A yarn of love.

Knitted Knockers help mend lives.

By Cynthia Reeves Photos provided by Adele Lott, Emerald Coast Knitted Knockers

Knitted knockers are an example of women coming up with their own alternative to sticky, heavy, expensive breast prostheses.

In 2012, a breast cancer survivor from Washington state, Barabara Demorest, collaborated with friends who were knitters and devised a comfortable, lightweight, washable solution.

Today, knittedknockers.org has supplied over one million of the soft, handmade gifts to women who have undergone mastectomies, sending out over 8,000 per month. They are always 100% free to those who need them. The organization includes over 3,500 individuals and groups volunteering in all 50 states and 30 countries worldwide.

Local knitter Adele Lott of Pensacola jumped on board and started her own chapter about four years ago. As director of Emerald Coast Knockers, she has supplied 3,000 knockers, mostly knitted by herself. She provides them to Baptist Hospital, Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, The Woodlands, the Surgical Clinic in Pensacola and Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown, New York.

Lott is always looking for knitters and donations to help.

“There are more requests than I am able to fill,” she said.

Often, her only reward is a nice thank-you card, which she treasures.

“The local groups only get reimbursed for their postage. Everything else — stuffing, yarn, and the organza bags we put them in, the mailers, everything — we pay for ourselves,” Lott said.

Instructions for approved patterns and materials can be found on the national website or by contacting Lott. The top requirement is 100% cotton yarn.

“Skin is very tender after surgery, so we want to make something that is as soft as possible,” she said.

It warms her heart to know her handiwork makes women feel comforted during a difficult time.

Want to help?

Knit: Find knitting instructions at knittedknockers.org.

Donate: Mail to Knitted Knockers Support Foundation, 1405 Fraser St. #F103, Bellingham, WA 98229; or PayPal @knittedknockersorg.

Share: Like and share on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube

Local Info: Email Adele Lott at emeraldcoastknockers@gmail.com

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