I write this post with both a heavy heart, and a heart full of hope… not sure how it’s possible to have both things at once, but there you go!
As some of you may know, I’ve become very good friends with SillyFru (aka Wendy) of the Sassy Pants Knitter podcast. Fru and I hung out a lot at the retreat I coordinated this year, Into The Wool, and she has graciously offered to help coordinate the retreat in 2015 along with CaffeinatedGert (aka Daniela) of the Caffeinated Knitting podcast. We have all become very close via Google Chat, where we literally chat with each other all day long around our other tasks. These ladies have become some of my closest friends and I’m so grateful to have them in my life.
A few weeks ago, Fru had an injury to her leg that just kept getting worse, and has gone down a long and frustrating medical path to finally getting a really scary diagnosis: she has hairy cell leukemia. The prognosis is good, and her spirits are a lot higher than mine would be in her situation, but there is still a scary path ahead of her and she’s only 37 years old. Not to mention the fact that her insurance is set to run out at the end of the month. (for more information on her story, please check out this episode of her podcast)
Not being close to her geographically, I have been trying to figure out what I can do to help this wonderful woman with her fight, and I think I’ve come up with the perfect way. My next huge update is set for October 7, and 10% of all sales from that update will go to Fru’s medical fund.
Now you may ask, why is this update any different from any other update I’ve had? Well, I will tell you… Caffeinated Gert and I have been collaborating on a special project for several months, and she has designed a pattern collection using my yarns that will knock your socks off. We had always planned for that update to be the big reveal of the pattern collection, and the timing just works out great for me to be able to give a good amount of money to Fru (hopefully!).
This update features a lot of Outlander colorways, for one… AND I’m debuting a brand new yarn base called JetSetter Super Bulky. It is identical to Malabrigo Rasta, but with exceptionally better yardage and skein size (250g/140yds of superbulky 100% merino wool). I’m also debuting a brand new Outlander colorway called Highlands, which is one of the colors Caffeinated Gert designed with.
“Highlands” on JetSetter Super Bulky
I won’t show you the finished pattern yet because I feel like that Daniela needs to show that first, but let’s just say that it’s an accessory pattern collection that utilizes every weight of yarn I dye, has a lovely texture, and would make perfect gifts for your loved ones for Christmas! You can check out her post about her own fundraiser for Fru, as well as a sneak peek and some info about the collection on her Ravelry group here.
This colorway will be available on several bases, and all of my other Outlander colorways will make appearances on several bases as well. I will also have the Super Bulky yarn in lots of colorways that aren’t Outlander-themed too, in case those don’t strike your fancy.
Mainly, I want to be sure that I can make a sizable donation to Fru’s medical fund. You can help by buying things on October 7, and like I said before, 10% of all sales that day will go to Fru’s medical fund. How much money gets donated depends totally on sales that day, but I’m hoping that the enormous size of the update and the desirability of the items goes a long way toward helping the day be huge! I hope you’ll consider making a purchase that day, and I will be sure to post after the day’s sales are tallied with the amount that I am donating to her fund!
Thank you all so much for your support of my shop, and for your support of Fru! And don’t forget… any purchases made now through 9/26 will not ship until 9/27 or 9/29 (depending on when I can get out of bed after a full day of travel) due to my vacation.
XO-
Dana
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