Homespun Rolled Edge Chemo Cap

As the daughter and niece of 5 year Breast Cancer Survivors, It is my pleasure to bring to you a Chemo cap pattern for your personal, non-profit use.

Allow me to explain the evolution of this pattern. Back in 2004, when the planet was in the midst of rediscovering knitting and all things scarves...I was knitting up scarves for a gazillion people who knew my daughters and family members who had a mailing address. One of my daughter's friends loved her green scarf and asked if I could make a matching hat for it. Sure enough, it didn't talk long to whip up a hat. Then the girls in the office thought they'd like one, too, and then would I have children's sizes? Yep. In a few days we had a bunch. It seemed at one point that I was knitting in my sleep to get these finished quickly.

Down the road, I started making chemo caps to honor my Mom and Aunt as they'd been successful with their Breast Cancer treatments. As statistics have it, there were a few in my daughter's office who were undergoing treatment themselves. I sent over a variety of hats that I'd made up for them to try on and choose for themselves which ones they wanted to keep. I learned that these were soft and close to the heads and fitted the bill perfectly. Because they were made from relatively inexpensive, bulky weight yarns, I could make them in several sizes to ship off wherever they would be used.

The University Of Michigan Oncology Department requested that I also make hats for the gentlemen and the children who also needed their services. So, as you knit this month for Breast Cancer awareness month, take a moment and ask your Oncology unit which sizes and gender they would like to have. For the gentlemen, I use soft yarns (no wool-it can be scratchy) and make my 'Cathy's Beanies' pattern. For the kids, pick a cute pattern and knit 'em up. Beanies, ear-flaps, pom-poms..etc...and let color take you where you want them to go! How about a jester hat? And while you're knitting away...don't forget to add wishes of hugs and love into each stitch that the wearer will feel during this time in their lives.

And one last thing...for the women...don't do every hat in Pink. While I've done this one in pink, not every outfit they're going to wear is going to be PINK. Think color, coordination, and caring.

So, in Honor of my Mom and her Baby sister, knit these for the women in your life that are important to you. I'll also knit them up in honor of my 3 daughters, cousins, other aunts, Grandmas....and friends that I'll never forget. For those that have had, will have Breast Cancer..or won't but will help to fight this along the way....Here's to the PINK in your lives!

Homespun Rolled-Edge Chemo Cap

© Cathy Waldie, September 4, 2004

Lion Brand Homespun (sample in Boston Rose)
(US) 9 (5.5mm) 16" circular needles, 24" circular or double points for crown shaping
Chibi needle
Stitch marker


Size: Adult Medium

Cast On 60 stitches, and Knit in the round for 40-46 rounds. (Sample knit with 46 rounds).

Decreasing for the crown: (switch to double points or add a second circular needle as needed)
1) *K8, K2tog* around to end of round. (54 stitches)
2) and all even rounds, Knit
3) *K7, K2tog* repeat to end of round (48 stitches)
5) *K6, K2tog* repeat to end of round (42 stitches)
7) *K5, K2tog* repeat to end of round (36 stitches)
9) *K4, K2tog* repeat to end of round (30 stitches)
11) *K3, K2tog* repeat to end of round (24 stitches)
13) *K2, K2tog* repeat to end of round (18 stitches)
14) *K1, K2tog* repeat to end of round (12 stitches)
15) *K2tog* repeat to end of round (6 stitches)

Cut thread and pull through remainder of stitches and secure. Weave in ends. Wear with hugs and love from your knitter as you continue with your treatments.

Note on this yarn: Knot the ends of your yarn before beginning to knit. This yarn is 2 strands loosely twisted together and will unravel if left hanging. Also, because of the nature of the wrap, do NOT pull tightly as it will 'worm' throughout your projects. Keep your yarn somewhat loose, but not sloppy loose.


~~~~~~~~~~~More sizes as I work up new samples to come!~~~~~~~~

Perspective

There are days, and there are days...this was one of those days that really puts things into perspective.

Being here in the middle of the 'pink' month, I had plans today to finish up a chemo cap to start my pile to send off to the Oncology unit at the University of Michigan. My cousin works in that pharmacy, and her mom was treated there 5 years ago for breast cancer. My mom was diagnosed just a few weeks after my Aunt back in 2002, and was treated for her breast cancer at the same hospital that I had visited back in June with the preemie baby times in Bay City. I've tried from time to time to send groups of chemo caps to the U of M as praise and thanksgiving for both of these very important women in my life and for our continued enjoyment of having them around for many more years in the family. Being in the middle of the baby blanket bonanza, has pushed back my starting dates for the chemo caps.

This past weekend, I realized that I've not yet posted my pattern that I've used many times for the chemo caps. So, I thought I'd knit up a couple this week and get the pattern posted.

It will happen.

Just not today.

You see, after doing my straightening up for the day, I got a phone call from my son. He was just starting out on his drive after spending the weekend with my parents and extended family in Michigan and was heading back to Bloomington, IN. He had told my folks before leaving their house that the rain was making him uncomfortable. (Pay attention to those feelings people!!!!!!) Last October back in Los Angeles during this week off of school (the law school shuts for a week to allow students to go on interviews), he hit some water and spun out on a Los Angeles freeway. He was fine, but the back in was a 'new shape'. What was he driving? His little sister's Ford Explorer. (I didn't buy her that car).

So, off he went this morning..and when he called the first time, his first words to me were, "This car is a *&(*$&#*&^% death trap!" Apparently he had just had a spin out and was thankful that he didn't hit another car..and was shook up, but OK....and was about to head back into traffic. The rain was pretty heavy at that point. Having just driven Friday night in Los Angeles in a downpour, I reminded him to take the speed down much further than he already had. I wished him good luck, but to be safe.

Can you tell where this is going?

I no sooner hung up the phone and walked across the room when the phone rang again. It was Kyle...the car had just crashed!

I couldn't tell if he was more hurt at that point, or so ticked off (I've greatly cleaned that one up) that this had happened by the tone of his voice. I told him to hang up and call 911..and call me back asap.

Do you know that feeling of waiting? When you're ~3,000 miles away from your son, and you can't do a danged thing about it? It's been a good 4 1/2 hours since all of this started..and I think I'm still shaky. No, I know that I am..and my heart is still up in my throat. (It's the 'thinking' about things afterwards that always gets to me.)

In the meantime, I had to call my parents (never like calling them with bad news-not good to worry Grandparents I tell you) to get my brother's cell phone number (I swear I had it before) and sent him over to pick up my son from the tow shop. The kid is fine, save for a sore spot where the seat belt went across his rips. (I'd really like to kiss the inventor of the seat belts!!!!!!) His air bag never deployed, and the back end of the car ended up on the center divider of the...get this..if you know Michigan....of the Zilwaukee BRIDGE!!!!!!!!!

Ya. Consider that for another moment. His car...was hung up on the center divider of the Zilwaukee Bridge. AND.I.CAN'T.DO.A.THING.ABOUT.IT! Put that in your 'Mom nerves.'

The back window blew out and the back wheel pin broke. Suffice it to say...the car is now in the scrap pile, and he's back at my Mom and Dad's house for the night. He's currently looking at rental car companies. I talked to him about 15 minutes ago. I asked if he were OK, and his answer? "Mom, I am OK, but all of a sudden I got really, really tired."

OK...Should I have told him, "Ya think?"

No, I just said, "that's the shock wearing off. It's normal, just take it easy and go lay down for a bit. You'll be OK. Just take a nap and call me later and check in." In all of his 25 years, I don't think that kid has EVER been tired except post emergency room trip from a severe asthma attack.

Me? I've got some really wonky knitting today as I'm trying to breathe normally again as I'm giving a lot of thanks right now.

1) My son is OK!!!!!!!
2) My Mom was home to give me my brother's phone number.
3) My brother was in his car and able to go pick up my son AND his cell phone was on.
4) If this had to happen with this car, he was close enough to my family that they could go pick him up and do the 'Mothering' I'm not close enough to do.
5) Seat belts...seat belts....seat belts!
6) "strange-foreboding feelings" are there for a reason.
7) My cousin for being a back up plan for tomorrow if need be.
8) Neither my son or my daughter will ever drive that broken down, P.O.S car again!
9) My Dad is STILL HOME! 10 days and counting..and my son will now have another evening with him and my mom and my brother and my niece!
10) Grandpa and Grandson can take a 'nap' together. (ha ha...)

The pattern for the chemo cap...maybe tomorrow...we'll see what the news will be then.

After all, the son....still has to drive again tomorrow back to Indiana.

And I still won't be any closer to him to hug him tight enough until his eyes pop.

You parents know that feeling...right?

Someone send me a crow bar to get my heart out of my throat. It seems to be stuck there.

Have you yet?

It's October. It's the middle of October....have you made something PINK yet?

There's still plenty of time.

What's this liquid? Actual - measurable?

What's this? What is this wet stuff? It's all over the grass...the hedges...

The sidewalk and the driveway....anybody recognize this stuff?

It's appeared all over my car?

It's puddled in the flowerbeds...the cracks in the driveway?

Why, it's actual, measurable RAIN! Yes, here in Southern California, it RAINED overnight! To a measurement of 0.08 inches! Wow-weeeeeee!!! The 2nd measurable rain since April! Think we'll have cracked the drought from the past 8 1/2 years with this? Probably not.

But I thought I'd document it here just in case we have all forgotten what this liquid substance looks like!

In other news, in the continuing saga of the gazillion and one baby blankets that should have been finished last August, another one is off the list. At the current count (please stop drinking the water- I'm soooooooooo freakin' far behind!) there is one baby already here waiting on a blanket, and 6 more on the way. I'm beginning to understand the appeal of knitting machines. ha.

Once again, I bring to you another Crayon Ripple Throw. It's a pattern available through Lion Brand yarns. It's a full sized pattern that I've adapted for 'baby size.' I used an "H" hook, and Caron's Simply Soft yarn. This is the white that has become soooooooooo elusive to find in an actual WHITE shade, rather than a 'grey' tinge. Ulg. That stuff looks like it's been dragged through a mountain of dust bunnies. I wish Caron would get their act together. Some time back I contacted them and they responded saying that they WHITE would hit the stores in August. So far, all I've been able to find is the grey tinged yuck stuff. I'm wondering if that's because that's what they have on hand and wont' order more? What do you think?

The finished details: Caron Simply Soft colors: White #1201, Soft Blue #9712, Orchid #9717, Soft Pink #9719, Off White #9702, Soft Green #9739. Crochet hook sized "H", finished size: 36" square.

Next up, is another Feather and Fan Rainbow Baby Blanket in the same colors.

The best news of the week? Dad went home on Sunday, and is still at home! He's on a liquid diet and they're monitoring his food very carefully. There's some talk about adding soft foods in the future, but at a very slow pace and not for a little while.

In the last bit of news, I'm frustrated with something that I found by chance reading another person's blog. There was a posting of someone who'd purchased a pattern and knitted a towel for the kitchen. Here's where I got upset. Upon looking at the picture, and then following the details from where she bought the pattern, it's my pattern for my Hanging Kitchen Towel pattern that I worked over several months to get the decreasing and towel topper section the way I wanted it back in 2005. I started from scratch and worked out the details, and have offered the pattern for free here on my blog for people's PERSONAL, NOT-FOR-SALE, PRIVATE USE! Meaning, with the posting and the copyright of any of my patterns, they are MINE! They are NOT FOR SALE OR PROFIT!

Now, the blog writer isn't to blame for this. She, in good faith not only purchased and knitted up a pattern, but also gave credit for it's source. Rightly so. However, the 'designer' of the pattern that the blog writer has posted, in my opinion, has 'borrowed' my pattern and is now making a profit off of it. And it's my opinion, that this person also has several other patterns 'borrowed' from other sources than myself, changed a border here and there...and is making a profit off of other people's intellectual knowledge and time, and their free sharing of the patterns they've written. Now I ask you. Is that fair?


I'm NOT a happy camper. At all.

At this point, I'm trying to concentrate on the goodness of my Dad being home rather than in the hospital so very often over the past few months. However, if these patterns aren't taken down very soon, I'm going to have to inquire to other matters. I have shared my designs for your personal use. Not for this other person's financial gains.

Not.HAPPY!AT.ALL.

NOPE.NOT.AT.ALL.

'winging' our way through the week

It has certainly been some kinda week around here..and I'm thrilled that we are 'winging' our way to the end of it...Between finishing up the hats so I can finally 'wing' the last box over to Little Miss "B" , to multiple asthma attacks around here thanks to the sewer line back up, to Dad's current trip in the hospital. I'm glad we're at the end of it.

First things, first. The Lavender Heart Blanket that has been so patiently waiting is now accompanied by the BSJ Red Wings BSJ with matching hat. In the box are also three hats for both Grandpas and Daddy to try on to match Little Miss "B". YAAA-HOOOOOOOOO we're finally finished! (Just hope they all fit now that I've taken this much time.

On the Dad front, he's still in the hospital this weekend, but hopefully for not much longer. They 'scoped' him while he ate this week to snap a few pictures during the digestive process. (Sounds like a barrel of monkeys kinda fun-no?) What they found was a collapsed intestine area that the radiation caused. For lack of a better word, and for politeness here, we'll just say that when he eats, parts clot or stick together, thus causing the blockages. (sounds like my mail sewer line last week..no?) Now we have answers. For the time being he'll be on a liquid diet. It might in time 're-inflate' itself or he'll stay on a liquid diet for the rest of his life. Good thing he likes soup and ice cream-huh? And the good news was that it wasn't scar tissue from the surgeon's mistake of a couple of years ago. That means, at this point. No surgery!

Now for the last segment before I 'wing' my way over to have dinner with my brother for the few short hours he's nearby... the grass has been cut and the bushes have finally been trimmed back...the last time they were taken care of..was back in MAY! In the meantime, with all the water backed up into the house last week, I've been doing battle with the carpet. The first night I was up until 2am washing the towels we used immediately to soak up the water. Boy were they heavy. Then we had the carpets trying to mildew on us. Take a lesson here...if you resort to using bleach in the steam cleaning machine to kill the mildew...don't do it if you have asthma! I woke up this morning and have been struggling for the past few days with asthma attacks. Today was the worst post bleach episode. I could only breathe to the base of my collarbone it felt like. NOT GOOD. I'm now waiting for the carpet to finish drying after I used some allergen shampoo on it. It's cut the bleach aroma around here, but I'm still having issues with breathing. Going to the store this morning really helped. Can't wait for my brother to wake up shortly...so I can get out of 'Dodge' for a couple of hours while the fans stay on the carpet.

Hope the rest of your weekend is better than this week has been over here in chez yucky carpet central. And may the weather stay warmer while the windows need to be opened- it went down to 53*F last night! So much for SUNNY Southern California here!

Oh, and I hit my 4 year mark this past week from my fall at work back on October 2, 2003! Thanks Governor! I'm still waiting for my court ordered/won medical treatment to begin! You're doing such a bang up job there! (Too bad you didn't have to wait this long to have your leg set when you broke it PLAYING in the snow!)

You're never too young!!!

You're never too young to start showing your pride with your team colors! The Red Wings BSJ and it's little hat is all complete. And I like it better than the first one I'd finished back in April. The side of the white stripe on the bottom is smoother with picking up stitches in that area with a purl stitch. It cleaned up the area very nicely, I think.

So, with this now all finished for Little Miss "B", the gifts from each of my kids for her have all been finished (ya, I know they were due back in June)...I am now just stitching up a hat for 'Daddy' to be included in the package, then Little Miss "B", her Grandpas and her Daddy can all wear their Wings Pride. I had plans of getting it all finished up this am and run to the post office before they closed at noon. The Lavender Heart Blanket is waiting, patiently for me to have finished up all the red stuff but I can hear it stomping it's foot loudly.

Well, did you catch the operative word?

You know the one....

HAD.

Yep....gotta love landlords that don't send the gardener (which is in your rental contract) since before June...which makes your yard look like this:

and like this:

Those are weeds folks. Long, hay fever producing/asthma inducing weeds. I told them in writing with the September rent check that the gardeners hadn't been here since before June. Nothing was done about it this month. So, while I was taking pictures this morning to include in the October rent check note, the eye doctor's office called. I ran over to get my new frames attached to my lenses. YEA! I thought. My nose won't get cut anymore from the nose piece being broken. And double YEA that I have a lifetime guarantee on the frames so I didn't have to pay for them to be replaced. I grabbed the hat for 'Daddy' and ran (ok gimped) out the door.



I no sooner sat down after handing over my glasses when my daughter called. "MOM! I HATE THIS HOUSE I HATE THIS HOUSE!" "What?" I thought maybe she stubbed her toe or something...nope...."There's water flooding the house! It's coming up from the tub and the base of the toilets!!!" niceeeeeeeeeee......

Up the tub, under the wall to the front door, and out the door...into the hallway and into my bedroom.... Yes, that was 4 1/2 hours ago, and still no answer from the landlord, and the water's been shut off to the house since then...think about that one for a moment....no.water.to.the.house. YEA.

I do believe I love the Rotor Rooter guy! This makes my 25' snake from Home Depot years ago..look like child's play....

Have a great weekend....and may you NOT have to 'dance' for over 5 hours.....

Oh, and my Dad's count? Home for 5 days this round...back in the hospital last night again...

Only in LA!

Remember my saga back on September 15, of trying to get to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's talk up in Los Angeles? You remember, my trials of once more thinking I knew it all and could out smart the freeways? Where I ended up lost and then stuck in traffic? Ya..the one that included the sign on the freeway that said it was a one hour delay? It was due to a HOUSE on the freeway?

Yeah. I wasn't kidding.

The noon news said they're finally going to move the house today. Can you imagine that it's been there since the 15th? 10 days! The owner took the wrong direction (permit was for another set of freeways) and then it's been 'decorated' while it's been sitting there. Thanks for another reason to make LA the worst freeways in the country!

(click on pictures to make them larger)

It could ONLY happen in Los Angeles...*sigh*

Thanks to Crazy Aunt Purl for giving me the idea of taking pictures from the TV to post on the blog...if she can get the weather...I can get the "HOUSE" tie-up on the freeway. Right? GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR........