It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there are some meaningful things knitters can do to help out those who are suffering from, and surviving, this awful disease.

Knitted Knockers, handmade breast prostheses, were invented by a woman in Maine who owned a yarn shop and had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She made them for herself, and when other women found out about them, a movement was born.

Breast prostheses can be heavy, hot, uncomfortable, and expensive. Knitted Knockers to the rescue! You don't need a special bra to wear Knitted Knockers, and they can be worn sooner after surgery than traditional prostheses can, because they're soft against the skin.

We are featuring the free Knitted Knockers pattern from Skacel; they're easily adjusted for size, and there are many yarns that are appropriate for this pattern. We recommend HiKoo CoBaSi DK or Universal Bamboo Pop. Both yarns are soft against the skin.

Some women prefer a little weight in their Knockers, to help keep them in place. You can add a marble or a smooth rock in the middle of the stuffing to make this adjustment.

I hope you'll knit a pair of Knockers—you can donate them to the Knitted Knockers organization or give them to a friend in need. The folks at knittedknockers.org get the most requests for “nude” and pastel color breast pairs, and most requests are for sizes B and C.

If you're battling breast cancer yourself, we wish you love and courage, friend!

Cheers,