STRIPED CHEMOTHERAPY CAP by Essie Woods Bruell "After 25 years as a doctor, I've seen lots of patients who have hair loss for one reason or another. They often complain about what’s available on the market. If they're undergoing chemotherapy, their heads are cold from anemia and hair loss, their scalps may be sensitive or have strange sensations from nerve damage, and they are self-conscious about the odd distributions of hair and their accompanying frail appearance. I've learned that cotton fabrics are tolerated the best and don't tend to slide off, but this Esprit cotton with the bit of elasticity is ideal, since it hugs the head and holds its shape. I loved the vibrant colors--no one wants to be dowdy or look washed-out, and it's nice to have fashion colors that match one's wardrobe." Size: One size to fit average woman Materials: 1 ball each of 2 colors of elann.com Esprit (98.3% cotton/ 1.7% elastic, 100 yards per 50 grams). Note: For a proper fit, it is important to use a yarn with elastic in its fiber content. 1 pair US size 8 (5.0mm) straight knitting needles. Gauge: 20-22 sts = 4" (10 cm) in garter stitch. Note: be sure to handle this yarn loosely. Knitting too tightly will leave the cap with no stretch and expose bare areas of scalp in the resulting holes. Short Row Turn (worked at the end of Rows 3 and 5): Work until the required number of sts remain at the end of the row, bring the yarn forward, slip the next st purlwise from left to right needle, then take the yarn back and return the slipped st to the left needle. Turn work and bring yarn to the back to start next row. When working back across the sts that were wrapped, pick up the wrap with the wrapped st and knit them together. INSTRUCTIONS: Method: Note: Change colors every 2 rows. Loosely cast on 64 stitches with color A. Row 1: Knit across all stitches. Row 2: Knit. Row 3: Change colors, knit to within 5 stitches of the end. Make short row turn (see above). Row 4: Knit. Row 5: Change colors, knit to within 10 stitches of the end. Make short row turn. Row 6: Knit. Change colors at end of row. Continue to repeat rows 1-6, changing colors every two rows, until brim end is about 20 inches (approximately 148 rows). BO all sts. Note: After the first 6 rows, Row 1 will be knitted across all stitches, including the wrapped stitches and the stitches from the short row turns. Finishing: Using yarn needle and selected color, weave in and out of crown stitches and pull tight, knotting and weaving in the end. Sew back seam invisibly and weave in the end yarn. Wear hat turned up twice in front, once in back to suit comfort and level of exposure desired. Hat can also be worn with brim loosely rolled all around, or with brim unrolled and back of hat hanging longer. ABBREVIATIONS: BO - bind off, st(s) - stitch(es). Please note this pattern is copyrighted material and the entire contents of this pattern are copyrighted as a collective work under the copyright laws of Canada and the United States. You may print a copy of this pattern for your own personal use and enjoyment, but editing, publishing, transmitting, e-mailing, posting it to a list service or database, or otherwise commercially exploiting this pattern is strictly forbidden. Copyright Elann.com Inc.