Many crochet chemo hat patterns are made with acrylic yarn and a solid, textured fabric that is great for the cooler months (See my Eira hat here). This crochet chemo hat pattern is made with a cotton and acrylic blend yarn and a small mesh design to be more comfortable while sleeping or when outside in the heat. I began my crochet journey when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and over the years, I have made many chemo hats and shawls to donate to my local clinic. I like to crochet this hat pattern in the summer months, when lighter weight hats may be needed.

I really enjoy seeing all the chemo hats crocheters and knitters make, and this is just a reminder that any donation made with soft, wool-free, washable yarn is wonderful and appreciated at any time of year! When I was getting chemo, I found that I preferred lighter weight hats made with dk weight and/or cotton yarn because I got hot easily, and the heavier hats would irritate my scalp while sleeping. The holes in this pattern are small and designed for air flow. And, of course, you can crochet this hat regardless of whether it is for chemo or not! Happy Crocheting, and you may wish to consider donating a hat or two to your local hospital or clinic.

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Materials:

Yarn: Any dk weight #3 yarn. This pattern works best with cotton blend yarns. I used Yarnsmith’s Pebble Haze DK in Chrysocolla and Flourite. This yarn is a 67% cotton, 33% acrylic blend, 159 yds/145 m per ball. I used exactly one ball for one hat, so if you crochet loosely or plan on adjusting the size, you will want to have another ball to be safe.

Hooks: H (5.0 mm); If you are using a cotton blend yarn, I recommend using a metal hook with a pointed tip to make crocheting the single crochets into the half double crochets easier.

Locking stitch marker, scissors, yarn needle

Here is a link to the optional “made with love” tags I used (paid link). I sewed these onto the hats using leftover yarn.

Stitches and Abbreviations:

• This pattern is written using US crochet terms.
• magic ring
• chain (ch)
• single crochet (sc)
• half double crochet (hdc)
• stitch (st)
• skip (sk)
• slip stitch (slip st)
• rnd (round)
• right side (RS)
• wrong side (WS)

Size and Gauge:

Notes on Sizing: This hat is designed to fit medium-large adult head size, 21-23 inches. The hat as written covers the ear with a length of 8.5 inches. Pattern rounds can be easily omitted for a shorter hat.

Gauge for reference: 19 stitches x 17 rounds in pattern stitch in the round with H hook.

Notes:

• ch 1 and ch 2 turning chain does NOT count as a stitch.
• The hat is crocheted from the top down, starting with an hdc crown, moving onto the mesh pattern stitch in the body, and finishing with an sc brim.
• To make a shorter or longer hat, you can add or omit mesh pattern repeats or add or omit sc rounds in the brim.
• If you wish to make a smaller size, you can go down a hook size (4.5 mm), which will give you a teen/adult small hat size if your gauge is similar to mine.

• General note on pattern terminology: When the pattern includes a number before a stitch, you work that number of stitches into the same stitch, creating an increase. Example: “2hdc” indicates that you work 2 half double crochets into one stitch. When the pattern includes a number after a stitch, you work one stitch into each of the stitches indicated. Example: “hdc 2” indicates that you are to work 1 half double crochet into each of the next 2 stitches.
• For my patterns specifically, I try to make this distinction clear in the pattern, especially for crocheters that may not be as familiar with the other phrasing. Example: “2hdc in the first hdc and every hdc around” means that you work 2 half double crochets into every stitch in the round, doubling the stitch count versus Example: “hdc1 in each of the next 2 st” means that you work 1 half double crochet into each of the next 2 stitches. This could also be written as “hdc 2” as previously described.

Pattern:

Crown Increases

Rnd 1: Make a magic ring, ch2 (does NOT count as st here and throughout), then hdc 10 into the magic ring. Slip st to first hdc to join. Do not turn. (10 hdc)

Rnd 2: ch2, 2hdc in first hdc and every hdc around. Slip st to first hdc to join. Do not turn. (20 hdc)

Rnd 3: ch2, *2hdc in first hdc, hdc1 in the next hdc*, repeat from *…* around. Slip st to first hdc to join. Do not turn. (30 hdc)

Rnd 4: ch2, *2hdc in first hdc, hdc1 in each of the next 2 hdc*, repeat from *…* around. Slip st to first hdc to join. Do not turn. (40 hdc)

Rnd 5: ch2, *2hdc in first hdc, hdc1 in each of the next 3 hdc*, repeat from *…* around. Slip st to first hdc to join. Do not turn. (50 hdc)

Rnd 6: ch2, *2hdc in first hdc, hdc1 in each of the next 4 hdc*, repeat from *…* around. Slip st to first hdc to join. Do not turn. (60 hdc)

Rnd 7: ch2, *2hdc in first hdc, hdc1 in each of the next 5 hdc*, repeat from *…* around. Slip st to first hdc to join. Do not turn. (70 hdc)

Rnd 8: ch2, *2hdc in first hdc, hdc1 in each of the next 6 hdc*, repeat from *…* around. Slip st to first hdc to join. Do not turn. (80 hdc)

Rnd 9: ch2, *2hdc in first hdc, hdc1 in each of the next 7 hdc*, repeat from *…* around. Slip st to first hdc to join. Do not turn. (90 hdc)

Main Body of Hat

Rnd 1: ch1, sc in every st around. Slip st to first sc to join. Do not turn. (90 sc)

Rnd 2: ch2, *hdc1 in each of the next 2 st, ch1, sk1*, repeat from *…* around. Slip st to first hdc to join. Do not turn. (30 hdc, ch1 “holes”; 90 total st)

Rnd 3: ch1, sc in every st around, including the ch-1 spaces. Slip st to first sc to join. Do not turn. (90 sc)

Rnds 4-21: Repeat Rounds 2-3 nine more times for a total of 10 pattern repeats, ending with an sc round (Rnd 3). Slip st to first sc to join. Do not turn. (90 st)

Brim

Rnd 1: ch1, sc1 in the first sc and every sc around. Slip st to first sc to join. Do not turn. (90 sc)

Rnd 2-4: Repeat Rnd 1 three more times for a total of 5 sc rounds (4 for the brim and your final Rnd 3 from the main body). Fasten off and weave in ends.

Thank you so much for viewing my website! I hope you enjoy crocheting this free crochet chemo hat pattern! Lena

As with all of my patterns, you are more than welcome to sell any finished item made with your personal copy of the pattern. Attribution to the pattern designer or a link to my website or Etsy is appreciated. Please do not sell the pattern itself. Thank you.