the blue blog archives: all caps

Fellow Knitsmith, Shannon, has been making some kids chemo caps for her boyfriend's patients at Childrens Hospital here in Boston and I decided to join in. I'd often thought of doing some sort of charity knitting project, but nothing really motivated me to actually put down my own knitting and start something for someone else I don't know. Until now. In fact, I'm a little startled by my sudden need to make these caps. I guess it's some sort of hope that by making them I can keep my boys from ever getting seriously ill. It's bittersweet knitting, that's for sure, thinking of the sick little one you're making the hat for. But I'm trying knit through the sad and scary thoughts to produce something very special.

So here are my first two: a wee little yellow cap in Wendy Velvet Touch yarn. If you haven't felt this yarn, you must! It is perfectly baby soft. The Snuggle teddy bear wishes he were this soft!

And the second is a young adult size version of the lace cap from Rowan's Calmer Collection, which I knit up with a skein of all seasons cotton I had left over from my Smooch tank. I really liked this pattern - it's hip and young, much more stylish than your basic hat.

I hope these will be nice and soft and pretty for girls. I've got some ideas for boy caps too, which I hope to finish for next week.

posted by alison at 8:24 am | in baby things , chemo caps

Comments

ooooo i felt that velvet touch the other day. in a pretty purple variegated... oooo sooooo soft. ;)

Posted by: carolyn at September 10, 2003 7:29 AM

I didn't hear Shannon talk about that...hmm, I'll need to see if I have anything nice and soft hanging about..

In other news I have to pop off an email to you now...unfortunately, the news is bleh.

Posted by: Amber at September 10, 2003 7:58 AM

Hmmmmmmmmm. I have some left over ASC myself. Very cute and stylish, as well, I agree! Is that a crocheted flower on the first? Wendy Velvet Touch looks impossible to resist. You're like a knitting magician. One never knows what you're going to pull out of the hat. :)

Posted by: Kerstin at September 10, 2003 8:00 AM

Those are beautiful... very hip and they LOOK soft, I'm sure the kids will love them!

Posted by: Stella at September 10, 2003 9:19 AM

Yummy! These are just lovely. Now for guys...guess it depends on the age, but if my DS (18) were in this situation, he'd want a 'cool/tough' toque in black -- either plain or with khaki (!) or red accents (stripes)...nothing too, well..."loud". (He saves that for his music!)

Posted by: Marg at September 10, 2003 10:42 AM

I honed my knitting skills by knitting baby hats for the maternity ward at Swedish Hospital. I am an auxiliary member and since I can't volunteer at the hospital (because I am raising my three year old), I knit hats the the little ones that are born.

I love that velvet touch! I might have to pick some up so I can make the Diva (my kid) a poncho!

Posted by: Rose at September 10, 2003 12:04 PM

Great hats for a good cause. I hope you have enough yarn left to make yourself a lace cap. From what I can see it looks great on you.

Posted by: Melissa at September 10, 2003 12:05 PM

Marg, thanks for the ideas. Boys can be hard to please, fashion-wise, so I appreciate the tip!

Kerstin & Melissa, I am definitely planning on making myself one of these caps. I love it! Just gotta search through the stash for materials.

Rose, what a nice service you provide to the newborns. My boys recieved tiny crocheted hats at the hospital when they were born and they looked so sweet. So thanks to you from all of the moms out there whom you never hear from, but enjoy your little creations!

Posted by: alison at September 10, 2003 12:50 PM

Alison, Nora of www.knitbynora.blogspot.com made two extremely waycool caps with skulls & crossbones (ARRR!) recently, and I think she included a pattern of those, too. I can't find it now, and her archives may have a little trouble, because I can only find them up to July, but perhaps you should check her out for a boy pattern! Love the lace cap, by the way.

Posted by: marrije at September 10, 2003 1:36 PM

Hi Alison, can you add me to the poncho-long? I'm all about it.

Your caps look great!

Posted by: Carrie at September 10, 2003 2:20 PM

the yellow cap is atdf -- absolutely to die for. did you design it yourself, or is it a pattern? if so, where can i get my hands on it? thanks!

Posted by: carrie at September 10, 2003 4:07 PM

Carrie, for the yellow cap I just followed a basic hat pattern (straight stockinette in the round with decreases at the top). The flower is knit (I couldn't crochet my way out of a paper bag, Kerstin!) following a pattern in the Rowan Junior book.

Posted by: alison at September 10, 2003 4:14 PM

If you were stuck in an airtight paper bag, I'm sure you'd learn real fast. :)

Posted by: Kerstin at September 10, 2003 7:44 PM