a knitter's rite of passage

I've just finished my first chemo cap. (Thankfully, my dad never needed chemo so I never had to knit him one. I just knit him lots of socks for his cold feet!)



(Green is Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in Edgewood. Tan is remnants from a shawl I knit a few years ago from an Etsy shop that has since closed.)

This is for Kevin, a friend of my parents'. He is a homebuilder -- he built my parents' house. I think it's safe to say it's their perfect home.

A couple years ago, Kevin had a leg amputated because his circulation problems just got to be too much. He's been in and out of the hospital for the past few years and it's been touch and go.

Recently, he found out he has a rare cancer (on his tongue, I believe). I can't imagine going through so many difficult things in such a short period of time.

So I wanted to knit him something.

Whether he needs chemo or not (they're still figuring out a treatment plan, I believe), he now has a hat to keep his head warm in the window.

It has five stripes -- one for him, his wife, and his three kids.

I hope it brings him some comfort.