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Knitted Knockers! Coming To Your Area….

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Knitted prosthetic breasts for mastectomy patients. Sounds silly, doesn’t it? Yet, when placed in a bra, these knitted breasts take the shape and feel of a real breast. They are lighter and more comfortable than silicone prosthetic breasts. The knitted fabric breathes and prevents the heat rash experienced by many women wearing the silicone ones.

Did you know that just one silicone prosthetic breast costs between $300 and $500?! Without health insurance, they are out of the reach of most breast cancer survivors. Even those with insurance are limited to a new prosthetic breast every two years. If it springs a leak that is not covered by the warranty, you are out of luck.

With a knitted breast, you can have a different one for every day of the week. Perhaps add a little embroidery for that tattoo you always wanted!

It is our goal to get knitting knocker groups started in as many places as possible to  reach as many women as possible.

If you’ve started a group, let them know! We’ll post your information so that knitters and survivors can find each other. From The Knitting Experience Cafe.

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Comments

  1. Well I just had to laugh my head off at this post’s title, in all it’s seriousness there is the humour too.. I am so pleased that something so seriously can be given in such a humorous way.. It certainly caught my attention!!

    I will be sharing this post, its such a fabulous idea.. I can’t image women who have lost breast, but I can share this post so that people are aware that a ‘knitted knocker’ is a really practical idea…

    Thank you for sharing I hope this post spread more awareness.

  2. what a fabulous idea. I am going to share it with my knitting buddies, as well as the local Breast Cancer groups here in Sarasota.. maybe we can get a group going!

  3. I love it. How do I get more information and patterns on these? I know 3 yarn stores in my area and would love to try to get them involved.
    Sandi
    impatientcajun.blogspot.com

  4. I just had a double mastectomy in November and and currently undergoing Chemo through July – then hopefully reconstruction. In the mean time I did get silicone prostheses and they were $400 PER SIDE! It is true they are hot and heavy… I imagine it will be worse in the summer. These are actually a very sweet idea. I think they would be good for wearing at home so I don’t look disfigured but can still be comfy. Thanks for all who help ladies in need. Blessings to you all.

Have you read?

Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four. 

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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