Update from Joan

In June 2006, the Downtown Knit Collective Relay for Life team launched our initiative to provide hand-knitted items (pink hats, scarves etc) to the Canadian Cancer Society in support of those undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer. Each month, members are asked to deliver their donations to the Dr Knit table. "Knitting for a Cure" cards are to be filled out and attached to the item. Also at the Dr Knit Table there will be a selection from the many wonderful donations of pink yarn which are available to members to knit their scarf or hat.

These donations are delivered to Lindsay Grange at the Central Toronto Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. Lindsay ensures that the donations reach a worthy recipient at Princess Margaret Hospital, Sunnybrook Hospital or the Dorothy Ley Hospice.

Collection for our second year of Knitting for a Cure began with a bang at the Relay for Life last June with a total of 35 scarves and one hat being collected. We received this lovely thank you note from Lindsay:

Dear Joan and Downtown Knit Collective,

Thank you very much for all of your hand knit scarves and hats. We have sent them to a number of different groups across Toronto. I know that each and every survivor is touched by your kindness.

I hope that you have a nice summer. I can't wait for Relay 2008.

Lindsay.

Over the summer, an additional 4 scarves were hand delivered to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. In addition, 7 scarves and one hat were received at our September meeting.

This brings our second year totals to: 46 scarves and 2 hats.

We hope that all DKC members will donate a pink knitted item for this initiative. Just think, if each member knit a scarf, we would have a wonderfully huge pile of 200 scarves to deliver.

Let's make the Downtown Knit Collective--Knitting for a Cure a huge success. Let's ensure that all those undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer receives their own special pink ribbon of hope!

This month, Kathryn Petrie, former DKC member and sales rep for Diamond Yarns, has very generously offered the pattern for her Diamond Luxury Collection Suri Scarf to Knitting for a Cure. Those of you at the September DKC meeting will have seen a sample of this scarf in the Dino and Tom's hilarious presentation for Diamond Yarns.

Kathryn writes: I am absolutely humbled and honoured that my scarf will go to a breast cancer patient. As you may remember, my own dear mother died of cancer (liver cancer in her case) and she went through so much anguish and pain with chemo. I was always by her side while she having her chemo treatments, but I can imagine a "hug" scarf would be such a lovely comforting thing for any patient who cannot have a friend or family member there to help them through it. Everyone needs a hug now and then. But, cancer patients need all the hugs and support they can get. Any efforts to help find "The Cure" will always have my full support and cooperation. I would be absolutely overjoyed to have my simple pattern included in the DKC newsletter.

Thanks

Box o' Scarves

We rocked the Relay! We are starting out the 2007 donation year with 35 scarves & 1 hat. With this substantial start I know that we can beat out 2006 totals. Leave us a comment if you have yarn and/or scarves that you would like to contribute.

Pics from Judith

Christina, Wannietta, Joan, Drea and a couple of visitors

Julia spinning

Denise & Carol


Wannietta & Joan


Luminaries

5:05AM The Sun Through Yonder Window Breaks ...

Well it's not a picture of the sunrise and it's not exactly through a window, but at 5:05AM the sky is no longer black as night - there is a noticeably lighter sky!!

3:05 - Time for Tim's

Christina & I went on a coffee run - a 24hr Tim's is a good thing!!

12:35AM - all is well

Drunken Knitter Drea came to represent her crew.

"But where do you get sheep fleeces from?" Give him a break - he's a for real city boy!

Sharon, a cancer Survivor

Fiona & Rob stopped by to offer moral support - next time bring enough Starbucks for everyone!

Goals for 2007

The collection of Knitting for a Cure items celebrated 1 year with last night's DKC meeting.

Our final totals for our first year are:

161 scarves
14 hats
19 tit-bits
1 felted purse

Our mission is clear - knit more!!! Anyone can help - you can send us pink yarn or you can knit any of the above items and send it to us! (email Wannietta at kwpATsympaticoDOTca for an address)

Throughout the year we will continue to knit scarves which are donated to the Central Toronto division of the Cdn Cancer Society who pass them along to various centres & hospices for distribution to survivors - all of whom deserve their own special pink ribbon of hope!
Joan has always wanted the DKC to have a representative in the Survivors Lap at the Relay. Her wish came true at last night - our team is proud to have Sharon Hampson joining us this year. Sharon is a three time survivor of breast cancer. She is one of the founders of Willow, a breast cancer telephone support organization. Perhaps you will know her better as the "Sharon" of Sharon, Lois and Bram. Sharon has not been out to DKC meetings this year but has attended many times in previous years and been a DKC member. She will be proudly wearing one of our Knitting for a Cure scarves as she takes that first lap around the track. She will be joining us at our site for some knitting and may even lead us in a little singing. She is very enthusiastic and excited to be joining us.

We kick off the 2007 knitting year tomorrow night that the Relay for Life at Forest Hill Memorial Park in Toronto, ON. Anyone is welcome to come and sit and knit with us throughout the evening (chocolate & coffee would be welcome as well - hint, hint!!).

Thanks Old Mill Knitting Co.!!

Beth from The Old Mill Knitting Co. came through with this wonderful contribution of yarn!! 3 Trendsetter "Taste of Trendsetter" scarf kits and 10 skeins of Naturally Sensation. Thanks Beth!!

Team '06

Joan sent me this great picture of us knitting last year. I'm not sure who took it but thanks!!

Has it been a year already?

Here are some pictures from last year's relay.
This is the morning after - don't we look bright-eyed & bushy-tailed? Musta been the knitting!!

Welcome

Hi, this is Denise, sometimes known as Dr. Knit., president of the Downtown Knit Collective.

Over the past year we've had lots of support from DKC members knitting pink scarves and we're really excited about the Relay for Life, coming up on June 22-23.

Once again our team of ten will spend the night knitting and chatting. If you're in the neighbourhood (Forest Hill Memorial Park, near Eglinton and Bathurst in Toronto), please drop in and say hello! And if you happen to have knitted a pink scarf, we'd be very pleased to accept it to add to our contributions!

Please visit our blog again and see what's happening.

Hello

This is Joan, captain of the DKC Relay for Life team. We have a special dispensation to knit for a cure during the relay - isn't that awesome?! You can pledge our team here. It's okay - the team members will be taking turns with the link - hee hee. We're going to be knitting the night away on June 22nd at the Forest Hill Memorial Park.

Throughout the year we will continue to knit scarves which are donated to the Central Toronto division of the Cdn Cancer Society who pass them along to various centres & hospices for distribution to survivors - all of whom deserve their own special pink ribbon of hope!
We will gladly accept finished pink scarves or donations of pink yarn for our knitters to use. Please leave a comment and we'll let you know where to send them.
We will update the blog with pictures of scarves, letters from survivors and thanks for our sponsors.