Fight to Live Live to Fight: Unisex Chemo Cap Knitting Pattern for Cancer Support

Fight to Live Live to Fight Chemo Cap Copyright 2016 Lisa McFetridge

It all depends how you read it. It says “fight to live" and also says \*live to hight" Either way, cancer is a fight for life and we hope new research and medications give more people a better chance of living to fight. It has come to my attention that there are not so many choices of chemo caps for men. So make this unisex hat for someone you love or make one for a complete stranger and donate to a patient with a note of encouragement attached. This hat can be knit without the border sentiment in a solid color, simple stripes or with the border in 2 colors of your choice. Two sizes (Child/Small Adult, Adult/Large Adult) are determined by yarn weight & needle size. Two Sizes: (Child / Small Adult, Adult / Large Adult

Materials:

(Sport, DK) 190 (190) yds in Main Color ( MC) and (35, 40) yds Contrast Color (CC) 1 pr 16 or 24" Circular needles, US Size ( 4, 6 ) or size needed to obtain gauge 1 pr 16 or 24" Circular needles, US Size ( 3, 4) or (1, 2) sizes smaller than above needles 1 set Double Pointed Needles in same size as larger circular needles Adult/Large Adult size in DK weight shown in photo. Child/Small Adult Sport Weight Yarn on US Size 4 (or size needed to obtain gauge) : Cascade 220 Superwash Sport in (MC) Brown (CC) Grey Adult Size /Large Adult DK Weight Yarn on US Size 6 (or size needed to obtain gauge): Valley Yarns Valley Superwash in (MC) Brown (CC) Grey 1 darning needle 1 size J Crochet Hook (optional) 1 stitch marker Sport Weight Gauge: 24 sts x 32 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch DK Gauge: 22 sts x 28 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch Finished Circumference: Sport: 18.5 inches around head just above ribbed brim DK: 20 inches around head just above ribbed brim Desired Finished Height: Between 8 and 9 inches (after brim folded up if applicable). Abbreviations: K = Knit P = Purl K2Tog = Knit 2 together M1 = Make 1 BEGINHAT: Cast on 104 sts using MC and smaller circular needles. Place marker and join. Knit 1.5 inches of K2, P2 Rib for a PLAIN RIB BRIM OR Knit 4 inches of K2 P2 rib for a FOLD UP BRIM.

BODY:

Next rnd: Change to larger needles and Knit rnd. Next rnd: \*K13, M1\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (112 sts) Next rnd: Knit. If working the stranded "Live to Fight" border, go to BORDER. Note: If stripes are desired on a hat with no border, work as follows: Knit 1 rnd in CC. Knit 1 rnd in MC. Knit 1 rnd in CC. Knit 9 rnds in MC. Repeat these 12 rnds until desired length to decrease is met. Keep in stripe pattern as established during decreases. Go to TOP DECREASE. If working a plain hat with no BORDER then Knit all rounds in MC (see Note just above) until hat measures 5.5 to 6 inches for a PLAIN RIB BRIM OR 7.5 to 8 inches for a FOLD UP BRIM. GotoTOPDECREASE.

BORDER: Choose ONE of the following two charts, they are slightly different. Work all rows of Chart twice across each round. Blank = MC o = CC Bottom Chart says only "Fight to Live"

OR

Next rnd: \*K 26, K2Tog\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (108) sts See Note2 immediately below if striped hat is desired. Knit all remaining rnds in MC until hat is about 5.5 inches from bottom edge for a PLAIN RIB BRIM OR 7.5 to 8 inches from bottom edge for a FOLD UP BRIM.

TOP DECREASE:

Note1: When working decreases, keep in mind a desired finished height of between 8 and 9 inches. If the hat looks to be getting too tall, work fewer KNiT rnds between the decrease rnds. Instead of knitting 3 rnds, knit only 1 or 2 rnds. Too short? Add more rnds between the decrease rnds. Makes sense? Go for it. Note2 : Stripes Can be added in if desired by knitting as follows AT THE SAME TIME as working decreases. Knit 1 rnd in CC. Knit 1 rnd in MC. Knit 1 rnd in CC. Knit 9 rnds in MC. Repeat these 12 rnds while decreasing. Some of these rnds will fall on decrease rnds that is ok. Change to DPNs when needed to complete decreases. Next rnd: \*K 10, K2Tog\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (99) sts Knit 3 rnds. Next rnd: \*K 9, K2Tog\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (90) sts Knit 3 rnds. Next rnd: \*K 8, K2Tog\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (81) sts Knit 2 rnds. Next rnd: \*K 7, K2Tog\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (72) sts Knit 2 rnds. Next rnd: \*K 6, K2Tog\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (63) sts Knit 1 rnd. Next rnd: \*K 5, K2Tog\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (56) sts Knit 1 rnd. Next rnd: \*K 4, K2Tog\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (45) sts Knit 1 rnd. Next rnd: \*K 3, K2Tog\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (36) sts Knit 1 rnd. Next rnd: \*K 2, K2Tog\* repeat between \*'s across rnd. (27) sts Knit 1 rnd. Next rnd: K2Tog across rnd until 1 st remains, K1. (14) sts Knit 1 rnd. Cut yarn leaving 12 inch tail. Thread tail onto darning needle, run r stitches, secure to inside of hat with a stitch and run tail thru back c FAIRY PULL (optional): using two 12 inch strands of yarn and crochet hook. Join the double strand to tip of hat using a chain stitch. Chain 12, join last chain to tip of hat, cut yarn leaving 8 inch tails. Secure tails to tip of hat using darning needle and work tails into back of hat. lock hat as desired. If steam blocking, DO NOT BLOC Videos below show Steam Blocking Method. VideoLinks: http://www.youtube.com/feed/UCnnKLXw_E6Cy0KxSXxHg2-w/u Link to ALL my videos. Techniques for finishing, blocking etc... Copyright 2016, Lisa McFetridge Lisagmc@aol.com Lisagmc on Ravelry www.flickr.com/photos/lisamcfetridge Link to my FLICKR Photo Page. www.ravelry.com/designers/lisa-mcfetridge Link to my Ravelry Pattern Page Many of us know that Pink is the color representing Breast Cancer support, but many cancers have a "color" - Here is a list that may help choose colors for the chemo cap. Bladder Cancer - Marigold / Blue / Purple Brain Cancer - Grey Breast Cancer - Pink Carcinoid Cancer - Zebra Stripe Cervical Cancer-Teal/White Childhood Cancer - Gold Colon Cancer - Dark Blue Esophageal Cancer-Periwinkle Gallbladder / Bile Duct Cancer - Kelly Green Head and Neck Cancer - Burgundy / Ivory Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Violet Kidney Cancer - Orange Leiomyosarcoma - Purple Leukemia - Orange Liver Cancer - Emerald Green Lung Cancer - White Lymphoma - Lime Green Melanoma-Black Multiple Myeloma - Burgundy Ovarian Cancer - Teal Pancreatic Cancer - Purple Prostate Cancer - Light Blue Sarcoma / Bone Cancer-Yellow Stomach Cancer - Periwinkle Testicular Cancer - Orchid Thyroid Cancer-Teal /Pink/Blue Uterine Cancer - Peach