Donate Crocheted Hats to Cancer Patients

Previously published on AllCraftConnection.org 4/4/12

When Tracy's mother, Pam Harshman, was diagnosed with cancer, somebody crocheted a hat for her. Tracy and her mother were touched by this simple, heartwarming gift and decided to pay it forward by crocheting hats for other cancer patients. They came up with their own website, CrochetForCancer.org where they ask participants to donate crocheted hats. To help increase donations, they offer links for crocheted hat patterns.

As a former breast cancer patient, I know firsthand how important head coverings are for people who receive chemo. I was bald for several months, but I was lucky – I didn't have to purchase wigs, hats, or scarves, because I was blessed with kind and generous friends and family members who bought me a wig, a couple of hats, and several scarves.

Wigs can be bothersome for cancer patients whose hair eventually grows back, because hair sticks inside the tiny webbing and causes the head to itch. Scarves, while beautiful, don't always stay on slippery bald heads, something I discovered once when I was driving with my window rolled down.

Hats tend to stay on the head and I wore hats most of the time – which worked well during the winter months. Once graced with a thick head of hair, I was surprised by how the cold affected my head after I lost all of my hair – and I genuinely appreciated those hats. 

One thing cancer patients don't want is a hat filled with so many openings that their bald heads can be seen through the holes. If you decide to crochet hats for cancer patients, please make sure your weave is tight. Single crocheted hats work well, though a bulky yarn using a double crochet will work well in the winter months. When you crochet a hat, make sure it covers the head from the forehead to the nape of the neck.

During summer months, crochet with 100% cotton or 100% silk to help cancer patients be comfortable during those hot sticky months (100% silk yarn, however, is difficult to find; it is also very expensive).

Want to become involved in Crochet for Cancer's cause? According to Crochet for Cancer's FaceBook page, "We primarily donate items to centers in Georgia and Indiana but hope to one day spread our passion into each state." Visit Crochet for Cancer for more information on how to become involved. 

Afterword #1: one of my grandsons was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma after I wrote the original blog (date above). I sent several crocheted hats with him to share with children in his ward. If you are close to a hospital where patients receive chemotherapy and radiation for cancer, please call the hospital first to see if they would take your hats. Make sure they are clean – no smoke and no pet dander, and if they won't accept them, contact Crochet for Cancer. 

Afterword #2: Sadly, Pam Harshman passed away March 5, 2014.

Thank you for visiting!