Knitted and Crocheted Knockers Campaign
Presented by Charlotte Yarn and Atrium Health Levine Cancer
|
|
Charlotte Yarn is partnering with Atrium Health Levine Cancer in a Knitted and Crocheted Knockers campaign. These knitted and crocheted knockers are special handmade breast prostheses for women who have had breast cancer and undergone mastectomy or lumpectomy. Knockers are soft, light, and comfortable to wear and can be placed in any regular bra. The knitted fabric breathes and prevents heat rash & discomfort.
The campaign's goal is to supply Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) with needed knockers. LCI provides the knockers FREE of charge at their Resource Center.
The campaign's goal is also to bring awareness to Breast Cancer, in conjunction with October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The following are several ways in which you can be involved and help with the campaign:
The campaign's goal is to supply Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) with needed knockers. LCI provides the knockers FREE of charge at their Resource Center.
The campaign's goal is also to bring awareness to Breast Cancer, in conjunction with October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The following are several ways in which you can be involved and help with the campaign:
- Knit and/or crochet a knocker
- Help spread the word about the campaign
- Purchase yarn for someone else to make a knocker
- Donate high-quality poly fiber fill which is used to stuff the inside of the knocker
Knit and/or Crochet a Knocker
Gel prostheses can be heavy and feel uncomfortable, which makes knockers a great alternative. It is our goal to supply LCI with a huge amount of knockers. All knocker sizes are welcome, but there is a specific need for cup sizes C and larger. We are asking for your help to knit/crochet a knocker or as many knockers as you can. Please refer to the "Knocker Requirements" section below before making a knocker.
If you would like to help with the campaign and don't live in the Charlotte area, you can also be involved. You can mail your knocker(s) to us at the following address by Monday, October 30th.
Charlotte Yarn
1235 East Blvd
Suite D
Charlotte, NC 28203
If you live in the Charlotte area, you can mail or drop off your knocker(s) at Charlotte Yarn by Wednesday, November 1st.
When you turn in your completed knocker(s), you will receive a thank-you gift (only 1 gift per person, not per knocker. In-store drop-off only). All participants will be entered into a prize drawing.
The drawing will have three main prize winners as shown below.
Turn in the following knocker amounts for a chance to win:
The winners will be announced at our "End of Campaign" celebration on Sunday, November 5th from 1pm-3pm. You do not need to be present to claim your prize. However, we ask that you pick it up at the shop if you are local. If you are not local, your prize will be mailed to you.
Campaign Kick-Off
Charlotte Yarn will have a "Campaign Kick Off" on Sunday, September 10th, from 12pm-4pm. We invite everyone to stop by to sit and start their knocker (must have knit and/or crochet experience).
Thanks to our generous yarn and needles/crochet sponsors, we will have FREE knocker kits available (yarn and poly fill and if needed, needles and hooks) for people to get started. Come out for an afternoon of fun and fellowship as we officially start the campaign.
If you are unable to attend the kick-off but would like a FREE knocker kit, please call the shop at 704-373-7442 to reserve a kit (local pick-up only). These kits will be available while supplies last.
To learn more about the Knitted Knockers Organization, please click here.
Knocker Requirements
The following are requirements to ensure that each knocker is ready to go to LCI and ready to wear. The requirements are necessary to ensure that every recipient receives a quality knocker.
Help Spread the Word About the Campaign!
Making knockers is very important; however, spreading the word about the campaign is equally important. Please help to get the campaign's information out to anyone whom you think can help. Please share with knitters, crocheters, or anyone that can support the effort.
Donate Materials to Help
If you do not knit or crochet and would like to help, you can do so by purchasing yarn for someone else to make a knocker or by donating poly fiber fill which is used for the inside of the knocker. The Knitted Knockers Organization's requirement for stuffing is a high-quality poly fiber fill, and they recommend Premium Poly Fiber Fill made by Fairfield and found at Joann's, Walmart and Amazon.
When you purchase yarn in-store or over the phone, Charlotte Yarn will then distribute the yarn to someone who will make the knocker(s). All knocker-approved yarn purchased through Charlotte Yarn will be given 20% off.
Charlotte Yarn Support
To help support this campaign, Charlotte Yarn will host scheduled instruction sessions and designated "Sit and Knit/Crochet" times:
Dates/Times: Every Thursday in October from 11am-12:30pm.
Dates/Times: Every Monday in October from 11am-12:00pm.
Dates/Times: Sunday, October 1st from 1pm-2pm.
Gel prostheses can be heavy and feel uncomfortable, which makes knockers a great alternative. It is our goal to supply LCI with a huge amount of knockers. All knocker sizes are welcome, but there is a specific need for cup sizes C and larger. We are asking for your help to knit/crochet a knocker or as many knockers as you can. Please refer to the "Knocker Requirements" section below before making a knocker.
If you would like to help with the campaign and don't live in the Charlotte area, you can also be involved. You can mail your knocker(s) to us at the following address by Monday, October 30th.
Charlotte Yarn
1235 East Blvd
Suite D
Charlotte, NC 28203
If you live in the Charlotte area, you can mail or drop off your knocker(s) at Charlotte Yarn by Wednesday, November 1st.
When you turn in your completed knocker(s), you will receive a thank-you gift (only 1 gift per person, not per knocker. In-store drop-off only). All participants will be entered into a prize drawing.
The drawing will have three main prize winners as shown below.
Turn in the following knocker amounts for a chance to win:
- Grand Prize - 10 or more knockers
- Secondary Prize - 5-9 knockers
- Third Prize - 1-4 knockers
The winners will be announced at our "End of Campaign" celebration on Sunday, November 5th from 1pm-3pm. You do not need to be present to claim your prize. However, we ask that you pick it up at the shop if you are local. If you are not local, your prize will be mailed to you.
Campaign Kick-Off
Charlotte Yarn will have a "Campaign Kick Off" on Sunday, September 10th, from 12pm-4pm. We invite everyone to stop by to sit and start their knocker (must have knit and/or crochet experience).
Thanks to our generous yarn and needles/crochet sponsors, we will have FREE knocker kits available (yarn and poly fill and if needed, needles and hooks) for people to get started. Come out for an afternoon of fun and fellowship as we officially start the campaign.
If you are unable to attend the kick-off but would like a FREE knocker kit, please call the shop at 704-373-7442 to reserve a kit (local pick-up only). These kits will be available while supplies last.
To learn more about the Knitted Knockers Organization, please click here.
Knocker Requirements
The following are requirements to ensure that each knocker is ready to go to LCI and ready to wear. The requirements are necessary to ensure that every recipient receives a quality knocker.
- Use the knit and crochet knocker patterns on the Knitted Knockers website. There are several patterns that use various knitting techniques in making knockers, such Double Pointed Needles, Magic Loop, and Two Circular Needles. Click here for the patterns. (Please Note: The Straight Needle Pattern is no longer approved by the Knitted Knockers Organization; it is only on their website for personal use, not for donation).
- Use only the approved yarn on the Knitted Knockers approved list. Click here for the yarn list.
- Use only skin-toned yarn colors.
- When making a knocker, do not knit or crochet the nipple. Most women prefer not having one (patterns have a non-nipple option).
- Use only a high-quality poly fiber fill, such as Premium Poly Fiber Fill made by Fairfield and found at Joann's, Walmart, and Amazon.
- When turning in your knocker, please do the following:
- Send the yarn's label. If you do not have the label, submit the knocker with a note indicating what yarn was used. (Please note: Knockers submitted which are not made with approved yarn will unfortunately not be used.)
- Indicate the cup size made.
- Make sure your knocker is slightly overstuffed and leave the back open for adjustment.
- Weave in any ends.
- Perform your own quality control to ensure that your knocker follows all the requirements and is esthetically pleasing.
Help Spread the Word About the Campaign!
Making knockers is very important; however, spreading the word about the campaign is equally important. Please help to get the campaign's information out to anyone whom you think can help. Please share with knitters, crocheters, or anyone that can support the effort.
Donate Materials to Help
If you do not knit or crochet and would like to help, you can do so by purchasing yarn for someone else to make a knocker or by donating poly fiber fill which is used for the inside of the knocker. The Knitted Knockers Organization's requirement for stuffing is a high-quality poly fiber fill, and they recommend Premium Poly Fiber Fill made by Fairfield and found at Joann's, Walmart and Amazon.
When you purchase yarn in-store or over the phone, Charlotte Yarn will then distribute the yarn to someone who will make the knocker(s). All knocker-approved yarn purchased through Charlotte Yarn will be given 20% off.
Charlotte Yarn Support
To help support this campaign, Charlotte Yarn will host scheduled instruction sessions and designated "Sit and Knit/Crochet" times:
- Sit and Knit/Crochet: Come by and work on your knocker with fellow supporters. We will also have staff available to help with questions and instructions (must have knit and/or crochet experience).
Dates/Times: Every Thursday in October from 11am-12:30pm.
- Knockers on Magic Loop: Learn to make a knitted knocker using the Magic Loop method. This method allows you to knit in the round, without double-pointed needles.
Dates/Times: Every Monday in October from 11am-12:00pm.
- Crochet Knockers: You will learn to crochet a knocker. Please note: Must know how to single crochet.
Dates/Times: Sunday, October 1st from 1pm-2pm.
End of Campaign Celebration!
To celebrate the campaign and to say thank you to all the participants, we will have a celebration on Sunday, November 5th from 1pm-3pm. The celebration will include the following:
- Charlotte Fire Department (CFD) Pink Lady Fire Truck: CFD's Pink Lady Firetruck will come to Charlotte Yarn to pick up all the knockers and deliver them directly to the LCI. Come and take pictures with us in front of the truck as we celebrate the campaign's success.
This truck, named “The Pink Lady,” was created as a way of showing solidarity and support for all those who have either directly or indirectly been affected by breast cancer.
- Prizes: We will announce the three winners of the knocker's drawing.
- Cake and refreshments: Join us in all the fun as we enjoy cake and refreshments, as we celebrate the conclusion of a successful campaign!
Sponsors
Many businesses contributed to make sure that this campaign is a huge success. We would like to thank our fellow sponsors who donated yarn, prizes, and needles/hooks. Their help and support means so much to this worthy cause.
- Berroco
- Blue Sky Fibers
- Bryson Distributing
- Cascade Yarn
- DMC
- Knitting Fever
- Universal Yarn
- WeCraft Guild – Supplying Knockers to the campaign