Introducing Swirls of Hope!

Happy April Everyone!  Please remember that chemo caps are needed no matter what the weather.  They are just as important in the summer as they are in the winter.  I accept all different weights and styles of hats all year long.  In the warmer weather, you can frequently find heavy, bulky yarns on sale.  And since hats are small projects, they aren't too hot to work on when the temperature gets higher.  By the end of September I need to have between 15 and 20 boxes of warm hats ready to ship out to my "regular" hospitals and centers for the winter months.  That's not counting all the new places we are trying to help or all the places that need hats in between winters, so please, knit, crochet or sew whatever type of hat you wish.  There IS a head that will be waiting for it.

Schnapps worked out this latest pattern first using a beautiful turquoise colored Louisa Harding's Baby Kashmir yarn and holding 2 strands together as one throughout.  Many wanted to name it Sea Breeze.  Then, on Easter, he worked it up in a soft pink yarn (Patons Beehive Baby Chunky) and suddenly Sea Breeze didn't seem to fit as well. This is why I always try to steer clear of names based on colors........changing the color or just the type of yarn can make a huge difference.  So, Schnapps decided to go with Carolyn's suggestion of Swirls of Hope.  Thank you Carolyn!!

 Remember, the Finn Hat Project is an ongoing project that we do along with our regular chemo caps!  We are collecting hats for Kidshealth.org which is part of the A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware.  They have produced a video that helps pre-school age children understand what to expect from their cancer treatment.  Take a look at the amazing video here.

The blog post, mandatory colors, yarn suggestions and pattern info can be found here:   

   

So far we have collected 320 Finn Hats from all over the country AND Canada! Join us please!

If you're not a fan of Delaware Head Huggers yet, stop by and "Like" our Facebook page.  Help us name the patterns and see all the beautiful hats that are donated.  Stop by Kozy Kovers for Kids Facebook page too!  We welcome everyone to join us.  Stop by and say hello.  You can always reach Schnapps or me at robin@delawareheadhuggers.org too. 

Schnapps likes the color!

Swirls of Hope

You will need 200 - 260 yards of sport weight yarn and size US 10.5 circular needles and dpns or some combination of yarn and needles below.

Abbreviations:

yo:  yarn over

ssk:  slip 2 stitches, one at a time as if to knit, then knit them together with the left hand needle.

k2tog:  holding working yarn as if to knit, knit 2 stitches together as one

Using 2 strands of sport weight yarn held together as one, cast on 72 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Lace Pattern:

Rows 1, 3, 4, 6, 8:  knit all stitches
Row 2:  purl all stitches
Row 5:  *k1, yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo*; repeat around
Row 7:  *yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1*; repeat around

Repeat Rows 5-8 only until the piece is between 3 and 3.5 inches in length.

Work Hat Body:

Row 1:  knit all stitches
Repeat Row 1 until the piece is about 7 inches in length.

Decrease Crown:  switch to dpns when needed

Row 1:  *k7, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 2:  *k6, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 3:   *k5, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 4:  *k4, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 5:  *k3, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 6:  *k2, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 7:  *k1, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 8:   *k2tog*; repeat around


Finish: Cut working yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail.  Draw the tail through the remaining stitches, cinch closed and secure.  Weave in ends and enjoy!

The pattern is worked over 9 stitches. 

To knit this using 6-weight yarn, use size 13 needles and cast on 45 stitches.  Begin the crown decrease at 5 inches.

To knit this using 5-weight yarn, use size 10.5 needles and cast on 72 stitches.  Work pattern as written

To knit this using worsted weight yarn, use size 8 needles and cast on 90 stitches.  Begin the crown decrease at 7.5 inches.

To make it child size, use worsted yarn, size 8 needles and cast on 63 stitches.  Adjust in increments of 9 stitches for individual sizes.  Begin crown decreases between 6.5 and 7 inches, depending on desired length of finished hat.

To knit this using one strand of sport weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 126 stitches. Begin crown decrease at 7.5 to 8 inches.  

All are welcome to join us in some way!  

If you know anyone who needs chemo caps, please don't hesitate to contact me and I will send some out to anywhere in the USA.

Delaware Head Huggers  

www.delawareheadhuggers.org 

Delaware Head Huggers on Facebook

Kozy Kovers for Kids

www.kozykoversforkids.org

Kozy Kovers for Kids on Facebook