Chemo Caps for a Friend

Intro: Chemo Caps for a Friend

A friend was diagnosed with breast cancer and lost her hair after undergoing chemotherapy. I decided to try a variety of hats for her. These are some of them.

Rolled brim rose with stripe hat is knitted using a traditional rolled brim hat, knit in the round with Lion Boucle Rose and stripes created with a bobble stitch in Tutti Fuitti.

Red brimmed hat with turquoise flower. Knitted in 100% cotton using a pattern posted as a shared file on this yahoo group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KnitHatsNow/

Blue loopy top hat. Knitted in Pound of Love Denim color. This hat began with this pattern "Slightly Loopy Hat"
http://woollywormhead.com/page28.htm
and became half knitted and half crocheted, when I didn't like the way the knitted loop stitch was turning out, so I used this tutorial and did the loop part in crochet.
http://www.crochetme.com/loop-stitch-tutorial

Pink Cable and Rib Hat. Done in Bernat Cottontots in Strawberry color and using a traditional cable and rib hat pattern like these
http://smariek.blogspot.com/2006/01/chemo-hat-8-completed-3am-blue-cable.html

Blues Ballband Hat, done in Paton's Classic Merino Wool Worn Denim and Denim Marl colors and using a pattern found here
http://www.crafterati.com/2006/09/08/textured-bands-hat-pattern/

Light Pink hat with flower on brim is knitted top down using Caron Simply Soft yarn in Soft Pink and a pattern found here and called "Pi Topper Chemo Cap"
http://www.elann.com/ShowFreePattern.asp?Id=182024

Comments

[wahine44]

Where can I find the instructions for the first hat? Want to make it for a friend. Thanks for sharing.

[MFcrafts]

Hello,
I used Lion Brand Boucle yarn.
Here's my notes:
Cast on 59 sts onto size 13 using knitted cast on-with solid color.
Switch to size 9 circular needle and purl first row, connecting by purling last and first stitch in next row together. To have 58 sts.
Turn and switch to knitting all rows around to do stockinette st for 2-2 ½”.
Knit one round with variegated yarn.
Next rnd: *P1, MB* around. [MB=make bobble by k1, p1, k1 into same stitch and pull second from end over end, then pull next over end stitch]
Purl one round with variegated (maybe skip this this round in future)
Knit one round with variegated
Knit with solid color.for ¾”
Repeat variegated section
Knit another 3/4 “ with solid (may be 4 rows)
After 3rd variegated section done, should have 7”

Work even in St st if piece doesn't measure 7" from beginning.

Decreases: [if working in the round, Knit alternate rows instead of purling is an option]
Next row K 1, (k2tog, k 6) 6 times, k2tog, k 7 -51 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next row K 1, (k2tog, k 5) 6 times, k2tog,k 6 -44 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next row K 1, (k2tog, k 4) 6 times, k2tog,k 5 -37 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next row K 1, (k2tog, k 3) 6 times, k2tog,k 4 -30 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next row K 1, (k2tog, k 2) 6 times, k2tog,k 3 -23 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next row K 1, (k2tog, k 1) 6 times, k2tog,k 2 -16 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next row K 1, k2tog 7 times, k 1 -9 sts. Fasten off

Hope this makes sense.
Marie
http://Craftsbymarie.artfire.com
http://MFcrafts.etsy.com

[sandra22]

What a lovely thing to do for your friend, and thanks for sharing.

I had chemo a few years ago, but did not loose all of my hair (it just fell out in bits and went very thin)., but it took ages to 'recover'.

These hats are great, and I'm sure your friend really appreciates them.

I will definitely have a go at one or more of them, but I can't pick a favourite.

[maureenm]

what a great thing to do for a friend - each one unique and suited for a different mood. It must have been interesting to try so many different ones - I love the third blue one, too, with the shaggy top, but they're all great!

[stinkymum]

I love the third one!

[MFcrafts]

Thanks, it was the most difficult one to do, cause I made it up as I went along :-)

[deadalchemist]

these are beautiful and very inspiring. it would definitely light up a cancer victim's day. i definitely know what that's like...great job! the second one is especially adorable!

[MFcrafts]

Thanks GorillazMiko, it was a bit frustrating, since I didn't like the look of the knitted loop stitch, but when I changed to crocheted loop stitch, it worked well.

[GorillazMiko]

Oh. By the way, when you respond a comment, you should click the "REPLY" button so it shows up in my thing, thanks.

[MFcrafts]

Thanks, I didn't know that :-)

[GorillazMiko]

Nice job, I like the 3rd one, it looks super cool!