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Knitted Knockers give support to women with breast cancer

By Jenn Watt


It takes a quarter of a skein of yarn and a few hours to make a difference for a woman in need of a breast prosthesis.


Knitted Knockers Canada collects prostheses made of ultra pima cotton which can be worn in a woman’s bra and gives them out for free to those who need them.


The program provides a simple pattern online for knitters to follow and asks that the completed garments be dropped off at one of dozens of locations in Canada. They are then stuffed with high quality fibre filling and mailed out to women who request them.


Local knitter Christine Bunn heard about the program from her sister and thought it would be perfect for Haliburton. She contacted the Canadian co-ordinator Nancy Thomson and set up knocker collection baskets at Marty’s and JanKnit’s in Haliburton. Both yarn shops are offering a 10 per cent discount on ultra pima cotton yarn for customers who intend to use it to make knockers.


Thanks to the work of fellow knitters Chris Whittemore and Leonora Marriner 28 knockers have already been made.


“People are knitting these with love” says Bunn.


Women who have had breast cancer surgery and want to use a prosthesis sometimes find that the silicone versions are heavy and uncomfortable against the skin. The knitted knockers on the other hand are soft light and can be adjusted to size.


Janet Sheehey owner of JanKnit’s whipped up a knocker within about an hour one evening. She says the pattern is easy to follow and is much like making a toddler’s tuque.


To find the pattern to make a Knitted Knocker or to request some go to www.knittedknockerscanada.com. The organizers ask that ultra pima cotton yarn is used and it can be purchased at both JanKnit’s and Marty’s. Both stores have signage and baskets set aside for the knockers.