Down couple needle sizes on straights to get the tension.

Tried it on as knitting to get exact size.
Picked up 28 stitches each side of face.

Very warm, neck flaps really help. Stitch pattern gives nice firm, warm fabric.

The yarns I’ve used are absolutely gorgeous and were a pleasure to knit with. Lovely, bouncy warm woollen spun yarns. I used the Manx for the neck flaps and the Shetland for the rest, with a tiny bit of Manx for the top of the helmet when I ran out of the Moorit Shetland.