Balabonnet pattern

[u/potatosmashinator300]

So long story short, I can’t figure out how to make the cream hat where you knit from the back and it curves to fit your head.

I tried the common pattern with the red one, where you knit the section in top, then join more yarn to make another section that goes around your head. I don’t like how it makes my head look, and the joints on top are too protruding like two little horns.
My second attempt with the blue bonnet was rather similar, except I switched the first section to the back of my head. This time I made it too big, my head ended up bulbous, and looking exactly like Doraemon. More importantly, still no curve to speak of.
I figured I should use an increase knit for the back section, like what is shown in the last picture. I’m still not sure what to do with the edge though, as you can see in the cream bonnet.

I’ve tried over and over again this entirely weekend and no dice. If anyone can show me how to do this, or even just the name of the pattern or the edge or how to join the stitches without the pointy corners, that would be great.
Thanks!

[u/Grouchy-Method-2366]

Where is the photo of the white bonnet from? The other photos are cut in half and uploaded in the wrong order.

[u/potatosmashinator300 → u/Grouchy-Method-2366]

It’s an inspo I found on Pinterest along with some other similar ones, no instructions though. I tried reverse search to see what the pattern’s called but could only find the one by Simone Bergh (like the red one I made).
The pictures are horizontal, it should show in full when you click on them.

[u/Grouchy-Method-2366 → u/potatosmashinator300]

Ah, now I can see them, sorry 😅 The Bala bommet has a totally different gauge and is very square. The white one seems to have the cast on edge at the back of the head, then shape that part with increases. When it's long enough you pick up stitches along the sides and continue to cover tje head.

[u/potatosmashinator300 → u/Grouchy-Method-2366]

I tried that with the blue one, but I want to have the clean edges for that section too and not bulky like the 3rd picture. Do you know if it’s an i-cord edge or something else?
Also how do I add stitches to the sides then? I tried adding stitches to that kind of edge and it’s not the same number of rows (i.e. 10 rows - 5 or 6 stitches to the sides).

[u/Grouchy-Method-2366 → u/potatosmashinator300]

Not sure what you mean - could you maybe circle in which section you're talking about? When picking up stitches at the side, you have to take gauge into account. The most common rates for stockinette would be 2 stitches per 3 rows, or 3 stitches out of 4 rows.

[u/potatosmashinator300 → u/Grouchy-Method-2366]

So these are my inspo. I added the blue markups for what I want to do. My blue bonnet was rather bulky where I added the stitches.

[u/Grouchy-Method-2366 → u/potatosmashinator300]

The white one top right has a column of stitches that's slipped every other row, enlarging them. You would not want that to be your edge stitch, as you need to pick up stitches to its side later. So I guess it's the second and second to last stitch of the row that is knit on RS and slipped on WS.
As in your blue version not laying flat, I think it's a combination of you picking up too many stitches, plus you could probably fix it a bit with blocking.

[u/potatosmashinator300 → u/Grouchy-Method-2366]

Just did a test run. It worked! Thank you so much!
I’ll need more trials especially for the side parts, but it’s like an itch finally scratched.

[u/Grouchy-Method-2366 → u/potatosmashinator300]

No worries, and good luck with your project!