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Giveaway: Knitting for a Cure

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enter to win a copy of knitting for a cure

Congratulations to Lee.

October, as we all probably know, is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Kay Meadors has a lovely little book of patterns called Knitting for a Cure, full of 18 projects to offer support and encouragement to people in treatment, survivors and loved ones who have been touched by breast cancer.

The projects are all worked in shades of pink and many use the awareness ribbon as a motif, but of course these same projects could be worked in other colors to highlight different causes or diseases.

There are lots of shawls and scarves in the book as well as hats, mitts, pillows and other items for the home.

If you’d like a chance to win a copy of this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, October 5. If you have a breast cancer story you’re willing to share I’d love to hear it. Or tell me your favorite cause to bring awareness to, through knitting or otherwise.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing. Good luck!

Comments

  1. My Aunt was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. I was thinking of making her something but couldn’t think of anything to make. This book could give me some ideas.

  2. A very dear friend of mine, my Fb mom started therapy today, I’d love to get some ideas to make her something awesome to make her feel better and as pretty as she always was

  4. My dear mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor. I met and married her son years after she had been diagnosed. She taught me how to knit and we have spent many happy hours visiting yarn shops, trading patterns, and knitting together. Once I became proficient I knitted a pair of socks for her and my father-in-law. They were so grateful and pleased. It’s been wonderful to return the gift of time my husband’s mother gave to me.

  5. My sister had stage 4 cancer and beat it. It was not breast cancer but a very rare and aggressive form of another. She was given a 5-10% chance of living. That was in 2001. She and I and my husband and her daughter just went apple picking this weekend.

    It is not just the patient that goes through the cancer treatment it is the entire family. We all pulled together to rally her and to help in any way we could (donating platelet and blood was a big one) or just spending time together.

  6. I would love a copy of this book so i could knit a lots of these items up and donate them to my local cancer research shop and the Macmillan unit that my husband attends regularly.

  7. My 37-year-old daughter starts chemo on October 1. Breast cancer surgery was in August with positive thoughts constantly. Mom is allowed to wear the “pink” so have been busy making hats not in pink for her.

  8. My eldest Sister had Melanoma, Sister #2 had bowel and breast and skin cancer, sister #3 and my self have had skin cancer. My Dad had melanoma and my Mom Uterine Cancer. One of my Niece’s passed away from breast cancer. Only my Brother has escaped.

  11. Lost my Sister in law 2 years ago to cervical cancer & other sis in law has fought and won breast & bone cancer! My 2 aunts won against breast cancer another against thyroid cancer!

  12. My mum died of breast cancer which then spread to all her organs nearly 11 years ago. Then 3 years ago I was diagnosed with colon cancer and, hopefully, will be given the all clear very soon. My mum was a great knitter and I now knit scarves and other accessories for my business so this book would be a lovely tribute to her.

  13. My mum had both breast and cervical cancer over 35 years ago and is still alive and well and full of energy in her late 70s! It is so important to go for screening as the earlier any cancer is found the better chance of successful treatment!

  14. I have many close family and friends who have had cancer – some survivors and some it did get the best of but they fought. I would love to win and make some gifts for my survivors!! thanks!

  15. I knit for several charities; one is chemo caps which is the project of the Yarncrafters of #First Parish Church, Gorham, Maine. We would love a copy of this book and could put it to excellent use.

  16. I work for a cancer survivors organization and we are creating a knitting group for our clients. This book would be a wonderful source of patterns for our participants and for charity knitting for cancer patients in our area.

    Thanks for this wonderful giveaway!!

  18. I just recently lost a very dear friend to breast cancer. She was diagnosed at the age of 38 and on her 39th birthday came to her party without hair due to cancer treatments. She fought every step of the way to survive…always with a smile on her face. Unfortunately, at the young age of 43 she lost her battle with this horrible disease. What a great gift to receive this book to help give back to family and friends left behind with only memories to hold onto. Thank you for this opportunity.

  20. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another.” My niece found out she had an aggressive form of breast cancer while pregnant with her 4th child. She refused treatment that would hurt the baby. She carried him until he could be safely delivered. She underwent treatment but we lost her just before her 31st birthday. She is my #1 example of heroic love.

  22. I am an 8 year breast cancer survivor, my knitting group has just started knitting hats for a friend of mine that started chemo two weeks ago. It would be great to have some other items to donate to her chemo center.

  23. A former co-worker lost a very long battle after 2 rounds of breast cancer. I’d love to be able to knit some some items from this book in her memory.

  24. Heart Disease is my favorite cause, but I believe breast cancer is very worthy also. I love to see things published to further any good cause.

  25. I have recently celebrated being an eleven year survivor of breast cancer. To me, I believe I had a miracle. I usually would get my mammograms in June, but for some reason, I just kept putting it off. No particular reason–it wasn’t as if I was too busy. Then in early Sept, a voice went off in my head to “go get it now”. They found a tumor the size of a pea. I was told that it was so small that it would not have been noticeable in June. But it was agressive so had I gotten a normal result in June, by the following year, I could have been stage 4. So always remember to listen to the voices in your head. It may be the voice of your guardian angel trying to protect you!

  26. As a certified post mastectomy fitter ,and owner of a wig boutique ,I work with these strong ,courageous women and men every day.
    I am also a Look Good Feel Better volunteer thru the American Cancer Society.
    I try to purchase and use any product I can whose parent company donates to and supports cancer research. Unfortunately this cancer is so common that none of us knows if we will be the next fighter.

  28. I would love to try some new patterns for my friends who have had breast cancer. They all have ruffle scarves in pink…but they could all use another pink gift as a reward for winning their battle. :>) MS

  30. I’ve been invited to join a craft morning with a group of ladies from my area. This book has a few projects that we could do together and donate or sell for fund raising.

Have you read?

10 Knitted Christmas Bauble Patterns for a Tree Full of Handmade Charm

There’s always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially when it uses yarn you already own. That’s my reasoning, anyway. Those little leftover balls that aren’t quite enough for a hat suddenly look much more promising when you start thinking about knitted baubles.

I love the idea of adding a few handmade ornaments to the tree each year. They don’t all have to match, either. A traditional colourwork ball beside a slightly cheeky Christmas pudding feels far more interesting than a tree where everything arrived in the same box.

These knitted Christmas bauble patterns include flat-knit designs, festive characters and detailed colourwork ornaments. Most are free, with a paid collection included for anyone who wants plenty of designs to work through. Some suit newer knitters; others are small projects for practising skills you already know.

Christmas Baubles Knitted Flat

The free Christmas Baubles—Knit Flat pattern from Tat’sgrans Treasures is worth a look if knitting tiny rounds doesn’t appeal. It includes three sizes and charted words such as Peace, Hope, Love and Joy, worked using intarsia. The flat construction is approachable, although the lettering adds a challenge beyond basic stocking stitch. I’d choose this for meaningful gift ornaments, particularly when one of those words suits the person receiving it.

Christmas Pudding Bauble

The free Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry has all the appeal of a festive pudding without anyone debating whether they actually like eating it. Knitted flat in DK yarn, it combines shaping, colourwork and seaming, with a little holly topper to finish. It’s best for confident beginners with some experience rather than someone learning their first knit stitch. At approximately 6 cm tall, it would make a lovely tree decoration or an extra treat tied onto a wrapped present.

Rudolf & Friends Character Baubles

The free Rudolf & Friends Ornaments by Claire Fairall bring a playful touch to a handmade Christmas tree. These character baubles are knitted flat, and the instructions include illustrations for assembly and embroidery. Hobbii lists the pattern as suitable for beginners, making it a useful option for knitters who would rather practise finishing details than stranded colourwork. The finished ornaments measure approximately 8 × 6 cm and would also look cheerful tucked into a handmade wreath.

Cute Christmas Baubles With Little Faces

The free Cute Christmas Baubles from Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days turn small amounts of DK yarn into cheerful character decorations. Worked flat and seamed, they use simple shaping, stuffing and added facial details to create their personality. They suit knitters comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases who enjoy a little assembly afterwards. I rather like Marianna’s idea of using them on the Christmas dinner table before adding hanging loops for the tree.

Rudolph’s Nose Christmas Bauble

The free Rudolph’s Nose Bauble from DROPS Design is a useful choice when you want a traditional ball-shaped ornament. Designed in DROPS Flora, it uses knitting in the round with increases and decreases to create the shape. Choose this if you’re comfortable handling a small circumference and want a project focused on construction. I’d make a few in coordinating colours to bring a little consistency to an otherwise wonderfully mismatched handmade tree.

Merry Mints Bauble

The free Merry Mints Bauble from DROPS Design offers another festive option, this time designed in DROPS Cotton Merino. The instructions include working back-and-forth rows and shaping, so it’s worth considering if you prefer that approach to tiny rounds. Read through the construction before starting and pay attention to the instructions for working yarn overs to avoid unwanted holes. This would be a nice project for a knitter who enjoys seeing a shaped decoration emerge from a small piece of knitting.

Caorann Fair Isle Christmas Bauble

The free Caorann Christmas Bauble by Sarah Berry brings delicate Fair Isle detail to a small ornament. It uses fingering-weight yarn and 2.5 mm needles, with instructions sized for an approximately 60 mm bauble insert. Worked in the round, the design includes both written and charted directions for its repeated segments. I’d save this one for knitters with some colourwork experience who want to make a particularly special keepsake.

A Dated 2026 Christmas Bauble

The free 2026 Christmas Bauble by Smaatterier combines the year with two traditional Selbu rose motifs. It’s knitted in the round using stranded colourwork across the middle, with either fibre filling or a suitably sized plastic bauble inside. The charted design is listed as intermediate and finishes at approximately 6.5 cm tall. This is a lovely choice for marking a first Christmas in a new home, a family milestone or simply another year of making things by hand.

Colourful Christmas Balls From Two Strands

The free Christmas Balls by Mary Ann Stephens are full of colourwork detail, with optional touches such as duplicate stitch and nupps. The designer also discusses I-cord hanging loops, which give the ornaments a pleasingly substantial finish. These are better suited to knitters comfortable following charts and managing several colours than complete beginners. Follow the updated download directions in the post to find the patterns on the designer’s current website.

ARNE & CARLOS Christmas Ball Collection

The paid Twenty-four Christmas Balls 2024 collection by ARNE & CARLOS includes a basic ball pattern and 24 different motif charts. The ornaments are worked in the round using stranded colourwork, with a linked tutorial to help you follow the process. Although the designer lists the collection as beginner level, I’d be comfortable knitting in the round and making increases and decreases before starting. This is the pick for someone who wants a whole collection of coordinated ornaments rather than just one small project.

Choosing Yarn for Knitted Baubles

Small decorations are tempting stash projects, but check the yarn weight before diving into that leftover basket. A thicker yarn can make a much larger bauble, while changing the yarn in a fitted cover may stop it fitting the recommended insert.

For colourwork, choose shades with enough contrast for the motif to show. Two lovely colours can look surprisingly similar once they’re knitted together, especially on something this small.

Smooth yarn also makes it easier to see your stitches. Save the fluffy, sparkly and slightly mysterious leftovers for a pattern where you’re confident they’ll work.

Getting a Nicely Rounded Finish

If your pattern uses stuffing, add it gradually and spread it evenly. You’re aiming for a rounded ornament without stretching the stitches so far apart that the filling shows through. For designs worked over an insert, check the diameter and follow the instructions for when to put it inside.

Give the finishing a little time, too. A neat seam, securely woven ends and a tidy hanging loop help a small decoration feel properly finished.

I’d start with a pair for the tree and one to give away. Of course, once you’ve laid out all those yarn colours, “just three” may become a rather flexible arrangement.