I had lots of hats when I was having chemo, but they always seemed to
be too big, or too floppy, or too "not me." I now have a full head
of hair again and don't need a hat. However, I have
a friend who is having chemo and needs one. Last week I sat down
to design a nice hat for her.
To my absolute delight, it turned out beautifully - it is exactly the
kind of hat I would have loved when I was bald. The "down" side is that
it requires TWO balls of Chinchilla, but I
think it's worth it.
Materials:
2 balls Berroco "Chinchilla" yarn
Size 8 US (5 mm) 16" circular and one set dp's Tapestry needle for
darning in ends
yardage of Chinchilla (187 yards)
Gauge:
(4 sts/in)
Pattern:
Band - Cast on 11 stitches and work in garter stitch (knit every row)
for 20" or desired circumference (remember, heads are smaller without hair!).
Bind off and sew ends together (or graft together if you used a provisional
cast-on).
Crown - Pick up and knit 110 stitches along one edge of band.
Join and place marker to denote beginning of round. Work in stockinette
stitch for 2 1/2" or desired depth.
Crown Shaping - Rnd 1: K19, work center double decrease as follows: slip next 2 sts as if to knit, k1, pass 2 slipped stitches over. *K19, ctr dbl dec; rep from * 3 more times (100 sts)
Rnd 2 and all even rounds: Knit
Rnd 3: *K17, ctr dbl dec; rep from * 4 more times (move marker as necessary to maintain beginning of round) (90 sts)
Rnd 5: *K15, ctr dbl dec; rep from * 4 more times (80 sts)
Rnd 7: *K13, ctr dbl dec; rep from * 4 more times (70 sts)
Rnd 9: *K11, ctr dbl dec; rep from * 4 more times (60 sts)
Rnd 7: *K9, ctr dbl dec; rep from * 4 more times (50 sts)
Rnd 9: *K7, ctr dbl dec; rep from * 4 more times (40 sts)
Change to dp's as necessary.
Rnd 11: *K5, ctr dbl dec; rep from * 4 more times (30 sts)
Rnd 13: *K3, ctr dbl dec; rep from * 4 more times (20 sts)
Rnd 15: *K1, ctr dbl dec; rep from * 4 more times (10 sts)
Run yarn through remaining 10 sts and pull up to close. Fasten
off and darn in all ends.