Ann Cannon-Brown started another design challenge at Elann. This challenge is to design a chemo cap. Ann worked on the turban design shown for quite a while. This is a cause that is near and dear to her heart, and I am proud of her for challenging her customers.
Do patients WANT a cap in a color similar to the hair? I thought the obvious answer was yes, but on the other hand, I would never actually CHOOSE a brown hat for myself under any circumstances. So I ordered enough for two hats-one in a "hair color" and one in a "pretty color". I wonder how I can make this stretchy cotton (just like Cascade Fixation) stand up and hold it's shape without being rough and pokey. Maybe I won't need that capability.
I sketched ou
t a few designs and mailed them off to Camari, who I was stationed with in Germany. She started treatment on her first bout with cancer at 33, and just finished up with a masectomy (same breast, different cancer) eight years later. She's one of my heros, I am so proud of her. I am hoping that she will give me some insight into what she would have liked in a chemo cap, what her friends want. "How can this hat make you feel like YOU, and ready to kick cancer's ass?" The girl has a little experience, and hopefully, she can guide me. Curious to see where this challenge leads me....
5 comments:
Bets, I'm thinking the same things as I'm starting on the design challenge. I'm hoping that I"m able to create something that is comfortable, stylish, easy to wear, and doesn't scream "look at me, I'm bald". Libby
I can't wait to see what you come up with after your "research!" I am sitting out once again unless I am struck by the most awesome idea as I make some chemo caps for my friend Whitney's g-ma.
Links look great! ;)
Actually, she chose my favorite. Here are some other comments she made-which ought to get you thinking (slightly edited so I don't tip my hand...)
This is very cool. I actually agree with you on the one you starred - I really like it and would have bought something like it. I agree on having
something with a little volume. I wore scarves under hats (since most hats don't cover the head enough by themselves) and that did add volume. I agree that scarves alone look too flat.
As for color, I wasn't trying to recreate my hair color but rather have something more vibrant and colorful around the face. For example, something like a deep blue knit XXXXXXXXXXXXXX would look
awesome. Just try to think about colors you could match up to clothes. I have a beige hat but
felt a bit washed out in it. Since you lose brows and lashes, too, it's nice to have color.
I also liked the XXXXXXXXXXXXXX. I had a couple knit ball caps to work out in, but again, they conformed to the head so much that it looked like a cue ball under it. They worked, but this
would be more fun.
I'd love to see it when you get it done. That's great she's doing this as a competition because it's nice to have choices when you are faced with losing your hair.
Okay, I'm going to give this one a shot.
I've bought some yarn, and I can't wait for my little white box.
I told my mother-in-love about it. And she passed a little book on to me.
"Who Needs Hair: The Flipside of Chemotherapy"
Sallie Astor Burdine Rebecca Kieler
A very special little book. My MIL's friend new the author he spoke very highly of her, he passed a few books on to her and she passed them on to her cousin who had been diagnosed with cancer. It was warmly recieved and she gave it a good review, she loved it.
I've read through it and I think it's great.
Anyway, I just thought I'd share that.
Enid
some links on Sallie Brudine
http://www.sallieburdinebreastfoundation.org/MeetSallieAstorBurdine.asp
http://usads.ms11.net/sallie.html
http://www.breastoncology.com/HTML/the_foundation.htm
Good you did some research. The comment about volume was something I had already figured since I've made several chemo caps for friends. I've got an Idea! And I think it's cool too. I'm pretty excited about that, figured I'd stall out and not be able to come up with anything original. Provided I can do the math. ;-}
Post a Comment