This is obviously a typo. Now, you just need to decide whether they meant to use one or the other size needle, or if they meant for you to use the larger needle for just the cast on, then smaller needles for the hat, or larger needles for the few rows of garter, then smaller needles for the rest of the hat. I have seen patterns that use smaller needles for edging or ribbing, but this one would appear to be the other way around. If I were you, I would just check the guage and use the one set of needles that fit the guage.

Donna is right. Knit a swatch (oh what a bore!)with 6 or 8 if you have both to see which gives you the swatch closest to the gauge. You might even have to go to a 7! (This is why we all have so many needles! LOL!)

Thanks for the hat site.

Swatch, eh? I was hoping not to hear that bad word. ;-(

I've never done one before...okay, maybe years ago!
I just checked a dishcloth I made with 4mm needles, and the tension seems to be right. I think I'll plow ahead with the 4mm needles...5mm does seem large and the hat looks much finer than those needles would produce.

Okay! Fingers crossed (as much as is possible while knitting), I'm plowing ahead!

Thank you, Donna, and Socks, for taking the time to review that pattern for me. I sincerely appreciate it! ;-D
...Lindi

The dishcloth would have been made with a different yarn, so it may not be a good comparison. You may have to give the hat to the person who has the head that it fits!! :-)