Sweet Nothings Crochet: CHEMO CAP 2

CHEMO CAP 2

This set of caps has been made for yet another special donation. I made a few caps in time for Christmas, and used a few different patterns for them. This is my second set. These caps are headed to Tata Memorial Centre pediatric cancer ward in Mumbai.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used some (Indian) Laura knitting cotton with a 3.5 mm crochet hook

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros e or unbranded knitting cotton as well

Laura knitting cotton is a really soft yarn, perfect for Chemo caps.

General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.

You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn ; Alize bamboo yarn.

Lily Sugar n cream and Flinders 4-Seasons 100% cotton 8-ply knitting cotton.

Difficulty level : Intermediate to Advanced.

The basic cap pattern is easy, but for the hair that frames the cap, the pattern is a little bit more advanced.

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

Front post single crochet : fpsc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch on the row below. Here is an easy video tutorial for the fpsc at https://youtu.be/OQa8YLpkdXs

Back post single crochet : bpsc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch of the row below. Here is an easy video tutorial for the bpsc at https://youtu.be/L1K_MMLl-D4

Here is a sizing chart for general head sizing :

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279839058772/ OR

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837764548/

Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

Abbreviations used :

sc : single crochet dc : Double crochet

ch : chain ch-sp : chain space

sp : space rep : Repeat

hk : hook lp (s) : loop(s)

yo : yarn over sl-st : slip stitch

hdc : Half double crochet

Instructions using U.S terminology

Please note that I start all my rounds with a ch 1 turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for video tutorials of all the stitches used in this pattern sheet.

For this darling pattern, visit https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/marys-chemo-hat

The original pattern does not have a flower appliqué.

For the flower, check the bottom of this blog (after tweak idea)

So what did I do differently with the cap pattern?

Tweak 1 :

Sweet Nothings Crochet free crochet pattern blog, free crochet pattern for a chemo cap, photo of the cap with spike stitch,

I chose to work a slightly different pattern for the cap (Check Chemo Cap 1 at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2019/12/chemo-cap-1.html).

I’ve worked my Chemo Cap 1 pattern and added a Spike stitch in a contrast colour near the brim of the cap.

So the Chemo Cap 1 ends with 55 sts and is worked one round dc and one round hdc.

I followed the pattern for Chemo Cap 1 till Round 8, and then worked 3 rows in sc in the main color.

In the following row I worked the spike stitch in a contrast color.
The spike stitch is a stitch worked over the previous rows.

It is a longer stitch worked in contrast yarn.

Sweet Nothings Crochet free crochet pattern blog, free crochet pattern for a chemo cap, photo detail of the spike stitch,

My Spike stitch is worked over 5 sts as follows.

I worked 1 sc ; 1 hdc into the 2^nd previous row ;

1 dc into the 3^rd previous row ; 1 hdc into the 2^nd previous row and 1 sc.

Repeat this 5-stitch combination to get a nice spiked pattern all around.

Once again for the hair, I used the Mary Chemo Cap idea for the front hair bangs and then the tendrils that frame the cap all around.

For the hair, I used the basic idea of Mary Chemo Cap.

I found the front centre of the cap and worked the 8-ch pattern to and fro to form that front hair bang and then continued down the side and back as given for Mary’s chemo cap forming the wind whipped tendrils of hair that frame the cap. So though our stitch count differs, we are still able to work the hair to fringe all around our cap.

Valuable calculations :

1. Hat circumference = measure around the head just above ears and subtract one inch for a nicely fitted finished hat.

2. Crown width = (this is a flat circular top of the hat) you need to divide hat circumference by 3.14 (pi).

3. Hat height = Head circumference / 10 x 4.

So you need to measure circumference of the head (round head measurement) and keep checking the outer circumference of your work.

There is another trick for measuring circumference (without running your measure tape all around the edge of your circle as you are working).

This works for a cap that you are working top down, from the crown of the head.

It works by dividing your round head measure by pi (3.14).

So say your head measurement is 22, divide 22 by 3.14 = 7.

Remember when calculating diameter, you must account for the stretch of your yarn too.

So once the ‘flat portion’ for the crown (or the first few rounds while you are still increasing) of your cap is 7” diameter, you can stop increases and start increasing just the length (without increasing stitches for the round)

Right then, back to the pattern sheet.

Flower appliqué :

Sweet Nothings Crochet free crochet pattern blog, free crochet pattern for a chemo cap, photo of the flower applique,

Start Round 1 : with a magic circle and 6 sc in it.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Round 2 : sc in the 1^st sc ;

(ch 2 + dc + ch 2 + sl-st) all in the same 1^st sc ;

*sc in the next sc ;

rep (to) all in the next sc* ;

rep*to* all round.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

This completes one round of petals.

If you want to work a second round, we need to work under the first round of petals. Once again, this requires Intermediate to advanced skills.

In this round we will just work a round of chains but from under Round 2, using the stitches of Round 2, to make a base for the second floral of petals.

Round 3 : sc around the 1^st st ;

(ch 3, sk next 3 sts and work a sc from around the back into the next sc) ;

rep (to) all around and join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Round 4 : sl-st in the 1^st ch-3 sp ;

(sc + ch 2 + 2 dc + ch 2 + sc) all in the 1^st ch-3 sp ;

rep (to) in each ch-3 sp all around and join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Fasten off and leave a long tail for attachment.

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Here are some of my other creations.

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2020/04/easy-slim-seeded-headband.html