I love Lyn from Angelcraft's pattern for the Pink Ribbon Chemo Cap, and I plan on making a whole series of these caps to donate with various ribbon colors for cancer awareness. Tonight I made a teal ribbon cap for Ovarian Cancer Awareness.

"Ovarian cancer is a serious and under-recognized threat to women's health.

Ovarian cancer is very treatable when caught early.

Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose. Raise Your Awareness.

Early recognition of symptoms is the best way to save women's lives.

Early symptoms include:
Bloating, a feeling of fullness, gas, frequent or urgent urination, nausea, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, menstrual disorders, pain during intercourse, fatigue, backaches.

Take action if any symptoms last more than 2-3 weeks."

This Chemo Cap will be donated to Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

Cats and Crochet

Apparantly, some of my friends think that I am abusive to allow my cats to model my crochet projects.

If Tater had thumbs, he would probably be dialing Cat Protective Services.

More Chemo Caps

These are two more chemo caps that I made today.

The red one is just something I made up as I went. I used Caron Simply Soft in red and an H hook. It's just a basic no-frills cap, but towards the bottom rows I created a very subtle pattern by working rows of sc with triple crochet stitches interspersed. It doesn't show up well in the photo, but it adds a pretty and subtle texture to the hat.

The second cap is one that I made using Lyn from Angelcrafts Pink Ribbon Chemo Cap Pattern. I just love this pattern and will use it to make more awareness ribbon caps (in more awareness colors). I used some Red Heart Yarn for this, but did find that I had to make it a bit larger than the pattern called for. I used an H hook, and I added one additional row of increasing on the crown before working the sides. The pattern calls for a G hook, but I think the next time I make it I will try to use an I or J hook and follow the pattern exactly. In any case, I like the way that it turned out and I think that in other colors and without the rosette, this cap could be great for men or women.

Awareness Ribbons

Thanks to a lot of great work by a lot of great people and organizations, everybody knows that the pink ribbon is a symbol of hope for breast cancer patients.

What some people don't realize, is that other forms of cancer have their own special colors for awareness ribbons. I have asked the Community Volunteer Specialist as Roswell Park Cancer Institute about awareness colors, and she assured me that patients take their colors very seriously, and that the support ribbons are a real symbol of hope - not just for breast cancer patients, but for all cancer patients.

I'm going to try to start working the various colors into the designs of chemo caps that I donate. It seems an easy way to share hope and support with people facing a real challenge.

Here is a list of colors:


Pink - Breast Cancer
Teal - Ovarian Cancer
PearlClear - Lung Cancer
Purple - Pancreatic Cancer
Purple - Leiomyosarcoma
Orange - Leukemia
Black - Melanoma
Dark Blue - Colon Cancer
Burgundy - Multiple Myeloma
Grey - Brain Cancer
Blue - Prostate Cancer
Gold - Childhood Cancers
Lavender - General cancer Awareness
Lime Green - Lymphoma
Peach - Uterine Cancer
Kelly Green - Kidney cancer
Yellow - Sarcoma/Bone Cancer
Yellow - Bladder Cancer
Teal/White - Cervical Cancer
Burgundy/Ivory - Head and Neck Cancer
Emerald Green - Liver Cancer
Periwinkle Blue - Esophageal Cancer

In addition to cancer, there are many other causes/conditions that have adopted awareness ribbons: supporting our troops, autism, substance abuse, and depression to name just a few. A list of some of these other causes and their ribbon colors can be found here - this is my dear friend Lynn's blog at Beading Help Web.

Change of Plans

I sat down to make a chemo cap tonight, but a few rows in, I realized that it was going to be way too small, and that I was going to run out of yarn before I got it anywhere near the size I was aiming for. No biggie - I made a baby cap instead.

This was actually fun. I put away the pattern I was working on and improvised. When I got the basic cap to the size I wanted, I turned my work, and made the brim by working in the back loops only - that gave it a horizontal ridged look that I like. Then a row of back-loop only sc in pink, and it's a cute girly cap. Not what I planned, but a happy ending none the less.

And Tater likes it, too!

This one will be sent to Operation Marine Corps Kids. I might have to make some little pink booties to match.

Human Tetris TV show

I could get hooked on this!!!

When the Tetris game first came out, I loved it. This human version is beyond funny! I LOVE IT!!!

Matching Sets

One of the great things about blanket edgings is that they are so easily adapted to other projects.

I used the Super Simple Edging from the teddy bear blanket to edge this little baby cap. It's a really fast way to make cute sets.

This edging could also be used to finish off sweaters, bibs or socks.

I love this little set, and the whole think took just a few hours to make!

This set will be donated to Operation Marine Corps Kids.

Super Simple Edging

This edging is amazingly fast and simple to do, and looks very pretty!!!

You can use any worsted or baby weight yarn.

Punch holes in your fleece using Edgerydoo.

Base Row: SC through any pierced hole, chain 2, sc in next hole – all the way around fabric – join to first sc w/ slip stitch.

Row 1: SC in first sc, chain 3, sc in next sc. Repeat this pattern all the way around – join to first sc with slip stitch.

Row 2: slip stitch in first 2 chain stitches (this will position you in the center of your first “arch” from Row 1). *Chain 3, sc in the middle of the next arch* Repeat all the way around. Join w/ slip stitch to first sc.

That’s it! I won’t tell anyone how easy this is if you don’t!

I Got the Power!!

The Power Rangers, that is!!

I have a wonderful nephew. He's a great kid, but he's not very interested in crochet. I could make him hats, scarves or sweaters, and he would very politely say "thank you", but he wouldn't really be enthusiastic about the craft. I don't crochet for him because nothing I could make would be as cool as, say...Power Rangers. Until now!!!

I had to search on-line to find this fleece Mystic Force blanket. I finally bought it on Ebay from a seller in England. I know that my nephew will just love it!

Caron Simply Soft had perfect yarn colors to coordinate for a bright edging. I used a modification of the X-stitch edging.

I'm going to pack this away and give it to him for Hanukkah, but I think I finally found the one crochet project that he can get excited about.

a hat on a worm?

I don't wear hats. I like hats, but I look silly in them. So it's quite shocking to me that I'm considering keeping this one for myself. I don't think I have ever crocheted anything for myself, and I didn't set out to do so, but I really like this hat.

It's made with some sort of tweedy Lion Brand cotton yarn that I don't remember buying, but that I just love.

The hat is an adult sized version of my Sugar and Spice hat. So the questions is, if I keep it, will I ever wear it? Probably not.

I feel so legitimized - no really...

I must be a "real" blogger, because for the second time, I've been "tagged". Thank you, Dear Pippa, for stressing me over a silly blogging game.

Ok - here's how it works:

SCATTERGORIES…it’s harder than it looks! Copy and paste into a new email. When you are done, send it on, including to the person who sent it to you.

RULES:*Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following…they have to be real places, names, things…nothing made up!*Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

What is your name? Wormie

4 letter word: worm

Vehicle: Wagon

TV Show: I can't think of a good one (Walker, Texas Ranger; Wonderful World of Disney; Wildest Police Videos) so I will go with a Florida Favorite - Weather Today

City: Walla Walla, Washington

Boy Name: Wendell

Girl Name: Wanda

Alcoholic Drink: Wet Fart ( I don't make these things up - mix equal parts of Bailey's Irish Cream, Coconut liquer, Vanilla Vodka and a dash of Hershey's chocolate syrup - Yum)

Occupation: Whore (she didn't say it had to be noble)

Something you wear: Windbreaker (Member's Only - if you're really cool)

Celebrity: William Shatner

Food: WASABI

Something found in a bathroom: water

Reason for Being late: wee wee (thank you, Pippa, for the inspiration on that one)

Cartoon Character: Waskally Wabbit

Something You Shout: WHAT THE F***!!!?



And since I must pass along the tagging (you didn't say to how many folks though), I'm tagging Sara and Kathy.

What a feeling!

Any of you who crochet, know how great it feels when others admire your work. What feels even better is when you share a pattern and others like it. I don't think of myself as a designer, but every now and then I make something that I like and choose to share it here on my blog. I'm delighted when I hear that others like my patterns and share their success with them!

I've had some great response to the recent Sugar and Spice hat pattern that I posted. Several people have commented or e-mailed me about that pattern.

The photo above shows crocheter Dgngems' version of the Sugar and Spice hat as modeled by her adorable niece.

She modified the size as follows:

I used 1 strand each of Lion Brand Baby Soft "Cream"and Caron Simply Soft "Bone"
and a G/4.5mm hook. The fancy yarn is some Italian stuff I got on sale at a local
yarn shop, the yarn's by Apolia or something like that and is just called "Gold".
The size ended up being for a child that wears 3T-4T. I also wove a strand of the
fancy fur through round 9 so [my niece] can tighten the hat if she wants to.Thanks
again for a great pattern! I'm going to add it to all my baby gifts!

Thank you, Dgngems, for sharing your photo! It's so great to see how others interpret the design and how it looks in other yarns! Your hat and your niece are both adorable!!

Cute-a-saurus

This colorful dinosaur set was made with Edgerydoo and a combination of purple Baby Softee yarn and mint Caron Simply Soft.

I used my X-stitch edging on both the blanket and the hat.

It's soft and warm and will keep baby cozy.

This set will be donated to Operation Marine Corps Kids.

Let's Hear it for the Boys!

So many of my chemo caps seem to be "girly". I designed my MZ cap to be manly, but depending on the colors used, it can go either way. This brown cap is my most recent attempt at making one "for the boys". Of course, girls can like brown, so who knows.

These other two caps are most definitely girly, and were a lot of fun to make. The brown cap and the blue/green hat are patterns that I just made up as I went. The orange flower cap was made from this pattern by Chelle Grissom. It's the first time I used the pattern, and it was very fast and easy to make.

These three caps will be going to patients as Roswell Park Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY.

Simple X-Stitch Edging

I used this edging with my Edgerydoo on my fleece Rub-a-Dub Ducky blanket, but it can easily be used to edge any crochet project. I like this edging because it’s not overly feminine, and is good to edge blankets for men and boys. It’s also great for babies, because the opening between stitches is small so tiny fingers won’t get too easily tangled in them.



I used baby weight yarn and a D (3mm) hook, but this pattern can work with any yarn and hook size.


Special Stitch: X-Stitch – The X-stitch is made by crossing two double crochet stitches over each other. Chain 3 (counts as your first DC). Yarn over and do a DC in the stitch to the right of your first DC (you are working backwards for this stitch). This creates your first “X”. (click on image to enlarge)

Then skip your first DC, skip the next stitch and do a DC in the following stitch. Yarn over and do a DC in the stitch that you skipped. Continue this pattern around for a row of “X”s.



If working with fleece, create your base row by doing a sc followed by 2 chain stitches in each hole. Then:

1) sc in each stitch around your work. Join w/ slip stitch
2) Work a row of X-stitches all the way around. Join w/ slip stitch to top of first DC
3) SC in BACK LOOP ONLY all the way around your work. Join w/ slip stitch and finish off.

Rub a Dub Ducky

I love these little duckies!

This fleece blanket and hat set will be going to Operation Marine Corps Kids.

This was was really fun to make. The pattern is so simple, but I like the way it came out and think its a great edging for babies.

Sugar and Spice

and everything nice - that's what little girls are made of!

I think this little frilly cap is just too cute! It was very fast and easy to make.






Sugar and Spice Baby Hat

This frilly cap can be made in any baby weight yarn. I used Bernat Baby Coordinates and a G hook.

Chain 4, slip stitch in first ch to form a loop.

1) 12 dc into loop, slip stitch to top of first dc to join (12 DC)

2) chain 1, 2 dc in same stitch, 2 dc in each stitch around, slip stitch to top of first dc to join (24 DC)

3) chain 1, 1 dc in same stitch, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch* repeat ** all the way around, slip stitch to top of first dc to join (36 DC)

4) chain 1, 1 dc in same stitch, 1 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch, * 1 dc in next 2 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch* repeat ** all the way around, slip stitch to top of first dc to join (48 DC)

5) chain 1, 1 dc in same stitch, 1 dc in next 2 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch, *1 dc in next 3 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch* repeat ** all the way around, slip stitch to top of first dc in back loop only to join (60 DC)

6) chain 1, 1 dc in back loop only of same stitch, 1 dc back loop only all the way around, slip stitch to top of first dc to join (60 DC BLO)

7-9) chain 1, 1dc in same stitch, 1 dc in each stitch around, slip stitch to top of first dc to join (60 DC)

10) chain 1, 2 dc in same stitch, 2 dc in each stitch around, slip stitch to top of first DC to join (120 DC)

11) chain 1, sc in stitch, hdc in next stitch, 2 DC in next stitch, hdc in next stitch, sc in next stitch. * sc in next, hdc in next, 2 DC in next, hdc in next, sc in next* Follow ** pattern around for a soft wavy brim. Slip stitch to first sc to join. Finish off.



This is an original copyrighted pattern. You may use this pattern for charity and personal use. Feel free to link to the pattern at this site, but do not post it elsewhere.

Live and Learn

I just finished another fleece blanket, and its amazing how much easier it is to work with the fabric when you start with a smaller hook! I can't believe that I caused myself pain when working with a C hook would have solved the problem.

Oh well. Live and learn. This Pooh set was made using a pattern by Kim (doxiesr4me)from the EdgeryDoo site. It's a very simple pattern and so pretty when done!

This set will also be donated to Operation Marine Corps Kids.

By any other name

I love to crochet, and I get a lot of satisfaction from making things for charity. It's nice to know that the things I make are going to people who appreciate or need them. The best feeling is knowing that someone is enjoying the things I make! So, when my niece sent me this picture of her daughter, it really made my day! One picture is Jerry Bear - the bear I made for my niece's baby shower. The other photo is my beautiful great-niece playing with her Stuffy Bear. Jerry Bear - Stuffy Bear - whatever makes a baby smile is good by me!

Mad Hatter

Sometimes I feel like I should be doing larger projects - more baby things and full sized blankets. Maybe I'm lazy, but it's fun and easy to go for immediate gratification. I can make a cap in less than an hour, and it's so easy to modify simple patterns for some variety in color and style.

These two caps will be going to Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Soft and Comfy Cap

I've been making baby caps in this design, when it suddenly occured to me that this Crayon yarn is very soft and comfy and would be perfect for chemo caps, too. I added a few rows to the hat pattern, and ended up with this adult sized chemo cap. This one will be going to Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

Wild Thing

I used my 8" Edgerydoo template and some blue animal print and solid cream fleece to make this baby blanket and cap set.

The blue fleece is very very soft, but I had the hardest time working with it! For some reason, the holes punched through cleanly, but the fibers are so tight that it was real work getting the hook through the holes. Foolishly, I used my own body as leverage to force the hook through the fabric, and I now have the bruises to prove it.

I think the set it sort of cute though. I will be donating it to Operation Marine Corps Kids.

Un-bear-ably cute

I fell in love with this fleece pattern! It's super soft, and the teddy bears are just adorable!

A simple crochet edge in Knit-Picks Crayon and a matching sun cap, and I have another set for Operations Marine Corps Kids.

Oh, Pooh!

I don't care how old I get, I'll always love Winnie the Pooh and friends!

I just finished this baby blanket using Knit Picks Crayon yarn (that my sister sent to me) and my Edgerydoo. I'm going to make a matching cap, and then this set will go to Operation Marine Corps Kids.

Here is the matching cap. I think it came out really cute!

Back Home

The trip to Buffalo was great! We saw the falls, visited a few museums, spent time with a dear friend - all in all a GREAT and much needed getaway!

While I was there I did a lot of crocheting and was able to leave about 15 hats for the patients at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. I didn't have time to visit the facility, but we did drive by, and it is quite large and impressive.

Now it's back home, but not back to normal. I find myself "between jobs" and vacillate between the terror of being unemployed and the sheer joy of being able to start something new, and something "right". The last few months at work were stressful and not rewarding, and I know that I've learned enough to make the next opportunity the right one.

So, I'm hunting for my next career position, and working on the house, and trying to relax and just enjoy a bit of down time.