Chemo Hat with HDC Brim

Earlier this month, when I posted my chemo hats over at 25 Things for Charity, there was some interest in the pattern I had used. Since I had modified several patterns to come up with those hats, I decided that I would write up what I had done and share it with everyone. I started with the "Basic Boy Beanie" in Stitch 'N Bitch: The Happy Hooker, and then I went from there.

I would ask that you use this pattern for personal or charity use only. If you do use it for personal use, please consider making one to donate to your local hospital as well. Also, this pattern has not been tested, so if you find any mistakes in it, please let me know and I will happily edit it.

Chemo Hat with HDC Brim

1 skein of any worsted weight, soft acrylic yarn (hat in photo made with Bernat Satin)
H hook, or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge - 3 dc to 1"

Note - do not turn work when joining rounds.
Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring
Row 1 - ch 1, 10 sc into center of ring, join with sl st into first sc.
Row 2 - ch 3, 1 dc in same st as ch3, 2 dc in each sc, join with sl st to top of ch 3 (20 dcs).
Row 3 - ch 3, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, join with sl st in top of ch 3 (30 dcs).
Row 4 - ch 3, 1 dc in next dc, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 2 dcs; repeat from * around, join with sl st in top of ch 3 (40 dcs).
Row 5 - ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 dcs, *2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next 3 dcs; repeat from * around, join with sl st in top of ch 3 (50 dcs).
Row 6 - ch 3, *1 dc in next 9 dcs, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, join with sl st in top of ch 3 (55 dcs).
Rows 7-13 - ch 3, 1 dc in each dc around, join with sl st in top of ch 3.
Row 14 - ch 1, 1 sc through blo in each dc around, join with sl st in ch 1.
Rows 15-18 - ch 2, *1 hdc through blo of next stitch, 1 hd through flo of next stitch; repeat from * around, join with sl st in top of ch 2.
Fasten off and weave in ends.

blo - back loop only
flo - front loop only

"Scary Good!"

We had a relatively successful, if not exactly relaxing, weekend around here. I still have to get a plumber to come in, but the cable is fixed and the new DVD player is working. Christmas is all put away, both here and at my mother's apartment. There's going to be a lot of "stuff" to do (errands and such) this week, I can just tell, but I think it will all come together just fine.

I haven't been working on any big projects, except for the bag for the Knit Mitt Kit Swap which I can't show you all yet, but I have been making some chemo hats for the guild donation next month. Friday night, I looked through the yarn I had to hand and found a partial skein that I wanted to use. I thought it looked like enough for a hat. When I was done with the hat, here's what I had:

That strand waiting to be tied in is all I had left of the skein! I told my dh that I think I am getting to be "scary good" at this hat making stuff! I used Simply Soft Shadows for the hat. The picture doesn't really show the striping, but it is soft and pretty in real life. I will probably finish it with a white crocheted flower, though, since it is a little dark as is.

Speaking of my current swap, we are down to the last week before the kit gets mailed. I will probably need every minute of that time, but "the good lord willing and the creeks don't rise" (although they may, given the rain we have gotten overnight!) I will have the kit together, the bag felted and everything in the mail next Tuesday morning. Wish me luck!