Looking for a headwrap/hat pattern ?

[skankamaggot]

Hi guys,

I've been on a bit of a craftster hiatus for a while but now I'm back and I need your help!  I am having brain surgery in March and I will have to shave my entire head for the surgery.  I am still very overwhelmed about needing the surgery and everything and I keep going back and forth between wanting a wig and not.  Wigs are expensive!  They look difficult and itchy!  I found an awesome seller on ebay who makes some beautiful head wraps for chemo patients and I will be ordering a few from her.  I'm wondering if anybody has ever made any of these hat/head wrap type things or has ever seen a pattern or has any tips on making them.  I am a VERY BEGINNER sewer but my mom is very good and she has offered to make me a few.  I'd like some different ones for wearing to work/sleep/grocery shopping/etc.  I've loved my long hair for so long and it might sound superficial but I've grown quite attached to it and I don't think I will look very cute with a bald head.  I don't crochet or knit so that's out of the question. 

Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much in advance 

[Ludi]

Here's a good site for a multitude of free head-covering patterns:  http://www.fmfcorp.com/familyspot/haircover.html

I cut my long hair and it was traumatic even without brain surgery, so don't feel like you're being trivial.  We can invest a lot of our identity in things like hair, for good or ill!

Best wishes for the surgery and recovery.   

[Aislynn]

I'm so sorry about your surgery.  And please don't feel bad for missing your hair, or the thought of it being gone.  It's totally a normal response.  If it helps at all, when my aunt got diagnosed with cancer, she found it helped to be positive (she was very fashion conscious, and dyed her hair a lot prior to the chemo), she used to laugh that it was just a good excuse to find cute hats/scarves/wigs.  She especially loved wigs, though they are very irritating in the beginning, because your scalp is sensitive.  Because of that, though, when you make your hats or head coverings, use very soft fabrics, or line them with soft fabrics.  Try rubbing the material on the inside of your arm/elbow.  If it feels good, it'll work.  If it feels scratchy or itchy, it's going to hurt your head.  My aunt (and my mom, too, they both had the same thing) both seemed to prefer a simply triangle-type scarf if it was warm, and fleece caps when it was cold.

Good luck!