Schnapps

Schnapps
Our mascot - ALWAYS!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Meagan's Rainbow

Meagan Blackmore lost her battle with cancer on August 19, 2013, leaving behind a devastated family, heartbroken friends and a world that lost a beautiful light.

Please keep her family in your thoughts as they deal with this incredible loss.

To me, although Meagan had grown up to be a beautiful, giving, wonderful adult, I remember her as a sweet, adorable little girl who always had a smile on her face.  The Rainbow Connection was the song I sang to her when I baby-sat for her and even as an adult, Meagan loved rainbows.  I hope that Meagan has found that Rainbow Connection we sang about so often.

When my friend Carolyn died, her family sent out cards with a quote from the book “The Little Prince” that she had chosen.  I tried hard to take some comfort from these words and am trying yet again.  I now have 2 stars that are laughing to find each night.

"In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night . . . You--only you--will have stars that can laugh!" And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me. You will always be my friend."

Those of you who know me, know that when I am upset I tend to reach for yarn.  Yesterday I cried too much about the unfairness of her life ending so soon to pick up my needles.  Schnapps kept snuggling close and looking at me as if to tell me to get some yarn and see what happens.  Today, with a hurting heart and tears streaming down my face, I knit this hat.  I am calling it Meagan’s Rainbow in her honor.



If you use this pattern, please take the time to think of Meagan and her family.  In Meagan’s honor, do something kind for someone else.  She was a giving, loving person – help spread the light she gave so freely.

Meagan's Rainbow


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.  We love to hear from everyone!


You will need 5 weight yarn and size US 10.5 needles or some combination of needles and yarn listed below.  I used Lion Brand Tweed Stripes because of the softness and beautiful colors.  You could knit this in a solid color, but I think I will always make this in a multi-color yarn.

Abbreviations:
yo:  yarn over
Sl1:  slip one stitch as if to knit
k2tog:  knit 2 stitches together as one
psso:  pass slipped stitch over

Cast on 64 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Brim:
Row 1:  knit all stitches
Repeat Row 1 until the piece is about 3 inches long

Work Pattern:
Row 1:  *yo, k3, yo, k1*; repeat around
Row 2:  knit all stitches
Row 3:  *k1, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2*; repeat around
Row 4:  knit all stitches

Repeat Rows 1 - 4  until piece is about 6  to 6.5 inches in length
Work Crown:
Row 1:  knit all stitches
Repeat Row 1 until the piece is about 7 to 7.5 inches long

Decrease Crown:  switch to dpns when needed
Row 1: *k6, k2tog,*; repeat around
Row 2:  *k5, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 3:  *k4, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 4:  *k3, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 5:  *k2, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 6:  *k1, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 7:  *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 pass along some love in honor of Meagan!

The pattern is worked over 4 stitches. Work in increments of 8 stitches to keep the crown decrease the same.

To knit this using 6-weight yarn, use size 13 needles and cast on 48 stitches. 

To knit this using worsted weight yarn, use size 8 needles and cast on 80 stitches. 

To make it child size, use worsted yarn, size 8 needles and cast on 64 stitches.  Adjust in increments of 8 stitches for individual sizes.

To knit this using sport weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 112 stitches. 


Delaware Head Huggers  
Kozy Kovers for Kids

21 comments:

  1. i am sorry about your friend...Praying for the family..
    love this new hat..
    in love with your adorable dogie, so adorable..

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a beautiful post and tribute to Meagan. Thank you for sharing the pattern and most of all, sharing Meagan.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so sorry for your loss.

    What a wonderful legacy you're creating for Meagan.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your love for Meagan comes through beautifully in this pattern, Robin.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Eleanor Cullivan August 21, 2013August 21, 2013 at 3:23 PM

    I shall knit this hat in memory of your dear friend. May she rest in peace, and suffer no longer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too will knit this hat and pray for Meagan's family. Blessings on you.

      Delete
  6. I am so sorry about your loss. I lost my daddy to cancer several years ago. Thank you for your pattern, I am a crocheter and knitting is hard for me, but I will try this one in honor of your friend.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am sorry to hear about your friend. Thank you for the pattern. I will be knitting it for chemo patients.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm so sorry for your loss. This hat you created with your nimble fingers is beautiful. I would like to try this pattern for my Meagan and I will tell your story when I give it to her. My questions are: Did you use a circular needle? What length? Just one skein of yarn?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I use a 16 inch circular, but you could use double pointed needles also. And well less than one skein of yarn will work for this hat.

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the information.

      Delete
  9. So sad..I'll think of her everytime I make one of these beautiful hats. My husband lost his battle to cancer in Feb. I will make some of these hats and donate them to the local cancer center that treated him. So sorry for your loss!

    ReplyDelete
  10. My Cousin, Marti, also lost her battle with cancer on August 19, 2013. It was her sister's birthday, so I am praying for that family as well as the many who are grieving for loved ones.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I too have a good friend that is living in the last days of cancer. Thank you for sharing this pattern.
    Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm always looking for new hat patterns and have been reading through some of yours and can't wait to make some of them. I like that you give needle and number of stitches for various sizes.

    ReplyDelete
  13. my prayers and thoughts go to you and megans family l will try your pattern to pay my repect to megan

    ReplyDelete
  14. You made my heart sing-thank you. When my young disabled grandsons stay with me for the night, we look through my bedroom window, up to the stars.Now we will look and "listen", just in case we hear some giggles. I'm sure, together, wr will. Thank you so -Grandma Robyn

    ReplyDelete
  15. So sorry for your loss, my prayers go out to you & Megans family, I to will knit this beautiful hat for my friends, god bless, love & light

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ever so often a sharing like yours brings tears to my eyes. I'm sitting here thinking how you must feel, and I'm so sad for you and Megan's family. Reading these comments, I think of my Granddaughter, Megan' who's name is spelled the same way as your Megan. I think of my mother who I lost 17 years ago to ovarian cancer. Then I think of my husband who like one of your anonymous commenters wrote about. I lost him in Feb. 2013. I have made chemo caps for the last 15 or16 years. For the last 6 or so years, I have made lap robes for hospice patients, throws for chemo patients, (sewing and crocheting) as well as preemie items. It's been a while since I have knitted, but I am going to try some of these caps to put in with the chemo caps that I have made. Thank you so much for the sharing and for the comments from other people.

    ReplyDelete
  17. my god August 19 is my sisters birthday

    ReplyDelete
  18. We lost our 37 year old daughter to B cell lymphoma in May of 2012. She left behind a 13 year old son and her husband. Our family has lost 4 people to cancer in the last 15 years. I feel your pain. when I knit these patterns for family and church donations I will think of your losses as well as my own. God bless.

    ReplyDelete