Lace Edged Chemo Caps
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These two lace edged caps can be made in a solid color or with two colors. The one on the left is a madiera lace and the one on the right a scallop lace.
Size:
Adult woman, size medium – 20″ circumference, 7.5″ height
Gauge:
17 stitches and 23 rows = 4 inches in stockinette
Materials:
1.7 oz (90 yards) of soft worsted weight yarn
Size 8 (5 mm) 47″ circular needle (for magic loop) or set of size 8 (5 mm) double pointed needles
Yarn needle
Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
k2tog = knit two together
sk2p = slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together; 2 stitches have been decreased
ssk = slip one knitwise, slip one knitwise, insert left needle into front of both slipped stitches and knit.
yo = yarn over
Madeira Lace Cast on and Body:
Cast on 84. Join to knit in the round. Divide stitches between double pointed needles or needles for a magic loop. Divide with multiples of 14 on each needle. Repeat the round directions across the round.
Rnd 1: p
Rnd 2: p
Rnd 3: k2, yo, k4, sk2p, k4, yo, k1
Rnd 4: k
Rnd 5: k3, yo, k3, sk2p, k3, yo, k2
Rnd 6: k
Rnd 7: k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2, sk2p, k2, yo, k1, yo, ssk
Rnd 8: k
Rnd 9: k5, yo, k1, sk2p, k1, yo, k4
Rnd 10: k
Rnd 11: k2, yo, sk2p, yo, k1, yo, sk2p, yo, k1, yo, sk2p, yo, k1
Rnd 12: k
Rnd 13: p
Rnd 14: p
For two colors, make color change here.
Rnd 15: k
Rnd 16: k2, p1, k9, p1, k1
Repeat rounds 15 and 16 until the hat measures 5.75″ from the edge. End with a Rnd 16. Work Crown.
Scallop Lace Cast on and Body:
Cast on 84. Join to knit in the round. Divide stitches between double pointed needles or needles for a magic loop. Divide with multiples of 14 on each needle. Repeat the round directions across the round.
Rnd 1 and 2: p
Rnd 3: k
Rnd 4: k1, yo, k3, ssk, yo, sk2p, yo, k2tog, k3, yo
Rnds 5-12: Repeat rnds 3 and 4 four more times.
Rnds 13 and 14: p
For two colors, make color change here.
Rnd 15: k
Rnd 16: k2, p1, k9, p1, k1
Repeat rounds 15 and 16 until the hat measures 5.75″ from the edge. End with a Rnd 16. Work Crown.
Crown:
Rnd 1: k3, ssk, k5, k2tog, k2
Rnd 2: k2, p1, k7, p1, k1
Rnd 3: k3, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2
Rnd 4: k2, p1, k5, p1, k1
Rnd 5: k3, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2
Rnd 6: k2, p1, k3, p1, k1
Rnd 7: k3, sk2p, k2
Rnd 8: k2, p1, k1, p1, k1
Rnd 9: k2, sk2p. k1
Rnd 10: k2, p1, k1
Rnd 11: k1, sk2p
Cut the yarn with several inches to work with. With a yarn needle, pull the yarn through all the remaining loops, secure and weave in end.
Lovely! Am I allowed to make and sell at shop with other chemo caps and supplies? If not for selling can I donate to the shop? I am a cancer survivor 3 xs over.
Congratulations on surviving cancer. There are no restrictions on what you do with items made from my patterns. Enjoy.
Thank you for being so considerate of knitters who donate so much of their time talent and treasure to care about those who need chemo hats. It is so nice to be able to use your
patterns without restrictions.
Do you have a pattern for this project in crochet? I LOVE the look of this cap.
Warm regards,
Michelle aka The BearTwinsMom
I’m sorry I don’t. Thanks for asking.
Thank you so much. I Knit for cancer patients and besides my own patterns I am always looking for more. Variety is the spice that keep the laughter going in our group who knits for our cancer lodge.
The chemo caps are going to be next on my liat. Last Christmas I made scarves for soldiers and veterans. I’m making several afghans for the new hospice in my area. They wil be done inabout three wkes, but I can make the Chemco caps. My sister-in-law is a breast cancer for several years. She is my insperation to do the caps. I’m retired and when I do my crocheting and knitting I give most of it away to people who really need the items.
ADDRESS TO DONATE THE CAPS? THANK YOU!
You can always call your local hospitals and cancer centers to see if they are accepting hat donations. Here are some sites for organizations that take chemo hats:
http://www.knotsoflove.org/
http://www.headhuggers.org/
http://www.chemocaps.com/
Also, another reader has offered to accept hat donations to forward:
I would be more then happy to accept your caps and turn them in to the hospital for you. We are always in need of items for the NICU, new borns, oncology, hospice and other depts.
Charlotte Tetzlaff
W5770 Wildwood Rd
Neillsville, WI 54456
How could I decrease this pattern so that I may make these hats for, say, 4-6 year olds?
Thanks.
The pattern is a multiple of 14 stitches, so you can make it with 14 fewer stitches to make it smaller. You can also make it with sport or DK weight yarn and size 6 (4 mm) needles and it should be about the right size.
The Madeira Lace Chemo Cap is beautiful. I am confused. Is the “5.75″ from the edge” from the beginning or from the edge where the second color is introduced. This is my first hat so I have no reference point. I am so pleased with the results of this very feminine cap. My two friends receiving chem will be pleased.
From the beginning edge.
Love the look of the caps. I hope to make some to donate to a local oncologist … to give back to people who gave to me!
What is the gauge I’m working with? Thanks!!!
17 stitches and 23 rows = 4 inches in stockinette
Thanks for making hats to give back! You inspire me.
Thank you!!!! I appreciate the info and the thoughts … very much.
I was recently diagnosed. I would like to knit this cap before starting my chemotherapy. I have a large head and wonder if a larger size needle (perhaps a 9 or 10?)would produce the result I need. Thank you.
That should add a bit to the circumference for you. I wish you well on your future treatments.
As I live in Florida, could these hats be made using cotton thread so they are not so hot?
Absolutely. I’ve made them in cotton and they are soft and show the design well.
I want to make this but cannot find out how to print this pattern. Can you help me? Thanks.
At the end of the pattern is a print icon.
So many people were missing the printer icon that we decided to move it to the top.
What is a MAGIC LOOP?
A magic loop is a way to use a really long circular needle to knit small circumferences in the round. It’s a great way to make hats, gloves and socks without seams. There is a tutorial at http://weebleknits.net/mloop.html.
Thank you for these patterns. So far, I’ve made about 3 of each style to give to my local cancer center. Also going to make some for the local nursing home. These are wonderful patterns.
Love the hats, have a couple of friends that are going through chemo now.
Can these patterns be done with a knitting loom? And if so what yarn would you use? I am trying my hand at prayer shawls on a loom but would love to be able to give a hat also.
I’ve not used a loom, so I’m not familiar with how flexible they are for making various stitches, or what yarns are appropriate for them. I hope a reader with loom experience will jump in here with some advice.
Is it possible to make these beautiful hats with 2 needles ?
To convert to regular knitting, every other row will need to be reversed (purls for knits, knits for purls) and worked in reverse order. Also, if a hat is worked this way, it will need to be sewn together to form a seam.
Here in Australia we use ply instead of worsted so what is the equivalent please. Is stockinette 1 row knit 1 row purl?
That would be your 8 ply.
Yes, in non-round knitting, stockinette is alternate rows of knit and purl so that the front is all knit stitches and the back is all purls.
Is th 5 3/4″ from the shorter point of the scalloped edge or the longer point. It makes about 1/2-3/4 ” difference.
From the longer point.
I made the Madeira Lace Chemo Hat and I love it. Now I would like to made a child’s with the same design. Would you be able to give me the number of stitches for that? Thanks
Cast on 70. That will make a hat with a 16.75″ circumference.
When I was diagnosed with cancer last year, knowing I would lose my hair had me looking for patterns. I knit this for myself but received so many compliments I have knit them and left them at my oncologists and at the hospital where I received my radiation. My hair is starting to grow back, but I will continue to knit and donate these hats.
Thank you so much for the lovely pattern of the Lace Chemo Caps. I’ve only made the scallop one so far, easy to do and so beautiful. I plan to make more and donate them.