The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Women think Meriel’s woolly wonders really are the breast
Keen knitter uses her hobby to boost women’s confidence after surgery
When craftswoman Meriel Munro heard about Knitted Knockers, she realised she was in the perfect position to use her woolly skills to help women who have had surgery after breast cancer.
As the name suggests, it is a charity which provides lightweight prostheses that take the form of a real breast but in wool form.
It began in the UK when keen knitter Joanna Dervisoglu made some of the prosthetics for a US charity.
She soon realised there could be a demand for a knitted, lightweight alternative to silicone implants among women in the UK too, so created a group on Facebook with some friends.
Today, more than 300 people volunteer for the charity in various ways such as fundraising and promoting, including around 100 ladies who are authorised to make the knockers, including Meriel.
“They’re soft against the skin and breathable, washable and adjustable and are available in many bra sizes,” she explains.
“They can be used in a pocketed mastectomy bra or in a normal one.
“Before being authorised, knitters must make at least two practice knockers to demonstrate their skill, neatness and understanding of the pattern and they must agree to abide by strict hygiene guidelines, as we are aware recipients may have reduced immunity due to ongoing treatment.”
To date, she has made more than 40 knockers since she joined the charity a year ago.
It has fulfilled more than 5,000 orders since it began two and a half years ago, many of those being for pairs. In the last year alone, it has made 3,739 individual examples.
“Knitted Knockers are either knitted or crocheted, usually with a plain front but we can cater for any colour combination,” Meriel adds.
“I once made a lovely bright blue one with a rainbow striped back – that was fun.”
Knitted Knockers is now looking for more volunteer knitters across Courier Country to sign up from mid-August.
You can visit its page at www. knittedknockersuk.com
I once made a lovely bright blue one