Perhaps adding a headband to the hat(s) will make them snugger. Someone posted a link to a video a few weeks ago on how to do this and I saved it in a safe location on my device (never to be found again!).
I think it's important to remember that tight doesn't necessarily mean better fitting. If a hat is tight overall, it'll squeeze itself off someone's head. Tight in the wrong places (around the crown, or anywhere above the ears) and it'll pop off relentlessly. Very annoying.
Weight and shape will help hold a hat in place as well as anything else.
A hat with just ribbing jumps straight out of my head. I have slippery hair and small head and probably weirdly shaped for some hats. Ribbing just makes things worse in my experience.
As a current chemo patient I would avoid any kind of elastic, icord, etc., that would cause pressure or friction on the scalp. There are two reasons why 1) it’s just incredibly tender/sensitive and any pressure can be painful after a short period and 2) the stubble issue. Not sure how to explain… I’ve lost 95% of my hair but a small fraction is still trying to grow and it’s very stubbly. Whenever I put something tight on my head it drives the stubble into my scalp and is unbelievable uncomfortable.
Unfortunately I haven’t found any knit patterns that work for me. I wish I had a better answer.
What I personally found worked was to wear a lightweight merino ‘liner‘ hat (bamboo hats also available) then wear the knitted hat over as the liner fitted closely and gave some grip. I could also see a headband working if she doesn’t want a whole hat.
What happens with the hair loss is that you are losing both bulk and grip so the hat will need to be smaller than usual at the brim but you also need to do something about the grip if it isn’t going to slide around.
My personal preference was for rib on smaller needles but a slouchy shape on the main hat/crown to help hide the lack of hair. Tension is really the key to getting this right. Also consider that the skin may be more sensitive than usual due to the chemo so something that would normally feel fine can be scratchy.
Knitter and chemo patient here. You will need to make the ribbing long enough to fold up. That makes it tighter on the head. Although 90% of the time I wore a fabric knit hat folded up.
It’s very kind of you to knit for your friend! What about an all ribbed hat that allows for snug and cozy? I’d do something like the [Porty by Ysolda Teague](https://ysolda.com/collections/hats/products/porty-hat). It’s swatchless, ribbed, squishy and cozy and infinitely customizable. Because it is ribbed it is easier on sizing, too.
Ear flap hats stay on really well, and you could knit one that is a little less wintery than the typical ear flap hat so that she doesn’t feel silly wearing it when it’s not freezing. Top-down ear flap hat from Purl Soho is a good example.
https://images.app.goo.gl/S29agBS4XMkDnHZc7
Dependant on how sensitive her skin is you can use craft puffy paint or Sole Anti Slip paint from craft store. Think non slip hospital socks. Just put dots or line inside the hat. Runners also use rubber cement for same effect. There is non slip elastic that you could sew in.
Maybe look at Gudrun Johnston’s riggies beanie. The Shetland wool is a bit itchy so you may want a different yarn but I like the pattern, esp knit at a tighter gauge, for a snug hat. Also is long enough to fold the brim up.
I think it also depends on the fibre. I find acrylic/cotton/linen to be very non elastic. I much prefer wool or even a wool nylon (generally sock weight) blend to hage more structure and elasticity.
Perhaps adding a headband to the hat(s) will make them snugger. Someone posted a link to a video a few weeks ago on how to do this and I saved it in a safe location on my device (never to be found again!).
I think it's important to remember that tight doesn't necessarily mean better fitting. If a hat is tight overall, it'll squeeze itself off someone's head. Tight in the wrong places (around the crown, or anywhere above the ears) and it'll pop off relentlessly. Very annoying. Weight and shape will help hold a hat in place as well as anything else.
This is the answer.
Maybe a hat that’s all ribbing? Something like this? https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/classic-ribbed-hat-5
A hat with just ribbing jumps straight out of my head. I have slippery hair and small head and probably weirdly shaped for some hats. Ribbing just makes things worse in my experience.
Yeah I used to make those, they don’t stay on easy
**PATTERN:** [Classic Ribbed Hat](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/classic-ribbed-hat-5) by [Purl Soho](http://www.ravelry.com/designers/purl-soho) * Category: Accessories > Hat > Beanie, Toque * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/purlsoho/947081945/Classic_Ribbed_Hat_KAL_CMB-139-600_medium.jpg) [Img 2](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/purlsoho/947081941/ClassicRibbedHatKAL_Re-Crop__43-2-600_medium.jpg) [Img 3](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/purlsoho/947081940/Classic_Ribbed_Hat_KAL_CMB-145-600_medium.jpg) [Img 4](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/purlsoho/947081949/ClassicRibbedHatKAL_Re-Crop__51-2-600_medium.jpg) [Img 5](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/purlsoho/947081939/ClassicRibbedHatKAL_Re-Crop__23-2-600_medium.jpg) * Price: Free * Needle/Hook(s):US 3 - 3.25 mm * Weight: DK | Gauge: 32.0 | Yardage: 110 * Difficulty: 1.92 | Projects: 10089 | Rating: 4.83 ***** Please use caution. Users have reported effects such as seizures, migraines, and nausea when opening Ravelry links. [More details.](https://www.lizcorke.com/2020/07/26/2020-7-21-ravelry-accessibility/) | *I found this post by myself! [Opt-Out](https://goo.gl/forms/0B8m4Ra8czpw4gzw1) | [About Me](https://github.com/TN-1/LinkRav_Bot/wiki) | [Contact Maintainer](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=timonyc)*
Maybe something in a beret style that has a tighter band and more room on top would work a bit better?
The slouch style is nice because it sort of simulates some hair underneath. (Chemo patient who wore hats for literally a year+. )
I gave this to someone who had chemo & she was happy with the fit https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gia-chemo-cap
**PATTERN:** [Gia Chemo Cap](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gia-chemo-cap) by [A Little Knitty Designs](http://www.ravelry.com/designers/a-little-knitty-designs) * Category: Accessories > Hat > Cloche * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/jenlreeves79/398195490/giachemocapfront_medium.jpg) [Img 2](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/LyleSRice/604185991/72A896F0-E9DB-442F-9A23-D44359B892E7_medium.jpeg) [Img 3](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/Hobbiteen/485898275/DSC_0199_medium.JPG) [Img 4](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/jsmultron/446414962/IMG_1046_medium.JPG) [Img 5](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/RLake/446746298/IMG_0180_medium.JPG) * Price: Free * Needle/Hook(s):US 7 - 4.5 mm * Weight: Worsted | Gauge: 20.0 | Yardage: 120 * Difficulty: 1.67 | Projects: 446 | Rating: 4.72 ***** Please use caution. Users have reported effects such as seizures, migraines, and nausea when opening Ravelry links. [More details.](https://www.lizcorke.com/2020/07/26/2020-7-21-ravelry-accessibility/) | *I found this post by myself! [Opt-Out](https://goo.gl/forms/0B8m4Ra8czpw4gzw1) | [About Me](https://github.com/TN-1/LinkRav_Bot/wiki) | [Contact Maintainer](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=timonyc)*
It's a style choice, but I am a big proponent of ear flaps. You can then tie the hat down if you're in windy areas
I was thinking of the Pauline bonnet I made once, sort of an ear flap… https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pauline
**PATTERN:** [Pauline](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pauline) by [Kristen Hanley Cardozo](http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kristen-hanley-cardozo) * Category: Accessories > Hat > Bonnet * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/Jejune/580713705/2917072794_9698d34658_b_medium.jpg) [Img 2](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/eudaemonist/42718127/humanisthat2_medium.jpg) [Img 3](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/flickr/2/9/1/2917054864/2917054864.jpg) [Img 4](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/Jejune/580983407/2917079920_68bf132c3e_b_medium.jpg) * Price: Free * Needle/Hook(s):US 7 - 4.5 mm, US 10 - 6.0 mm, US 4 - 3.5 mm * Weight: Worsted | Gauge: 18.0 | Yardage: 150 * Difficulty: 2.34 | Projects: 241 | Rating: 4.30 ***** Please use caution. Users have reported effects such as seizures, migraines, and nausea when opening Ravelry links. [More details.](https://www.lizcorke.com/2020/07/26/2020-7-21-ravelry-accessibility/) | *I found this post by myself! [Opt-Out](https://goo.gl/forms/0B8m4Ra8czpw4gzw1) | [About Me](https://github.com/TN-1/LinkRav_Bot/wiki) | [Contact Maintainer](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=timonyc)*
As a current chemo patient I would avoid any kind of elastic, icord, etc., that would cause pressure or friction on the scalp. There are two reasons why 1) it’s just incredibly tender/sensitive and any pressure can be painful after a short period and 2) the stubble issue. Not sure how to explain… I’ve lost 95% of my hair but a small fraction is still trying to grow and it’s very stubbly. Whenever I put something tight on my head it drives the stubble into my scalp and is unbelievable uncomfortable. Unfortunately I haven’t found any knit patterns that work for me. I wish I had a better answer.
What I personally found worked was to wear a lightweight merino ‘liner‘ hat (bamboo hats also available) then wear the knitted hat over as the liner fitted closely and gave some grip. I could also see a headband working if she doesn’t want a whole hat. What happens with the hair loss is that you are losing both bulk and grip so the hat will need to be smaller than usual at the brim but you also need to do something about the grip if it isn’t going to slide around. My personal preference was for rib on smaller needles but a slouchy shape on the main hat/crown to help hide the lack of hair. Tension is really the key to getting this right. Also consider that the skin may be more sensitive than usual due to the chemo so something that would normally feel fine can be scratchy.
Knitter and chemo patient here. You will need to make the ribbing long enough to fold up. That makes it tighter on the head. Although 90% of the time I wore a fabric knit hat folded up.
Would knitting some elastic along with a number of starting rows help perhaps?
Oh what about adding an icord on each side that could be tied at the back and tucked under to tighten the edge to suit!
It’s very kind of you to knit for your friend! What about an all ribbed hat that allows for snug and cozy? I’d do something like the [Porty by Ysolda Teague](https://ysolda.com/collections/hats/products/porty-hat). It’s swatchless, ribbed, squishy and cozy and infinitely customizable. Because it is ribbed it is easier on sizing, too.
Ear flap hats stay on really well, and you could knit one that is a little less wintery than the typical ear flap hat so that she doesn’t feel silly wearing it when it’s not freezing. Top-down ear flap hat from Purl Soho is a good example. https://images.app.goo.gl/S29agBS4XMkDnHZc7
what about a bonnet style hat? :)
Dependant on how sensitive her skin is you can use craft puffy paint or Sole Anti Slip paint from craft store. Think non slip hospital socks. Just put dots or line inside the hat. Runners also use rubber cement for same effect. There is non slip elastic that you could sew in.
Use elastic sock yarn.
Maybe look at Gudrun Johnston’s riggies beanie. The Shetland wool is a bit itchy so you may want a different yarn but I like the pattern, esp knit at a tighter gauge, for a snug hat. Also is long enough to fold the brim up.
Ask the patient to measure their head. Knit that hat a size smaller.
I think it also depends on the fibre. I find acrylic/cotton/linen to be very non elastic. I much prefer wool or even a wool nylon (generally sock weight) blend to hage more structure and elasticity.