BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Crochet Hats for Cancer patients

About a month or so ago, I started crochetting hats to be worn by Cancer patients when their hair gets thin, or falls out altogether, from chemo treatments. This was mainly due to the fact that my younger sister (we are both in our 40s) has brain cancer and told me about a charitable organization that gives hats for free to patients during their chemo treatments, and she asked me to crochet a skull cap for her. I did so, and she sent me one of the free hats she had picked up so that I could make one following that pattern (a simple single crochet). I then found the attached card with the website printed on it: GetWellGang.ca. I went to the website and wrote the "contact us" addy that I would be making a few hats for my sister, and that any she didn't particularly like, she would be contributing to their box at the hospital. That really started something. The website owner sent my sister four hats, and three of my friends crochetted and knit two hats each, and I have completed six so far, and more on their way. My aunt neither knits nor crochets, so she's going to buy and send me some yarn so I can make even more! I came to this forum all those weeks ago for help on one pattern that I had found and loved quite a bit (you'll see it in a minute, it's the white one, and I'm the process of making one in blue) and after it was solved, Carla asked me to post my story and some pix. It seems that I am unable to figure out how to post pix, but I have a link: [url=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=itsauntied&target=ALBUM&id=5381716918048423441&authkey=Gv1sRgCLLi38OP0fLu8wE&invite=COKbpv8C&feat=email]Hats by Dee from Calgary[/url] Please note that the first two hats are made from acrylic, and can only be worn while the patient still has hair; patients without hair may find that acrylic irritates the scalp, and for that reason, all hats should be made of 100% cotton.

This is a great venture. I love that you are helping others. When you have a talent it is so important to give back and this is a lovely way to give back. Thank you for the inspiration to do something for others in your community....I am making baby blankets for the salvation army. I hope to have 10 ready for by christmas. ASAP I will post pictures.

Carla That's lovely. I'm looking forward to the pix! I tried making blankets, but I couldn't keep the tension consistent throughout. I made granny square afghans for each niece and nephew when they were born (there are four of them plus I made one for a friend, and 2 others, not in baby colours, for myself). It's much easier to keep an eye on the tension, but they are a lot of work!

I just read your post and wanted to suggest the Caron Simply Soft yarn for hat patterns that would be soft on bare skin and that crochets nicely into hats. I have made them for my granddaughters and 20 something daughters and they wear them all the time - the point here being they have beautiful jewel colors that can fit into the current fashion in the Bay Area anyway. Do the hats need to be a specific pattern or can other patterns be used?

You've given me a great idea. I'm going to check into this in my local area.

gramywheels, there are a couple of suggested patterns at the website I had located (getwellgang.ca), but they are esp for those who have no idea what to make. I have veered away from the patterns, as you might be able to tell by the photos I have posted. My sister is esp enamored of the ones with lacy or open patterns (cuz she stil has hair); they can be worn in warmer weather, but I suspect that a closed pattern may be preferred by some cancer patients who do not want to expose their scalp. I'm also in the process of putting together a doo-rag with snap fasteners (made to measure) instead of tying the scarf, to make it easier for my sister to put it on. I'm with her, so I can sew the snap fasteners in place, rather than estimate. BTW, I know there are a lot of soft yarns out there, but I'm leery to use anything except cotton, because of the possiblity that it's the actual type of material, not its softness, that the patients may have a reaction to.

joanj please let us know about what you do.