Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

OMG! I’M SWIMMING IN YARN……

by

I’ve just learned that my beloved mother in law is coming to stay for several months.  Have to make room for her.  Seriously.  What to do with all the yarn/books/hooks/magazines/print outs/etc in the ‘yarn room’ that will be her bedroom?  I’ve spent the past TWO days – no kidding, hours and hours – organizing, boxing, winding, cutting, sorting, etc this mess.

yarn-mess-1-0809

Does it help to know that I have ADD?  Does it help to know that I’m a rotten housekeeper?  Does it help to know that I’ve been working way more hours lately than my supposedly part time job usually calls for?  Does it help to know that much of the stuff in this room was given to me?

No!  None of that knowledge is either an excuse or a solution to this mess.  So far, I’ve sorted and boxed many skeins of yarn, way too many computer print outs of patterns, and an astonishing number of UFO’s that have simply been abandoned.

The ADD part for an adult who is supposed to be the main housekeeper is this:  If I can’t see it, I don’t know I own it!  Well, I know in a vague way that I own lots of yarn, patterns, hooks, etc.  And, I may recall in a more specific way that I have lots of red and black RH yarn.  But, for the life of me, I cannot tell you -even having recently culled through this mess – if I have enough of anything to crochet a sweater or if I have a G hook in rosewood or even if I have a pattern for a Christmas doily.  I’m sure I have all of the above, but I don’t KNOW it.

So, forgive my mess and know that it will be to the advantage of my readers that there will be lots Lots lots of contests soon to receive the overflow of my yarn trove, hooks that I’ll never use, and duplicate pattern mags and books.  Don’t go far.  I’m gonna unload these things over the next few months and you’ll ALL have a good shot at winning some.

Note:  In the interest of full disclosure, the picture above is from an LB blog.  I CANNOT find my camera in all this mess.  Surprised??

Comments

  1. Holy cow. I could have written this post a few weeks ago!!!! I just cleaned out my room for my MIL and discovered the same situation. I don’t know what I have without it being out in the open. And I certainly don’t have enough of anything to finish a project of significance. And now that everything’s clean, I’m almost frozen with fear to let it all explode again. But I have to dig things out somehow and pack a few knit/crochet projects to take on the go for traveling and don’t even know where to begin.

  2. I’m in a similar state as we’re converting my office/craft room into the nursery for our first baby – due in early Nov. – I know I have some time yet, but we started tackling it this weekend and- whew! where do I move it?! Good luck to you and keep your head … above the yarn!

  4. My yarn collecting obsession has become so huge! The first thing that came to mind as I was rushing home the other day (after an ADD episode where I left the oven on with sculpey clay in it and left the house for 3 hours) was, what if the house is on fire? How will I replace all of that yarn?? My goal now is to use up what I’ve got and try to resist collecting for a while. 🙂

  5. Me too! I’m the same way–if I cant see it it doesn’t exist. The house is always a little messy–not gross, just messy. Yard and minivan too because I have to have everything out where I can see it.
    I even took the doors off the kitchen cupboards so I could find things when I cook (it looks a little weird but it works for me). I didn’t know this was a symptom of ADD and I really didn’t know anyone else had the same problem (I’m an enigma in my family). Thank you for sharing and please dont let me win any of your contests–you know why : )
    Jill

  6. Are you my twin?? I do have the yarn semi-contained, but it is stuffed in nooks and crannies everywhere the bags (and boxes) will fit. Plus loosely contained WIP bags…

    I also have about the same volume of beading “stuff”…. A patio full of those containers, etc., and WIPs on the dining table… my dresser… bookcases……

  10. Don’t feel you’re alone. I finally got my yarn stash organized – and now I won’t allow a yarn to go into my closet until it’s on the list. It’s the only way to keep track.
    Now as for patterns and books … um, that’s a whole ‘nuther situation.

  11. If you really want to hang on to some of that “stuff” then try underbed storage boxes for every bed in the house. And bed skirts ( a simple 10-12in. strip of fabric pleated and pinned to the box spring) work wonders. Then there are the slyly disguised double stack sofa table (4 bins) and the end tables from those nice storage boxes. Of course they’re covered with a lovely coordinating drapery/upholstry remnants or clearance fabrics from JoAnne Fabrics. Those bigger bins also fit nicely under your hanging clothes in the closet and as a bonus you can put your shoes on top so you don’t have to bend over so far! : ) If it were fall I’d suggest the attic. Who needs a linen closet? Turn it into an organized stash space by putting the towels under the bathroom sink and giveing everybody the sheets that fit their bed to put in a drawer in their room. I have lots more ideas! Ever seen a boys room that had a train shelf running the perimeter of the room. Then what’s wrong with a lovely collection of the same size plastic shoe or photo boxes bordering a room? Makes sense to me. Ok, Ok, I’ll stop. Can you tell I’ve been through this a few times? : )

  12. Well gal this really makes my day here.. we too had company the last two months and I really cleaned up things too and found stuff I didn’t know I even started… I do have two of those unfinished projects done now and another one to be done soon… then I have one more that a friend started and her eyes got bad so will work on that after the one afghan I have going for myself… then not sure what after that… so I truly think we are all alike in so many ways… so when I read stories like this one.. I dearly love it and it really makes my day… Nancy

  14. I’ve just moved and have finally put all the yarn in one place! Since I am a stasher I seriously didn’t know how much I had since it was under every bed, in cabinets, closets – the car! It’s out of control. My mom had yarn that was twenty years old in the back of her stash (nice stuff too!) Nice to know the rest of the knitting world has this stash problem!

Have you read?

Make To Donate: Crochet Chemo Cap Patterns

There are some crochet projects that are lovely to make, and then there are the ones that feel like they have a little more purpose stitched into them. Chemo caps definitely fall into that second category.

A handmade crochet chemo cap can provide warmth, privacy and comfort to someone experiencing treatment-related hair loss, but this is one charity crochet project where the yarn and pattern really do matter. A beautiful hat made with scratchy yarn or an open lace stitch may look lovely sitting on your craft table but be completely wrong for a sensitive scalp.

If you are new to making handmade donations, our broader Make To Donate crochet pattern collection is a useful place to start. 20 Crochet Patterns Perfect for Donating to Charities You can also read our guide to crocheting for a cause before choosing an organisation to support. Crochet for a Cause: Using Your Skills to Make a Difference

Before you start crocheting, contact your chosen cancer centre or organisation and check its current requirements.

Crochet for Cancer asks that donated caps are new, clean and free from perfume, smoke and pet hair. They recommend soft cotton, acrylic, silk, fleece or blends and specifically advise against wool and alpaca because they may irritate sensitive scalps. They also recommend close stitches without large gaps. Knots of Love similarly asks makers to avoid lacy or see-through designs and maintains its own approved yarn list.

In other words, this is not the project for that mystery skein of scratchy wool you bought on clearance twelve years ago and have been trying to justify ever since.

Crochet Chemo Cap Patterns to Make and Donate

1. Simple Crochet Chemo Cap

Get the Simple Crochet Chemo Cap free pattern

This is a very practical place to start. The pattern was specifically designed as a chemo cap and comes in sizes from children through adult extra large.

It uses a cotton and rayon blend and combines half double crochet with subtle ridged sections, giving the hat some texture without creating big open spaces. I particularly like having several sizes in one pattern because cancer treatment affects people of every age.

2. Canadia Chemo Cap

Get the Canadia Hat free crochet pattern

The Canadia Hat from Banana Moon Studio was designed specifically with chemo care in mind. It uses a light worsted yarn and linked stitches that help create a fairly solid fabric without making the hat stiff.

The pattern includes a range of sizes and the free version is available directly on the designer’s website.

3. Lily of the Valley Chemo Cap

Get the Lily of the Valley Chemo Cap pattern

If you would like something a little prettier without wandering into overly open lace territory, this floral-textured chemo cap is a lovely option.

It was created for the Crochet Cancer Challenge and is designed using soft lightweight yarn for comfortable wear. It has enough detail to feel special while still being intended specifically for cancer patients and donation programs.

4. Velvet Ridge Chemo Cap in Four Sizes

Get the free Velvet Ridge Chemo Cap pattern

This newer chemo cap pattern includes four sizes from approximately age five through adult XL.

It uses plush chenille-style yarn and has a simple ridged band for a little visual detail. The designer also suggests checking with your local cancer centre before making donation caps, which is advice I wish every charity pattern included.

5. Soft Heart Chemo Hat

Get the Soft Heart Chemo Hat free crochet pattern

The Soft Heart Beanie was created for the 2025 Crochet Cancer Challenge and comes in six sizes, from preemie through adult.

The design is seamless, soft and designed to work up relatively quickly, making it a particularly useful pattern if your crochet group is planning to make multiple hats.

6. Diane Beanie Chemo Cap

Get the Diane Beanie free crochet pattern

The Diane Beanie is a simple top-down design made primarily with single crochet and finished with a back-loop ribbed brim.

The result is a fairly dense fabric, which is exactly what we want for a chemo cap. The pattern includes teen/small adult and large adult sizing.

7. Textured Stripes Chemo Cap

Get the Textured Stripes Chemo Cap free pattern

I like this one for anyone who gets bored making completely plain hats.

The texture gives the cap a little personality, but the designer has kept the inside comfortable and smooth. It was created specifically for cancer-hat donation projects, so it fits our Make To Donate theme beautifully.

8. Elixir Chemo Cap

Get the Elixir Chemo Cap free crochet pattern

The Elixir is another pattern created specifically for charity donation and cancer awareness.

It includes three sizes and was designed to be lightweight, breathable and gentle. You can also choose a yarn colour associated with a particular cancer awareness cause if you are making hats for a specific fundraising or support event.

9. Cancer Ribbon Crochet Beanie

Get the free Cancer Ribbon Beanie pattern

This one makes the symbolism quite literal, with an awareness ribbon worked into the hat design.

The pattern comes in toddler, child and adult sizes and uses front-post colourwork to create the ribbon motif.

For actual chemo use, I would pay particular attention to the yarn choice and inside texture. For awareness events, fundraising or support gifts, though, the ribbon detail is especially meaningful.

10. Hopeful Butterfly Chemo Hat

Get the Hopeful Butterfly Hat free pattern

This hat was originally created as a chemo cap and incorporates awareness-inspired detailing along with butterfly symbolism.

It is a lovely choice when you want something that looks less like a basic medical head covering and more like a thoughtfully designed handmade accessory.

11. Summer Chemo Cap With Sun Hat Brim

Get the Summer Chemo Cap free crochet pattern

Most chemo-cap collections lean heavily towards cold-weather beanies, so I was pleased to find this summer option.

It combines a lightweight cap with a small sun-hat-style brim and was designed specifically for people undergoing treatment or experiencing sensitive scalps.

It is also a good reminder that people undergoing cancer treatment may need comfortable head coverings all year round, not just when the temperature drops.

12. Consuelo Beanie

Get the Consuelo Beanie free crochet pattern

The Consuelo Beanie was created for the Crochet Cancer Challenge and the complete crochet pattern remains available free on the designer’s blog.

It is beginner-friendly and was designed specifically as a hat suitable for donating to someone living with cancer.

13. Linda’s Easy Chemo Cap

Get Linda’s Easy Chemo Cap pattern

This is an older pattern, but still a useful one to keep bookmarked.

The adult-small version remains available as a free download, and the design was created specifically for makers pledging to donate a hat to a cancer patient or treatment centre.

14. Just Chenille Chemo Cap

Get the Just Chenille Chemo Cap free pattern

If the receiving organisation accepts chenille yarn, this plush option is worth considering.

The free pattern includes three adult sizes from XS through XL and uses soft chenille yarn to produce a warm, velvety cap. As always, check the charity’s yarn list first because individual cancer centres may have different requirements.

15. Kim’s Chemo Hat Crochet Pattern

See Kim’s Chemo Hat crochet pattern on Etsy

For our paid Etsy option, Kim’s Beanie from ThroughTheLoopYC was originally designed for the Crochet Cancer Challenge.

The PDF includes child, adult small and adult large sizing plus a photo stitch tutorial. It is labelled as an easy to advanced-beginner pattern and was designed specifically as a soft, comfortable chemo cap.

Choosing Yarn for Crochet Chemo Caps

This is one area where I would choose yarn for the recipient rather than because I happen to love the colour.

A yarn that feels perfectly comfortable against your hand may feel completely different against a scalp made sensitive by chemotherapy.

Look for soft, smooth and washable fibres and avoid heavily textured, scratchy or hairy yarn unless the receiving organisation has specifically approved it.

Knots of Love actually maintains a required yarn list for its own donations, which is a good reminder that there isn’t one universal “best chemo-cap yarn.”

If you’re buying yarn specifically for charity projects rather than raiding the stash, I would choose practical washable colours and yarn you can reliably buy again. Nobody needs to discover halfway through a 20-hat charity project that the beautiful bargain yarn was discontinued in 2009.

What Makes a Good Crochet Chemo Cap?

For most donation programs, think:

soft rather than scratchy

close stitches rather than open lace

comfortable seams

good scalp coverage

washable yarn

no heavy embellishments unless the charity specifically allows them

a useful range of sizes

And always make the hat to the requirements of the organisation receiving it.

For more general hat donations, you can also browse our 10 crochet beanie patterns to make and donate. See the charity crochet beanie roundup

CraftBits also has a free vintage child’s crochet beanie pattern that can be useful for general children’s winter charity projects. Free Vintage Crochet Child’s Beanie Pattern on CraftBits For cancer-care donations, however, I would only use it after checking the yarn, fit and stitch coverage against the receiving organisation’s chemo-cap requirements.

There is something quietly powerful about making a chemo cap for someone you may never meet. It is not going to change their diagnosis or make treatment easier, but it can make one cold waiting room, one difficult morning or one vulnerable moment a little more comfortable.

Sometimes a ball of yarn really can become something much bigger than we expected.