Pink Courage Chemo and Breast Cancer Awareness Hat
Make the pink courage chemo hat and wear it to the next Breast Cancer Awareness event you attend to show you are fighting to find a cure, or make it as a chemo hat for somebody. Either way, this hat is a sure fire win!
The Pink Courage Chemo and Breast Cancer Awareness Hat was designed in honor of my friend Nicole McMaster who lost her life way too young from complications of breast cancer. This free knit hat pattern is full of cable knit stitches because they were some of Nicole’s favorite. The entwining cables to represent the friendships she had and the lives she touched while on this earth.
Please enjoy making this free knit cable hat pattern and think about the loved ones you know who are battling this awful disease or who have lost their lives to it.
Why do we wear pink in October?
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a worldwide annual campaign taking place in October, involving thousands of organisations, to highlight the importance of breast awareness, education and research. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the aim is to get as many people as possible involved in raising awareness and funds to help support our life-saving research and life-changing support.
When I looked up why we wear the color pink I couldn’t find a definitive answer. However, if I were to make an assumption, traditional social norms attribute the color pink to women and breast cancer affects women more than men (according to Susan G. Komen foundation: In the U.S., less than 1 percent of all breast cancer cases occur in men [154]. Breast cancer risk is much lower in men than in women. The lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 833 in U.S. men compared to 1 in 8 for U.S. women [117,143,154]) so I assume that is why it was the color chosen for the awareness.
Learn MORE
Early detection is key in the fight against breast cancer so it is important to know what to look for on your own body. Here is some great information all about breast cancer; I highly recommend you take a look.
Look for Warning Signs: https://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/WarningSigns.html
What is Breast Cancer: https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/what-is-breast-cancer/
Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me cover the cost of publishing my blog.
Knit hat pattern for chemo patients
Finding the perfect knit hat for chemo patients is not easy. It is important that the hat is designed to be a little snug as most cancer patients going through chemo have no hair so their hat typically needs to be a bit smaller, and the hat should be made with a yarn that is soft enough for chemo tender skin. I prefer to use very soft wool yarns with a silk or nylon added but I also know that there are some wonderful cotton yarns to choose from as well.
To me, the perfect knit hat for chemo patients is lightweight (for when they are indoors) or one that is lofty and not restrictive (to wear outdoors in the cold), one that makes them feel warm, and loved. I think Nicole would have loved this hat.
MATERIALS
Yarn: Fingering weight yarn, 100g. *yarn used in sample is no longer available* Highly recommend a soft yarn for very sensitive chemo skin.
I highly recommend these yarns:
- Destination Yarns: First Class MCN
- Stunning String Studio: Luxury Fingering
- Stunning String Studio: Tranquil Merino
- Stunning String Studio: Serenity
- Lotus Yarns: Autumn Wind
Needles: 2.75mm [US 2] 16″ (40.5 cm) circular needles, 3.25mm [US 3] 16″ (40.5 cm) circular needles and set of 5 double pointed needles in same size, or size needed to obtain gauge.
MEASUREMENTS
Gauge: 26 sts and 31 rows = 4″ in Body Cable pat with larger needles, after blocking. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge
Sized to fit: S, M, L
Brim: 17¼ (18½, 19¾)”, stretchy
Length to center top: 7¾ (9, 10¼)” [Sample shown in smallest size]
NOTIONS
Stitch Marker (make your own), Cable Needle, Tapestry needle to bury the ends (learn how here)
SPECIAL STITCHES
CABLE STITCHES
C2F: cable 2 front – sl 1 st to cn and hold in front, k1 from lhn, k1 from cn.
C2Fp: cable 2 front with purl – sl 1 st to cn and hold in front, p1 from lhn, k1 from cn.
C2Bp: cable 2 back with purl – sl 1 st to cn and hold in back, k1 from lhn, p1 from cn.
C3Fp: cable 3 front with purl – sl 2 sts to cn and hold in front, p1 from lhn, k2 from cn.
C3Bp: cable 3 back with purl – sl 1 to cn and hold in back, k2 from lhn, p1 from cn.
C4F: cable 4 front – sl 2 sts to cn and hold in front, k2 from lhn, k2 from cn.
Cdec3F: cable dec 3 front – sl 2 sts to cn and hold in front, p1 from lhn, skp from cn.
Cdec3B: cable dec 3 back – sl 1 st to cn and hold in back, k2tog from lhn, p1 from cn.
ABBREVIATIONS
beg—begin(ning)
cn—cable needle
k—knit
k2tog—knit 2 sts together
lhn—left hand needle
p—purl
pat—pattern
p2tog—purl 2 sts together
pm—place marker
rnd—round
rep—repeat
skp—sl 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over knit st.
sl—slip
PATTERN STITCHES
2X2 Rib
(Worked in the rnd over a mult of 4 sts)
All rnds: * P1, k2, p1; rep from * around.
Body Cable Pattern
(Worked in the rnd over a mult of 8 sts) — also see chart
Rnd 1: * C3Bp, p2, C3Fp; rep from * around.
Rnd 2: * K2, p4, k2; rep from * to last 6 sts, k2, p4, work last 2 sts as first 2 sts of next rnd.
Rnd 3: * C4F, p4; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Rnds 4 and 5: * K2, p4, k2; rep from * around.
Rnd 6-8: Rep rnds 2-4.
Rnd 9: * C3Fp, p2, C3Bp; rep from * around.
Rnd 10: * P1, k2, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 11: * P1, C3Fp, C3Bp, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 12: * P2, k4, p2; rep from * around.
Rnd 13: * P2, C4F, p2; rep from * around.
Rnds 14-16: Rep rnd 12.
Rnd 17: Rep rnd 13.
Rnd 18: Rep rnd 12.
Rnd 19: * P1, C3Bp, C3Fp, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 20: Rep rnd 10.
Rep rnds 1-20 for Body Cable pat.
Crown Cable Pattern
(Worked in the rnd, beg with multiple of 8 sts) — also see chart
Rnd 1: * P2tog, k4, p2tog; rep from * around—84 (90, 96) sts.
Rnd 2: * P1, k4, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 3: * P1, C4F, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 4: Rep rnd 2.
Rnd 5: * C3Bp, C3Fp; rep from * around.
Rnd 6: * K2, p2, k2; rep from * to last 6 sts, k2, p2, work last 2 sts as first 2 sts of next rnd.
Rnd 7: * C4F, k2; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Rnds 8 and 9: * K2, p2, k2; rep from * around.
Rnd 10-12: Rep rnds 6-8.
Rnd 13: * CdecF, CdecB; rep from * around—56 (60, 64) sts.
Rnd 14: * P1, k2, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 15: * P1, C2F, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 16: Rep rnd 14.
Rnd 17: * C2Bp, C2Fp; rep from * around.
Rnd 18: * K1, p2, k1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k1, p2, work last st as first st of next rnd.
Rnd 19: * C2F, p2; rep from * to last st, k1.
Rnd 20: Rep rnd 18.
Rnd 21: * K2tog, p2tog; rep from * around—28 (30, 32) sts.
Rnd 22: * K1, p1; rep from * around.
Rnd 23: Skp around—14 (15, 16) sts.
Rnd 24: Knit.
NOTES
I recommend adding a lifeline to your project at the pattern changes. Just to make sure you have a point to rip back to if something goes wrong. (video help)
*This hat is a revised and updated version of the Nicole’s Courage Hat published with Kollage Yarns.
Pink Courage Chemo and Breast Cancer Awareness Hat
PATTERN
Brim
With smaller circular needles, cast on 112 (120, 128) sts. Place marker and join rnd, being careful not to twist cast-on edge.
Work in 2×2 Rib for 1½” [3.8 cm]
Body
With larger circular needles, work in Body Cable pat (see pattern stitches) for 24 (34, 44) total rnds, beg with pat rnd 11 (1, 11) and ending after pat rnd 14.
Work all 24 rnds of Crown Cable pat (see pattern stitches) switching to double pointed needles when the stitches get too snug around the circular needles.
Finishing
Cut yarn leaving at least 6” (15.24 cm) of tail and use yarn needle to thread tail through each remaining st knitwise. Pull tail tight to close top (like a drawstring). Weave tail in on wrong side of hat to secure. Weave in/Bury all tails.
If you make this hat please share with me on social media. I would love to hear your story and be able to show my support. Just use #MarlyBird on Instagram and I will find you. xoxo
Other Hat Patterns for Chemo Patients
As I write this pattern out, I can’t help but think of other hat patterns for chemo patients that I have. If you have taken a look at my portfolio of free knitting patterns you know I have a many hat patterns but I think only a few qualify as good knit chemo hat patterns.
Here is my pared down list of patterns you can pick and choose from to make other hats for chemo or breast cancer awareness hats.
