The Downtown Knit Collective

Special projects - Knit for a Cure

In June 2006, the Downtown Knit Collective Relay for Life team launched our initiative to provide hand-knitted items (pink hats, scarves,etc.) to the Canadian Cancer Society in support of those undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer. Each month, members are asked to deliver their donations tothe Dr. Knit table. "Knitting for a Cure" cards are to be filled out and attached to the item. Also at the Dr Knit Table there will be a selection from the many wonderful donations of pink yarn which are available to members to knit their scarf or hat.

These donations are delivered to Jane Ewart at the Central Toronto Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. Jane ensures that the donations reach a worthy recipient at Princess Margaret Hospital, Sunnybrook Hospital,or the Dorothy Ley Hospice.

Let's make the Downtown Knit Collective--Knitting for a Cure a huge success.

www.dkcknitsforacure.blogspot.com

September 2009

Cancer touches all of us.

My first close exposure was in Spring 2000 when former DKC President Annabelle Dawson was diagnosed with brain cancer. What could I do? Knit of course. Knit each Saturday afternoon when Barbara Organ and I visited Annabelle. Knit a chemo cap out of the $75.00 skein of yarn that Annabelle provided me with for that purpose. Work with Annabelle, Lucy Neatby and 26 amazing knitting designers who generously donated hat patterns for "Annabelle's Caps", a pattern book sold to raise money for cancer charities in Canada and the US.

Through our own DKC Knitting for a Cure programme, we continue to send a knitterly hug to those undergoing treatment for cancer.

Many of us knit a few stitches on the pink scarf for Patrick. When DKC President Carole Adams delivered the scarf to Patrick last summer, she tells us that they both dissolved into tears. Patrick vows to join us for the Victory Lap at the June 2010 Relay for Life. Patrick, we are counting on you.

While parking my car before our September meeting, I ran into Mary Pat. My opportunity... I was thrilled to pull out a glitzy pink scarf and present it to Mary Pat. She squealed, "For Me!!!" and then burst into tears as we hugged. Mary Pat was to have a procedure the following day and could well use her "knitted hug" to accompany her. Some of you may have noticed Mary Pat proudly wearing her pink scarf at the meeting. Mary Pat tells me that she is doing well. We hope, Mary Pat, that you will also be joining the Victory Lap at the 2010 Relay for Life.

I have also learned that another DKCer is undergoing treatment for cancer. Carol, your scarf is ready. I hope to see you soon.

To all of our members, please join us in sending out these "knitterly hugs". Knit a scarf, chemo cap or shawl. Deliver it to someone you know undergoing treatment or bring it to a DKC meeting for delivery to a cancer care centre. If you need inspiration, "Annabelle's Caps" books are still available through me (events@downtownknitcollective.ca).

December 2008

You don't have to knit a scarf. Other options are hats, titbits, arm or wrist warmers, slippers or socks, shawls. If your collection of books and magazines don't inspire, there are many wonderful and free patterns you can find on the web. Here are a few favourite resources:

knitty.com has patterns for titbits, Shedir hat, Hallowig and the world famous Clapotis scarf. Check the archives for these and many other patterns.
www.ravelry.com (requires membership)
www.headhuggers.org for hats
from elann: www.elann.com/freepatterns.asp
from Crystal Palace Yarns:
www.straw.com/cpy/free_patterns.html
from Classic Elite: www.classiceliteyarns.com
For a knitted pink ribbon theme,
http://carissaknits.blogspot.com/2007/10/pink-ribbon-hat.html has a hat, and
http://www.lloydknitting.com/pink_ribbons_sock.htm features pink ribbon socks.

I hope to see some of these items on the table. Five scarves were donated in November's meeting, and they will be much appreciated.

October 2008

Another season of "Knitting for a Cure" begins. Time to get out those needles and some pink yarn and knit a scarf, hat or shawl for someone undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Perhaps, you need a little inspiration. A little search online will reveal some great patterns at knitty.com.

Feeling creative, have a look in a stitch dictionary such as Barbara Walker or the Harmony Guides. Look at your selection of yarn. Is it fingering weight or DK? How about something lacey? Is it a heavier weight? Maybe garter stitch or one of the many variations of ribbed stitches.

Take the time to wash and block your item and bring it along to the next DKC meeting. Remember, cancer patients have depressed immunity and are vulnerable to infection.

All donations are collected at the Dr Knit table. Fill out the pink Knitting for a Cure tag name, yarn content and washing instructions and attach it to your item.

May 2008

Our Knitting for a Cure efforts never stop. The 14 scarves and 3 hats collected at the April meeting were delivered to the Cancer Society by Wendy Eng.

The Knitting for a Cure effort began with a DKC relay team at the Relay for Life in June 2005. In 2007, several members of the DKC relay team were also members of the World Champion Toronto Spiders, winners of the Back to Back Wool Challenge. On relay night, the spinners spun pink yarn which the knitters knit into lovely pink scarves so that each breast cancer patient could have their own "pink ribbon of hope".

This year, our team fundraising began at the Knitter's Frolic. Julia Lee, Barb Aikman and Carol Mather-Miles manned our Relay Booth. Old Mill Knitting very generously donated a sweater kit to be raffled off. There were two winners, Wendy Eng for the Kit and the Canadian Cancer Society with the $177.00 raised. These funds will be included in the team pledges for this year's Relay for Life on June 20th where once again, team members will knit or spin "pink" all through the night.

April 2008

Our total collection for Knitting for a Cure to date includes 156 scarves and 6 caps.

Keep those needles clicking. Let's give a hug to all of those undergoing breast cancer treatment. If each DKC member knit only one scarf, we could easily match and even exceed in scarf donations our membership total of 250 members.

February 2008

Let's keep those knitting needles clicking...a further 15 pink scarves were collected at the January DKC meeting bringing us to a total of 133 scarves for 2007-2008.

The Knitting for a Cure initiative was launched two years ago when the DKC Relay for Life team decorated our tent with pink scarves. Team Member Wannietta Prescod from Angus, Ontario, not only knitted all night, but also launched the DKC Knits for a Cure blog. Did you know that Wannietta is the three-time winner of Fastest Knitter in Canada? On February 16th, Wannietta will represent Canada at the International Finals for fastest knitter, competing against representatives from Europe, Britain, and the U.S. at the 2008 Knit Out in Minneapolis.

January 2008

Congratulations ... 100 + scarves

Collected in December:	24 scarves and 4 tit-bits
TOTAL TO DATE:	118 scarves, 5 hats, and 4 tit-bits

December 2007

Those attending our December fashion show had the opportunity to meet Sharon Fullerton and put a face on the DKC Knitting for a Cure initiative.

Sharon is a physiotherapist and co-worker with myself at Footprints Paediatric Therapy. When the Knitting for a Cure project began in June 2006, Sharon, a breast cancer survivor was my inspiration. Little did we realize that Sharon would soon develop breast cancer in her remaining breast requiring surgery in December 2006. Sharon selected two lovely pink scarves that fall, one for outdoors and a fancy ribbon indoor scarf. She recounts that a pink "scarf of hope" accompanied her everywhere bringing her peace and positive thoughts. Sharon knew someone cared when she sat alone in a doctor's waiting room or while she awaited test results.

Let's work together to keep those pink scarves coming...as Sharon told us at the DKC meeting, they really do provide a needed "hug".

November 2007

The collection of Scarves and Hats for our Knitting for a Cure initiative is growing slowly. At the October meeting, we collected 11 scarbes and three hats which Wendy Eng delivered to the Canadian Cancer Society for distribution. This brings our second year totals to 57 scarbes and 5 hats.

A few years ago, the online publication "Knitty" presented a special issue in honour of Breast Cancer Month. This printable issue contains wonderful patterns for two scarves, a hat, and a pair of socks. Who can resist the lure of the Booby or Heart Scarves? Jenna Wilson's magnificent Shedir Hat is definitely on my "to do" list. And lastly, the comfort of Lou Lou socks...

Do download this wonderful, printable special issue of Knitty at:
http://www.marblehead.net/amy/knittyF04surp.pdf
and get those needles clicking. Let's realize the dream, and make sure that all of those undergoing treatment for breast cancer receive their own special hand-knitted pink ribbon of hope.

October 2007

Collection for our second year of Knitting for a Cure began with a bang at the Relay for Life last June with a total of 35 scarves and one hat being collected. Over the summer, an additional four scarves were hand delivered to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. In addition, seven scarves and one hat were received at our September meeting. This brings our second year totals to: 46 scarves and two hats.

We hope that all DKC members will donate a pink knitted item for this initiative. Just think, if each member knit a scarf, we would have a wonderfully huge pile of 200 scarves to deliver. Let's make the Downtown Knit Collective--Knitting for a Cure a huge success. Let's ensure that all those undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer receives their own special pink ribbon of hope!

September 2007

The collection of Knitting for a Cure items celebrated our one year anniversary at the June DKC meeting. Our final totals for our first year are 161 scarves, 14 hats, 19 tit-bits and one felted purse.

Our mission is clear -- knit more! Anyone can help -- you can send us pink yarn or you can knit any of the above items. Bring them to a DKC meeting and drop them at the Dr. Knit table. Be sure to complete a pink Knitting for a Cure tag and attach it to your donation.

Over the coming year, please continue to knit pink scarves.

January 20, 2007

To date we have delivered the following:

	Scarves	Hats	Tit-Bits	Felted purses
	88	13	19	1

October 2006

On October 13, 2006, Heather Unikel and Joan Kass delivered 29 scarves to the Lindsay Grange at the Central Toronto Division of the Canadian Cancer Society. These were scarves knit by the DKC Relay for Life team members which had decorated our tent at the Relay for Life last June.

We received the following thank you note from Lindsay:

Hi Joan,

Thank you for dropping off the beautiful scarves today. We have packaged them in clear bags with pink ribbons. In each bag there is a card that says "Generously donated by: Downtown Knit Collective--Knit for a Cure." We will be giving them out to survivors at tomorrow's event, Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer.

I will also be contacting program Coordinators at Princess Margaret Hospital Lodge, Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, Henrietta Banting Breast Cancer Centre and Look Good--Feel Better. I will keep you posted on the progress.

Thank you again for taking time to create such beautiful scarves!

Lindsay Grange
Fundraising Coordinator
Canadian Cancer Society, Central Toronto Unit
20 Holly Street, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M4S 3B1
mail to: lgrange@ontario.cancer.ca
Tel.: (416) 485-0222 ext. 29
Fax: (416) 485-0223

Later, we received this further communication from Lindsay:

Hi Joan,

The scarves were very well received at our Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer Event on Saturday! We had a photographer taking pictures and I will forward any picture with your scarves when they have been developed.

Thank you again for donating the scarves!

Hope to speak with you soon,

Lindsay