Kentville women making knitted knockers
A little over a year ago Carolyn Hogg-coulombe lost a part of her anatomy to breast cancer.
Once she recovered from the surgery the Kingston pharmacist recalled that a prosthesis “wasn’t something I was ready for.”
Luckily, through a connection at Centrestage Theatre in Kentville, Hogg-coulombe discovere a free alternative exists – ‘knitted knockers.’
She is now supplied through Nancy Henry’s knitting group, which is making soft, pliable ‘knockers’ in four sizes that wash easily.
Recently the knitters invited Hogg-coulombe to one of their regular Wednesday gatherings. She was glad to meet the group, who knit with varying degrees of ability. Some even come and roll yarn.
Henry said the knitters wanted to show her what they’ve done and to support her in getting back to work. There were large baggies filled with ‘knockers’ on display.
“Starting is the hardest part,” she noted. With practice some knitters can make two in a single evening.
Hogg-coulombe said she was thrilled to get the invitation. She added the alternative to the knitted knocker is heavy and hard.
“So when you hug someone it does not feel normal,” she suggested.
The group also knit sweaters, socks, scarves, baby shawls and booties. According to Shelley Moore, most new knitters want to learn how to make socks.
During the past five years they’ve even made unique creatures, nativity sets and complicated thrum mitts, says Christine Faour. Added to the crafting has been a weekly time set aside for socializing and discussing problems.
Henry laughs and points to the ‘therapy chair’ in her living room. They also go on jaunts together to wool shops as far away as ‘Have a Yarn’ in Mahone Bay.
The Knitted Knockers organization, which has branches in the USA, Canada and the UK, offers free shipping as well to anyone who needs one, Henry says.
There is a Facebook page and here is the website that connects volunteer knitters with breast cancer survivors:
http://knittedknockerscanada.com/index.html
Patterns and video tutorials are also available on the website. They were developed and shared by knittedknockers.org in the USA.