Make the Free Mulleda Chemo Hat Crochet Pattern for Cancer Patients & Their Loved Ones

Most crochet hat patterns can be used for everyday wear, but when I design a chemo hat crochet pattern, it’s special. I think about the brave individuals going through treatment. I try and put extra care into making something soft, comfortable, and full of encouragement. This year my kids and I lost some important, so there were many tears shed before and after creating year’s design.

I’ve had the privilege of participating in the Crochet Cancer Challenge every year since Christine started. Each each year I aim to create something meaningful. This year, I chose UTUC cancer because my ex-husband lost his battle this year and it’s been a hard blow to myself and our children.

If you haven’t heard of the Crochet Cancer Challenge here is a quick rundown. You receive a free pattern (the offer is for a limited time). In exchange for that pattern, you pledge to make at least 1 of that hat and donate it to cancer patients, or a treatment center. The challenge runs through the month of October, which is cancer awareness month.

WHY I CHOSE UTUC (UPPER TRACT UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA)

In Jan 2019 my husband was diagnosed with UTUC. It is a very rare and aggressive form of bladder cancer that was found in his kidney. A couple weeks later they removed his kidney, but it wasn’t found fast enough and by then it had entered his system and was also found in his lymph nodes.

That was the beginning of a very long 6 years.

I’m here to tell you firsthand, cancer can take so much more than your health.

It took a major toll on my husband’s mental health.
It took my marriage.
It took the interactive, fun-loving dad my kids had always known him as.
And in Dec of 2024, it ultimately took him from us permanently.

It hurts . . . . and it sucks.

Despite it taking my marriage, I stilled loved him and never wanted this to happen. We had 6 amazing children together, who now no longer have a father. I know the pain will get easier, but it’s still so hard. In fact, I would never wish this journey on my worst enemy.

So this year, my goal was to create a design with a DNA cable to crochet into the hat. The final result was a DNA cable that has a cancer ribbon look to it. It is intermediate skill level, but I hope you will still give it a try.

I wrote the following for the Hope Lives Chemo Hat that I made for the challenge in 2018. I share it every year in hopes that it will help someone else. We need to remember there are so many people out there struggling to keep their hope alive. I pray these hats will help just a bit.

So, this year, I pray my hat can be a reminder to keep your hope alive and never give up.

MULLEDA CHEMO HAT CROCHET PATTERN INFO

Finished Sizes:

Child (18-20”)
Adult (20-22”)

Please Note: The adult size is free on the blog. When you purchase the premium pattern it will include both child and adult sizes.

Yarn: #4 worsted weight
Sample used: Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran in #204 – 2.1 oz/115 yds (will make either size)

Hook: Size J/10 (6 mm). Change hook size to get correct gauge if needed.

Notions: Yarn Needle

Difficulty: Intermediate – Uses increases and post stitches to create an intricate cable.

Notes:

Hat is worked from the top down.
Straight cable sections use FPdc.
Crossed cable sections use FPtr.

Special Stitches:

Magic Ring – insert hook in indicated stitch, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 1 loop, yo, pull through 2 remaining loops. CLICK HERE for Magic Ring tutorial
FPdc – yo, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated st, yo, pull up loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 2 times. Video tutorial here
FPtr – yo 2 times, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated st, yo, pull up loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 3 times. Video tutorial here
FPdc2tog – yo, insert hook around next post, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, insert hook around next post st, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops, yo, pull through 3 loops.

Please remember that if you download a copy of the hat pattern, you are pledging to make at least one hat from it to donate to a cancer patient or treatment center.

Adult Chemo Hat

Work magic ring, ch 1.
Round 1: Work 12 dc in magic ring, sl st in 1st dc to join. (12 dc)

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 hdc in first st, 2 hdc in each of next 3 sts, (hdc, FPdc) in next st, 2 hdc in next st, (hdc, FPdc) in next st, 2 hdc in each of next 5 sts to end of round, sl st in 1st hdc to join. (2 FPdc, 22 hdc)

Round 3: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, 2 hdc in next st, *[hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st] 4 times, 2 FPdc around next st, hdc in each of next 3 sts, 2 FPdc around next st, [2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st] around, sl st in 1st dc to join. (4 FPdc, 30 hdc)

Round 4: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, *[hdc in each of next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st] 4 times, (hdc, FPdc) in next st, 2 FPdc around next st, hdc in next 2 sts, 2 FPdc around next st, (FPdc, hdc) in next st, [hdc in each of next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st] 4 times, sl st in 1st hdc to join. (6 FPdc, 40 dc)

Round 5: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next st, *[hdc in each of next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st] 3 times, hdc in each of next 2 sts, sk next 5 sts, FPtr around 4th post st, FPtr around 5th post st, FPtr around 6th post st, hdc in 4th skipped at, hdc in 5th skipped st, FPtr around 1st skipped post st, FPtr around 2nd skipped post st, FPtr around 3rd post st, [hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st] 3 times, hdc in next 3 sts, sl st in 1st hdc to join. (6 FPtr, 51 hdc)

Round 6: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st, *[hdc in each of next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st] 3 times, hdc in each of next 2 sts, FPdc around 1st post st, FPdc around 2nd post st, FPdc around 3rd post st, hdc in next 2 sts, FPdc around 4th post st, FPdc around 5th post st, FPdc around 6th post st, hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st, [hdc in next 5 sts, 2 hdc in next st] 3 times, sl st in 1st hdc to join. (6 FPdc, 57 hdc)

Round 7: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 29 sts, FPdc around next 3 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, FPdc around next 3 sts, hdc in next 24 sts, sl st in 1st hdc to join. (6 FPdc, 58 hdc)

Round 8: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 29 sts, FPdc around next post st, FPdc2tog around next 2 post sts (see Special Stitches), hdc in next 4 sts, FPdc2tog around next 2 sts, FPdc around next post st, hdc in next 24 sts, sl st in 1st hdc to join. (4 FPdc, 58 hdc)

Round 9: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 31 sts, FPdc2tog around next 2 post sts, hdc in next 4 sts, FPdc2tog around next 2 sts, hdc in next 24 sts, sl st in 1st hdc to join. (2 FPdc, 60 hdc)

Round 10: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 31 sts, FPdc around next post st, hdc in next 4 sts, FPdc around next post st, hdc in next 24 sts, sl st in 1st hdc to join. (2 FPdc, 60 hdc)

Round 11: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 31 sts, 2 FPdc around next st, sk hdc behind post st, hdc in each of next 2 sts, sk next hdc, 2 FPdc around next st, hdc in next 24 sts, sl st in 1st dc to join. (4 FPdc, 58 hdc)

Round 12: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 31 sts, FPdc around next post st, 2 FPdc around each of next 2 post sts (4 post sts total), FPdc around post st, sk 6 sts behind post sts just made, hdc in next 24 sts, sl st in 1st dc to join. (6 FPdc, 56 hdc)

Round 13: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 31 sts, sk next 3 sts, FPtr around 4th post st, FPtr around 5th post st, FPtr around 6th post st, FPtr around 1st skipped post st, FPtr around 2nd skipped post st, FPtr around 3rd post st, hdc in next 24 sts, sl st in 1st dc to join. (6 FPdc, 56 hdc)

Round 14: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 30 sts, FPdc around 1st post st, FPdc around 2nd post st, FPdc around 3rd post st, hdc in next 2 sts (this will be the 2 sts between the 1st set of post sts and the 2nd set of post sts), FPdc around 4th post st, FPdc around 5th post st, FPdc around 6th post st, hdc in each of next 23 sts, sl st in 1st hdc to join. (6 FPdc, 56 hdc)

Rounds 15-18: Repeat Rounds 8-11.

Round 19: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 31 sts, FPdc around next post st, 2 FPdc around next post st, hdc in next 2 sts, 2 FPdc around next post st, FPdc around next post st, hdc in next 24 sts, sl st in 1st dc to join.

Round 20: Ch 1, hdc in 1st st, hdc in next 32 sts, FPdc around 1st post st, FPdc around 2nd post st, FPdc around 3rd post st, FPdc around 4th post st, hdc in each of next 25 sts, sl st in 1st hdc to join. (4 FPdc, 58 hdc)

Round 21: Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st in 1st sc to join. (64 sc)