My favorite Chemo Cap pattern.

I received Susan Thompson of Head Huggers.org permission to publish my modifications to a pattern on her site. I am publishing it here so that others may benefit from my experimentation.

There are a couple of major modifications to this pattern, first it is knit in the round which eliminates an uncomfortable seam. Second the original pattern decreased solely in purl diverting from the pattern. After much experimentation I have found this alternate decrease to stay more in pattern. I hope you enjoy making this hat as much as I do.

Inside Out Knit Chemo Cap In The Round
Designed by: Laura Gholston
http://www.headhuggers.org

I enjoy this pattern for Chemo Caps because it is relatively quick to knit and I find the simple pattern great for (almost mindless) knitting. As an ADD Knitter I like things that are quick and interesting. I hate seaming because it tends to get put off. I modified the original pattern (Knit pattern #20 from the website) because this eliminates the seaming issue as well as working a different decrease that blends in better with the pattern. I hope you will enjoy making these as much as I do! Special Thanks to Joyce Forker for creating the initial pattern.

Needles: size 8 and 10 (6 and 8 works well too)
DPNs or Long Circular (for magic loop) required
Yarn: Anything worsted, I recommend using the softest
that you can find.
Directions:
Cast on 80 stitches on the smaller needles (26, 27, 27 on DPNs)

Join for knitting in the round being careful not to twist stitches. To avoid laddering pull the first 2 stitches at the beginning of each round very tight
K1, P1 rib for 1 ¾ inches.

Change to larger needles.
ROW 1: Purl.
ROW 2: Knit 1, Purl 1 across.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until cap measures 6” from beginning.

TOP SHAPING:
1st Row: *K2, K2 tog*. Repeat from * across.
Purl 2nd row and all even numbered rows.
3rd Row: *K1, K2 tog*. Repeat from * across
5th Row: Repeat 1st row.
7th Row: Repeat 3rd row.
9th Row: K2 tog across.
11th Row: K2 tog across.
12th Row: Purl across.
Cut yarn leaving 5" tail. Draw yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight.
Weave tail in on wrong side of cap.
No Seam!

Knitting Fool!

Hehe ok lately I have been churning out finished objects (FO's) I finished my Christmas stocking, a Fleur-de-lis washcloth (experimentation for a Saints project coming soon), an iphone carrier, an iPod sock and my blue fingerless gloves. Pictures on my flickr acct. or Ravelry. My next project will be a santa hat for Doonie (my puppy). He will be forced to wear it for our Christmas Card Pictures. :D Currently in progress is a Quick Baby Sweater for my cousin's daughter Faith and Socks for my mom.

First Stocking Coming Right Along!

OK so I am finishing up my first Christmas stocking! (The pic is from earlier along.) I am excited and my toe heel ability is returning although the heel on this one isn't perfect. ( I will have to try to live with that... Drives me NUTS!) Last night I gave a VERY belated Christmas gift to a good friend. It felt good to finally be finished with the project and able to give them to her. They fit great! Now her fingers don't have to freeze when she types! :D
Cheramie's Fingerless Gloves!

Knitting Butt and Taking Names :D

:D Ok not exactly... I am excited because I finally finished all of the hibernating socks that were lying around. Plus a cute baby Santa Hat! My husband wants me to make a Santa hat for the dog, but I will have to get creative because I cannot find an existing pattern. So for now I am working on a Toe up Christmas Stocking.

Hubby's Birthday Socks

I am so happy last night I finished my Hubby Socks that I started last May. Just in time for my husband to wear them today on his Birthday!! I am so excited and am now actively trying to complete my Sister Socks.

FINALLY A STRETCHY BIND OFF!!

Well finally I can awake 2 different sets of socks from their hibernation! It has been about a year and a half since I got so frustrated with my inability to bind off toe up socks in a manner that will fit a human foot. I have finally found one that WORKS. Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off Thank you Jeny Staiman. I am so excited that I can go back to my favorite project, toe up socks! Unfortunately it has been quite a while so now I am out of practice. Ah well time to jump back on the horse.

AH HA!!!

This weekend (while dreary and oppressive) was a huge success for UFO's around my house! I finished my work shawl and have almost completed my hooded baby blanket. Both of which have been hibernating for a while now.

My rant for this morning is for pattern developers who think that the best way to write a pattern is using as few words as possible. UGH some people who learn visually need as many words as we can get. It is funny, I have been knitting for over a decade and yet I can still get hung up on pattern wording. (how sad)

This morning's epiphany is for Lion Brand's Hooded Baby Blanket, a basic pattern however when I got to the hood these are the only directions:

HOOD
With Size 10½ needles and 2 strands of yarn held together, cast on 3 sts. Work in Seed St inc 1 st at each edge every other row until there are 43 sts. Bind off.

The seed stitch they refer to involves alternating between knit stitches and purl stitches then on the next row knit the purls and purl the knits. It produces a nice bumpy texture and visual interest. However I got hung up because most increases are done on the inside, where the increase is actually the second stitch (in experience anyway) and this caused an unnatural repeat in the pattern. What frustrated me most I suppose is that no one else seemed to have trouble with these directions. I suppose it does say increase at each edge but I spent a while being confused and stuck in my brain rut. So just in case there is anyone else out there with this problem, here is the answer visually. (The bold letters are the increases.)

K P K
K P K P K
P K P K P
P K P K P K P

AHHH that makes me feel better...