Crochet for a Cause

Crocheters make a lot of projects for charity. We've probably all made a chemo cap or blanket to donate somewhere. Project Pussyhat is a little bit different. On January 21st, the Women's March on Washington is taking place in Washington, DC. Women and men are coming together in a show of solidarity and strength to counter the vile rhetoric of the recent Presidential election. The march supports civil rights for all people - women, people of color, native peoples, the disabled, the LBGQTIA community. 

In support of the march, the Pussyhat Project was started. Knitters, crocheters, and sewers are urged to make a pink hat with "pussy ears." You may have seen other hats with this design. Instead of decreasing in size from the brim to the crown, it's the same circumference all the way up. The top is seamed straight across so the two points form "ears" when you wear it.

 

The hats are being sent to Washington for marchers to wear or being worn at local sister marches on the same day. They'll not only keep the marchers warm, they'll present a dramatic visual statement. Pink is considered a feminine color. We're hoping the marches will be a sea of varying shades of pink to symbolize the power of all the gathered women. Any of you who know me, know that pink isn't my favorite color, but I made a hat and will wear it at my local march. 

There are several crochet patterns for this hat. Some are linked from the Pussyhat Project website. I found one on Ravelry that I really like. It's the Crochet Pussyhat by Gina Langridge. We only have 10 days left, but there's still time to make a hat and either donate it to a march or join a march yourself. Make 2 hats and find a friend to join you!

 

Cast Off Chemo

As the last hours of October fade away, I want to put in a quick plug for a worthwhile charity. Many of you probably know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month otherwise known as Pinktober to some of us who have had an altercation with that disease. I'm sure those behind this campaign have good intentions, but some of us are tired of seeing pink ribbons slapped on just about anything and precious little progress toward a cure. Stage IV breast cancer is incurable and fatal. Awareness is important, but research into a cure is at least as important. 

I have found at least one breast cancer charity that I can support. It's called Cast Off Chemo and was established by a group of yarn industry professionals to support the research of Dr. David Krag. Dr. Krag is working on using the body's own immune system to fight breast cancer potentially eliminating the need for chemotherapy. This work could also help in the fight against other cancers. Many women, myself included, have already benefited from Dr. Krag's previous work in developing the sentinel node biopsy procedure. Because of that, I still have most of my axillary lymph nodes, and I don't have lymphedema in my arms. 

You can purchase crochet and knitting patterns in support of Cast Off Chemo on Ravelry. The easiest way to find all the patterns is to do a pattern search for "Cast Off Chemo," but here's a link to save you the trouble. Two of the patterns, a crocheted wrap and a knitted scarf, were designed by Cari Clement for the charity. 

          

While at the Knit and Crochet Show in July, I purchased 2 skeins of the Wool2Dye4 yarn used in these patterns at the Cast Off Chemo booth. One skein will make the knitted scarf, and 2 skeins will make the crocheted wrap. 

Some of this yarn may still be available. There's no shopping cart on the charity's web site but it can be purchased by check. Contact Cari Clement at Cast Off Chemo, 5 Emmons St #2, Montpelier VT 05602. It's $25 for one skein plus the pattern. For two skeins, the price is $45.  All proceeds go directly to the project.