it dried, it scrunched back up a bit and was barely larger than its pre-wash dimensions. The yarn did soften up quite a bit after a Eucalan soak, too, which made me feel better since my brother is bald.