FO: Man's Chemo Cap (with free pattern)

I've been working away on the chemo cap project and decided that the ball of navy Elann Esprit was going to be a man's cap. Looking at all the caps people have knitted for the project, I'm seeing many women's caps and some unisex caps. They needed some "guy" caps, so I came up with this pattern. It took a bit of work to come up with a set of decreases at the top that I liked. I hope the instructions are clear enough.

If you substitute yarns, be aware that Elann Esprit is elasticized cotton yarn and this cap relies on the stretchy fabric that the elastic produces. If done in another yarn, it might not stretch enough, though it would make a dandy boy's cap.


Man's chemo cap

This cap borrows a portion of the subtle cabling from the Earl Grey Socks on the Yarn Harlot website. If you find this pattern useful, please visit the Yarn Harlot's blog and make a donation to Doctors Without Borders. Thanks.

Materials:
1 ball Elann Esprit 50 gr ball, navy
Size 7 16" circular needle
Set of 4 size 7 DPNs

Cast on 80 stitches. Join, being careful not to twist the stitches. Knit K2 P2 ribbing for 3 inches. On the last round, place markers every 16 stitches (divides hat in to 5 sections).

On next round, begin cable pattern. Do one cable pattern after each marker. Adjust markers if needed so that K and P sts of first cable round match K and P sts of ribbing, so cabling emerges from the ribbing. Knit all stitches up to next marker.

Abbreviations:
TR (twist right) = K the 2nd stitch on the left needle, K the first stitch, slide both off together.
CR = P the 2nd stitches on left needle, K the first stitch, slide them off together.
CL = K the 2nd stitch on the left needle, P the first, slide them off together

Round 1: *p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k8* 5 times
Round 2: *p1, TR, p2, TR, p1, k8* 5 times
Rounds 3,4,5: *p1, k2, p2, k2,p1, k8* 5 times
Round 6: *p1, TR, p2, TR, p1, k8* 5 times
Rounds,7,8,9: *p1, k2, p2, k2 ,p1, k8* 5 times
Round 10: *p1, TR, p2, TR, p1, k8* 5 times
Round 11: *p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, k8*, k8* 5 times
Round 12: *p1, k1, CL, CR, k1, p1* 5 times (correction added)
Round 13: *p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, k8* 5 times
Round 14: *p1, k1, p1, TR, p1, k1, p1, k8* 5 times
Round 15,16,17: *p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, k8* 5 times
Round 18: *p1, k1, p1, TR, p1, k1, p1, k8* 5 times
Rounds 19,20,21: *p1,k1,p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, k8* 5 times
Round 22: *p1, k1, p1, TR, p1, k1, p1, k8* 5 times
Round 23: *p1, k1, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, k8* 5 times
Round 24: *p1, k1, CR, CL, k1, p1, k8* 5 times

Continue in pattern for two pattern repeats (about 4 1/2 inches). Begin decrease rounds, continuing cable pattern for the next eight rows.
Round 1: Continue pattern over first 8 stitches after each marker, K2tog, K6
Round 2: Continue pattern over first 8 stitches after each marker, K5, ssk
Continue decreases in this manner, making K2tog decreases on odd rows at the start of the knit panels and ssk decreases on even rows at the end of the knit panels until there is only 1 stitch between the cable panels.
Next round: *P1, K2, P2tog, K2, P1, K1* repeat around
Next round: *P1, K2tog, P1, ssk, P1, K1* repeat around
Next round: K2tog all around
Cut yarn, leaving an 8 inch tail. Use a tapestry needle to run the tail through the remaining live stitches. Pull tight, secure ends.

If you want to make the hat larger:
- to make the hat bigger around, cast on an additional 16 stitches and work 6 repeats every round.
- to make the hat longer in the crown, add another pattern repeat.