I used smaller needles to make the hat less slouchy than the pattern since I didn’t like the effect when the hat was sized down by omitting rows/charts.

Pattern gauge, #3.00 mm: 33sts/43r = 4”
#3.25 mm: 26sts/32r = 4”
My gauge, pre-blocking, #2.75 mm: 30sts/29r = 4”
post-blocking, #2.75 mm: 28sts/25r = 4”

This sucker relaxed a lot in blocking. My stitches are so much squarer, as I would expect in colorwork. Even with the smaller needle--should I have used a 1? Sigh--it’s still way too slouchy for my beanie <3 and sparse hair. Off to the felting pot with it, as soon as it lives a while as shop sample in my LYS.

In chart B, Spindrift beiges don’t have enough contrast. Switched out E and B. I’m not happy with the rows where B and E were used together, but what is, is. Spindrift simply has fewer “natural” colorways in its palate than J&S.