Casting on 100 on 4.5mm cubics was too big.
Cast on 90 on 4.0mm cubics. It’s looking ok as this yarn is a bit thicker than the angora I used before and it will stretch more.
Worked 5 cm in 3x2 ribbing and then switched to 4.5mm cubics. Increased to 100 sts (1 increase every 9 stitches), knitted 1 round and increased to 110 sts (1 increase every 10 stitches). Knitted a couple of rounds and increased to 120 sts (1 increase every 11 stitches).
Each skull is 44 stitches wide, one skull on each side makes 88 stitches. 120-88=32/2=16 stitches separating each skull on each side.
Tried to do this in stranded colour work… it was wrecking my brain… decided to knit the beanie all in black and then embroider the skulls in duplicate stitch.
Double knitting might also work for this design.