Be in prayer as you knit/crochet for the one who will be the recipient of the hat you are creating, keeping in mind that, at the present time, they may not even know that they are going to have cancer or that they will be without hair temporarily.

Use soft yarn that will be comfortable to wear. Do make the hat from bright yarns or decorate the hat so that when worn, it lifts the spirit of the person wearing it. Put your personality into it. Use cotton yarns for summer wear.

If you add any attachment(s) on the hat, be sure that there is no sharpness inside the hat. We do not want to scratch someone’s skin and possibly cause an infection. Try to attach any ornamentation in such a way that it can be removed so the hat can be laundered or simply redecorated.

Always provide washing instructions with the hat.

It is good to place the finished hat in a clear plastic bag so that it is easily viewable and contains all the information that you need to provide – such as laundry instructions and, if you chose, a message from you. Your message may include: your own experience with cancer if you have had cancer; a spiritual or uplifting message; suggestions about keeping the hat after the recipient’s hair has returned or possibly passing the hat on to someone else they know who has cancer or even returning the hat to the clinic where they received the hat. If the hats are returned in good condition, they can be laundered and reused. There can be an additional ministry of cleaning the returned hats and redecorating them and returning them to the clinic at the request of the clinic. Be sure and check with the clinic where you will be providing hats to see what they consider permissible to include in the Jaunty Hat packet.

There are no set patterns or yarns to use although we will provide patterns if you desire. There is no one clinic or medical center to which you must take the hats you knit. Where you provide hats to is your personal decision. You do not have to report your progress or experiences to anyone. This is not an organizational project. It is simply a concept that we hope to promote so that more women will have the joy of wearing a hat that is uplifting to their spirits during a time that they need that so very much.

Be prepared to see a lovely woman somewhere in your neighborhood – Wal-Mart, the grocery – who is proudly wearing your hat or one similar to the ones you have created. Perhaps you will simply smile in your heart and just pass her by without a word. Perhaps you will speak to her about our ministry. In any event, you will be blessed!

Norwyn Waters
Download Jaunty Hat Patterns  

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