Chemo hat for spring & summer ?s

[HollyP]

Hi. Is a chemo cap for spring/summer a bad idea? I just found out that an good family friend has leukemia.She is undergoing chemo and has just started to lose her hair. I thought I would make her a chemo hat but my Mom thinks she might get too hot wearing one around here in a few weeks.
I was thinking of using either bamboo or organic cotton for the hat so that it would be breathable.
What yarn would you suggest?

Thanks!!

[Plantgoddess+]

I would go to Ravelry and wander around the hat patterns to find some made with cotton or whatever yarn you decide on.
http://www.elann.com/freepatterns.asp If you scroll down the page a little over halfway there are some free patterns for chemo hats using some of the cotton yarns they sell.

[Sunshine's Mom]

My mom went through chemo during a beautiful summer about 3 years ago and she loved the caps I made for her. She was always cold even on a hot day. So, chemo caps out of bamboo or cotton I'm sure would be much appreciated. Some chemo receivers also have the same problem most of us would - fear of being bald in public when you are not normally bald. My mom (and others going through chemo since then that I've made caps for) loved the lightweight of the caps and they made her feel better about her appearance. I can't tell you the number of compliments she received on them. The oncology center liked them so much that I made about 20 of them in all different colors and donated them. Apparently, they were all snatched up in a heartbeat. I'll definitely be doing that again!

Here is the pattern and yarn I used. It's soft and gorgeous. Definitely make the large size. Some of the yarns even look like hair (in taupes or brown or white).
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/kf...html?noImages=

All the best to your family friend. This fight is winnable!

[khaosx5]

I would stick with the bamboo, soy or cotton. My son went through chemo last summer and was always cold. These are breathable and soft.

[Cynamar]

Not only are they cold but self-conscious about their hair. I think cotton caps for summer are wonderful.

[InterNette]

I live here in hot humid southern florida and my friend loved the bamboo one I made her. She wears it all the time, I did a beautiful patterned hat making it attractive and not just a beanie. This woman is an artist and she loved style so it was perfect for her. We actually held a hat party to help her with her hair loss. People gave her weird costume like hats which give you a laugh but she never wears so it was kinda useless but I felt wonderful seeing her in the hat I made all the time. I used bamboo and it was perfect. It didnt stretch out like some cottons do and she was always cold. She could wear it anytime or place.

[Lisa R.]

Are there any manly patterns? My FIL needs a summer hat (not for chemo, but health problems make him cold all the time!) I just made one, the only cotton yarn I could find (which worked great) was CottonEase--and I only found it in bright pastels and a dark charcoal gray. I used the charcoal with a cream stripe...more manly, but not really "summery."

[InterNette]

Lisa how about knitty's Tychus, it is two color mans hat, I never made it but printed it in 2005 meaning to. It is the summer 05 issue. Sounds great for your yarn choices

[msoebel]

One of the teens in our youth group underwent chemo last summer and she wore her little cotton hats all summer...she was always cold and she hated people seeing her little bald head. Bandannas felt too open for her and she felt like they screamed "Cancer patient here".

She had an eyelet one that her grandma made for her that she really liked.

Misty

[InterNette]

I understand a hat screaming cancer patient. I think that is why my friend liked the one I made, it was pretty and unique. I made the Odessa but I couldnt put the pearls or beads on hers because they left marks in the scalp. The swirl design and the bamboo made it very fashionable.