Last year, on 09/12/15 to be exact, I joined a wonderful group of woman who knit for charity. We knit (and those that can, crochet) breast forms for women who have had a mastectomy(ies) for whatever reason. The organization is called Awesome Breastforms because... well because they are pretty awesome! The wonderful group of women who came up with this group and developed patterns have revised the patterns numerous times, only trying to make them better. They test and evaluate and color check the yarns that are used and only let the very best ones go through! They have checked fillers and stuffings, and again, only let the very best ones go through.
In this charity group, I am required to knit at least one form every 60 days to remain current. I am required to purchase only approved yarn and approved filling for the forms. I am required to pay for postage, including the box and packing materials, on my own. I buy business cards and print out care instructions which go with every order. All this is done at my expense. It may sound like a lot, but really, the rewards of being with such a group far outweigh any expense!
I will get back to the group with information in a minute...but first I wanted to explain "Bonded by Boobs."
In March of this year, I was contacted by one of the administrators of the group to see if I wanted to be a mentor or helper as they call it. I was thrilled! I have only been knitting like 5 years and barely feel qualified to knit for family much less mentor much more experienced and way better knitters than I. I thought about it for like 63 seconds and then said, "YES!!!" It is hard being a helper sometimes, you have to critique other's work and tell them what needs to be changed or knitting a bit tighter or making the forms a bit rounder...the list goes on and on. I answer numerous questions about the group and about the forms and about system of obtaining orders and sending orders. I know..it sounds like a lot, but really it's not!
During this process, I have mentored a few women. A few have graduated and a few have left and decided to give it another go at a later date. It is not an easy group to get into and you have to be committed; sometimes that is just a little more for women who have smaller children or full times jobs can do. No judgement...I get it. I certainly would not have been able to be a part of this group when my children were home.
In the process of mentoring, there are a LOT of private messaging on Facebook going on! They ask a question, I answer it. They send a picture of a measurement, we discuss why or why not this will work. They send a picture of the finished form and we discuss what needs to be done to make it an Awesome Breastform! Then it goes to QA who have a say...sometimes they say something is not quite right and it is back to the drawing board. Sometimes they give two thumbs up and then the real fun begins!
After my helpee has graduated and is accepting offers, they are pretty much on their own. They certainly don't need me anymore. I offer to be available for questions or concerns or whatever, but really at this point our relationship as helpee/helper has come to an end.
Or has it?!? I can honestly say that more often than not, I have become friends with these women! I mean, like real friends. One of these women had surgery and I really worried about her and worried about how she was coming along. One (or two!!) of them is a dog lover and we discuss our fur babies. One of them has a cop in the family...we have chatted about that! One of them feels like a sista from another mista who only buys cheap yarn and we are only separated by miles! I can't even begin to express what each of these women mean to me. I love it when I get a message from them - about boobs or about something else! I love keeping in contact with them and seeing them in their real lives yet knowing how wonderful each and every one of them is by knitting forms for women who just want their curves back! We have definitely been bonded by boobs (BTW, stole this from one of my friends) and this swells my heart with such love!
And...I cannot even say enough of the women who run the group. Taking orders, giving out orders, making sure we have the information on our order, making sure they have been sent out in a timely manner, getting us business cards, sharing information about what is working best, what isn't, answering numerous questions, keeping anonymity of those who order, developing customized forms for those who need it, developing patterns for women who need swim forms, revising patterns to make them better, keeping track of who's who, doing QA on all forms going out, sending everyone in the group birthday wishes on their birthday, starting secret Santa!, doing fun contests, making sample packs for doctors offices/hospitals, keeping up the website, keeping up the groups on Facebook...the list is really endless on what these fine women do! I don't know how they do it all! Really?!? I can barely run one household and knit boobs one order at a time. They are blessed by what they do and by what they have accomplished and those of us in the group are blessed by them!
So..now the important stuff. If you know someone or are someone in need of Awesome Breastforms (absolutely free of charge!! No shipping charges, nothing!!) or if you would like to volunteer your time and your wonderful talent to this wonderful group (we will start accepting new recruits again in January, taking time off for the holidays!), please visit their site: http://awesomebreastforms.org/ You too can be part of an awesome group with awesome organizers and awesome helpers (if I do say so myself!) and become awesome friends and give awesome women back their curves and become Bonded by Boobs!
XOXO
PS: Here are some of my boobs:
