Making a hat

[LeftyJoanne]

My mom is going through chemotherapy now and she of course has no hair. Her cancer keeps her body from making new platelettes so she has to get transfusions of those and regular blood every once in awhile. Therefore she is ALWAYS cold! She has 2 hats, that she hates because they are thin cloth ones that don't stay up on her head very well.

 

I thought I'd attempt to make her a hat or two. I got a nice pattern from headhuggers site. It says to use preferrably soft cotton. I agree with that because the acrylic might be itchy on her head. I'm just not sure what brand to use? I'm pretty new to the yarn.

 

So I'm open for some suggestions on a soft cotton yarn that would feel nice, yet is somewhat easy for me to use? I'm not sure how this hat is gonna turn out.

 

I'd also like to attempt to make a pair of fingerless gloves. Actually, gloves where the finger part maybe comes up to your first knuckle? Her fingers are always cold. I haven't found a pattern that I like yet for these. Honestly I'm not sure I can even make gloves yet, but I'm willing to try if someone can post a link to a nice pattern I can use?

 

It might take me awhile to make this stuff, but I'll get there eventually!! It's for my Mom after all!

 

[grannyannie]

Hi Joanne, I don't know about a cotton yarn, but I use Caron Simply Soft all the time and find it very soft and not itchy. It is an acrylic. I find it very easy to work with, although I know that some people complain that it has a tendancy to split. I have had brain surgery and had to have my head shaved and still have trouble with regulating my body temperature so I use my hats often. As for the fingerless gloves, I haven't attempted them yet! They are still on my things to do list, lol! I know that there are some wonderful patterns here from some of our 'ville members! Good luck. I'll be praying for you and your mom.

[CLLinda]

There's a nice yarn from Coats and Clark that's called Carefree Cotton. It's a blend of cotton and acrylic and it's very nice to work with. It's soft like cotton, but holds up well because of the acrylic in it.

 

It comes in many colors and is something I really enjoy working with when I make baby bonnets.

 

It's not really expensive and it worth the price. You can get it right from the C & C website or I have seen it at Wal*Mart. www.coatsandclark.com is the sight.

 

Good luck in making hats. I make tons of hats and baby bonnets, so if you need any help with a pattern, please pm me and I can help.

 

[mamarose22]

Here are several links for cancer hats. Most any hat can be used. Some people like to use fun fur because it is soft, fuzzy and airy and lets the scalp breathe. Some patterns call for chenille yarn also because it is soft. You could substitute the yarn of your choice on most patterns. Although cotton may not scratch, I would think it might be too thick and heavy. Also, you mother could put a little scarf liner on her head before putting the hat on, to protect her scalp. Good luck.

PS.I had listed a few other links but somehow it doesn't show up no matter how much I edit it, so I will list them here: http://www.eastsidefiberarts.org/topics/items/chemo/crochet.html

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/adultcancercaps.html

http://crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/hats,phphttp

 

 

 

http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/patterns.htmhttp://www.bevscountrycottage.com/adult-cancercaps.htmlhttp://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/hats.phphttp://www.eastsidefiberarts.org/topics/items/chemo/crochet.html

[proudmama762003]

you might pm schmetterling or mythunderbird as they are doing hats for brain surgery patients - i am sure they can help

 

schmetterling has alot of info on her blog thats in her signature.

[Granny Square]

The cotton might actually be cooler, like a cotton blouse is cooler than a polyester double-knit one. Also to wear a hat if you have no hair is almost the same as 'just' having hair (voice of experience here).

 

Chemo can change the skin temporarily so it is thin and very sensitive, another reason to probably avoid acrylic.

 

Although this probably doesn't apply to hats as much, cotton scarves work better for chemo patients than silk or silky fabrics because the silky ones slip off easily.