Creating Community & Knitting with Purpose

Many people have asked me what Knitting with Purpose means. I came up with this title for our "Charity" knitting, my thought was simply to give the knitting of kindness that our customers have been doing in knitting healing hats, a title. I am a strong proponet of living life with purpose, finding ways to make a difference, being an active citizen of ones community. Building community can be one of the most important things we as human beings do with our lives. I heard something like this as I was growing up from my grandmother, who practiced what she preached. My dear sweet Nana was a long time Kent resident and she gave to others throughout her life, always feeling it was just part of being a decent human being. She volunteered for many years at the Kent Food Bank and felt a deep connection to her "community" of fellow volunteers, friends and neighbors. As a knitter you instantly become a part of a bigger community and I wanted to build on that and provide a purpose to the ever growing community of Renaissance Yarns http://www.renaissanceyarns.com/

One of the most recent endeavors into creating and nurturing my community has come through the desire to knit hats for women who have been affected by Breast Cancer and have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. This desire was welcomed with open arms by the wonderful women who frequent our yarn shop. An idea became a reality and we gathered over 80 hats to donate last October during Breast Cancer Awareness month. Since that time I was asked by the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance volunteer coordinator if we would continue to knit hats not only for women, but men and children who are also battling cancer and have lost their hair to chemotherapy too. Nancy and I are thrilled to honor their request and have dedicated a regularly scheduled time each month to Knitting with Purpose.

Please join us the 3rd Friday of every month, beginning this Friday March 16th from 5-8 pm. Light refreshments will be served. Healing Hat pattern is available in the shop or via the Community link on our website.