Lion Brand Notebook ®
Most of us can, unfortunately, say that we have felt or seen the effects of cancer. Ourselves, family, a friend… The stories are all too common. Dealing with the realities of diagnosis and long emotional hours of waiting and absorbing information is what lead to the creation of Sh*t That I Knit (STIK) and their Give A Sh*t Kits.
STIK is a Boston-based knitwear company founded by Christina Pardy (CKO – Chief Knitting Officer). Pardy learned to knit from her mother as a 10-year old living in Nova Scotia. This lead to years of knitted gifts, knitting groups, and feeling the benefits offered by knitting. Eventually Pardy left her 9-5 job to pursue her passion for her craft and bringing people together.
It may have began as a knitwear company, but over the years STIK grew into much more. It became the backbone of a community of people from around the world.
STIK employs women from Lima, Peru, enabling them to stay home and care for their families while bringing in an income. They are dedicated to bringing the comfort of knitting to the lives of young cancer patients. With each purchase through their site, a Give A Sh*t knit kit is donated to a young patient at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The folks at STIK strongly believe in the therapeutic qualities of knitting and strive to pass that on, which is how the Give-a-Sh*t knitting kits were established. Every Give-a-Sh*t kit is packed in a tote bag (donated by Emulsion Printhouse) and includes Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, their favorite Lion Brand yarn, needles, and a pattern developed by the STIK team.
Why pass on knitting? Included with the kits the STIK teams passes along this advice.
Knitting…
Beginning in February 2017, the Young Adult Program (YAP) and Young and Strong Program for Young Women with Breast Cancer teamed up to deliver the Kn*t Sh*t kits to patients at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. These programs looked further than just the benefits of repetitive motions and sense of accomplishment in finishing a project. Offering the kits and a meeting space provides a social outlet for young patients to connect with others going through a similar situation.
For more information on the program at Dana-Farber you can contact yap@dfci.harvard.edu. Kits are provided upon request to patients between the ages of 18-39.
Stay tuned for more information on Lion Brand Yarn & STIK pairing up for a beginner design contest! Details will appear here toward the end of April/early May 2019.
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Frances Schluter
Very cool idea/program
I have just been diagnosed with colon cancer and both this time and last time i have found comfort in working.with yarn though in my case it is crochet
Jean Roue
I would not carry a bag with that saying on it nor would I participate in anything that did not have a better command of the English language than gutter language.
Annmarie Signey
I am sorry others might take offense to the name of the company. I am a 64 year old 15 year breast cancer survivor and think this is a wonderful idea. Knitting has been my savior through many life events. It is prayer, meditation and productive all wound into two sticks (hooks) and some string.
Denise Sannella
I really like this idea as I am a Cancer survivor, but I would not feel at all comfortable carrying this message sh*t
Kim Brooks
Jean Route that’s too bad…
kikki harper
don’t worry Jean Roue, i’ll take the one you’ve passed over and freely participate in this charitable effort and it will serve as a counter your displaced rage. me and my informal voice capitalization choices must f*ckin’ infuriate you, but not my intention. #judgenot
Kim Brooks
Jean Roue that’s too bad… A lot of people use humor to get them through a rough time.
Kathleen Ganster
Fabulous idea. Thank you for coming up with it!
Madeleine Solomon
I love the bag and applaud this effort! Keep up the good work! Perhaps, instead of pearl-clutching and leaving snarky comments about someone trying to help people with cancer, the previous commenter should have simply moved on.
Nicole Sanchez
I love all of this. Studies show that knitting lowers anxiety. It is very therapeutic. I would absolutely suppose this because I give a sh*t.
Nicole Sanchez
*support
Debra Kolek
I’m a survivor too! I would be happy to carry that bag around and to give them to others who are in need for so many reasons.
Those who read the words and not the message are not worth a thought.
P.S. I would like a crocheters kit
Doreen Cooper
Being a twofer (Hodgkin’s lymphoma and stage 3 ovarian cancer) my language tends to be much saltier and I am deeply grateful any time someone gives a s*it. These folks are my tribe. Blessings upon you and your work â¤
Sheila Pelletier
I too have just been told I am a lung cancer survivor. I love the company name and without humor this would have been intolerable. I looked forward to learning more and participating in the knitting program.
However, I want to include the elderly in this.
Suzanne vbd
Remember that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Agree or not, don’t be judgmental.
Kim Horlander
What a wonderful idea! Looking forward to seeing more!
Kathryn Ardoline
My husband had a 3 year cancer journey that ended in January 2019. I always carried a project to work on at the hospital, nursing home and at chemo treatments. Keeping my fingers busy helped pass the time.
Lori Howe
Love the name and what you do. I crochet, but I would learn to knit so I could carry the bag legit!
Lori Van Nieuwenhuyzen
I am saddened by the lack of civility and the gradual erosion of manners. Those who say “judge not” should not judge those who are offended by bad language.
Elaine conroy
It’s the message that’s important not how it’s said. I would be proud to support this initiative. Cancer has stolen someone very important to me and we need to do whatever we can to he,please those affected
Nicholle Seiler
Great concept. I’m a hopeless knitter, though. So I crochet. Anything cool like this for crocheting??
Nancy M Ketchum
Would love a crochet version! Fabulous idea for patients and family care givers
Lynn Priebe
My daughter is a cancer survivor who has recently found she may have it again and I don’t know WHAT i’d do without my needles and hooks to keep my mind and hands busy while I pray for her recovery. Bravo for your efforts on behalf of all mothers of cancer patients!!! Bless your efforts.
Julie Barnes Weaver
Another: cancer survivor here – I had a long hiatus from my knitting and picked it up again in 2018 while I was crippled up with hip degeneration from osteoarthritis. Knitting saved my sanity Before & After total hip replacement surgery and I have 3 or 4 projects on the floor next to the sofa and probably 8 more in my magic closet that holds all my yarns. I think this is a terrific idea, giving knit kits to people undergoing cancer treatment. Truly cannot think of a better thing to do.
Vicki Bamman
Great Idea! Great Name! (& I’m a 75-yr old BC survivor.)
Jackie Rodgers
I’d love a kit and would get a kick out of taking that bag to chemo but since I have ovarian cancer guess I’m not eligible. Guess I’ll stick to crochet.
Suzanne Krohn
I have lost my grandmother, uncle and mother to pancreatic cancer, an uncle from colorectal, an aunt from breast cancer a cousin from brain cancer, and a granddaughter from brain cancer at age 1 1/2. I also have a cousin who has survived breast cancer two times. Needless to say I could give a sh@t what a bag I use for my knitting says as long as it supports those suffering from cancer and/or cancer research! With as much cancer in my family as I have words are so petty. Try burying this many people from cancer!
Karen Torrance
I would definitely carry this and support this cause. I have had a number of close family members died from cancer. WIill help as much as possible
Ellen Sullivan
The idea and cause are great. But I filter things Through the eyes of my grandchildren. Would I be embarrassed to have to explain to them what SH$T stands for? Yes, I would. There are more creative ways to express the same sentiment.
Margaret Kane
This is a very good idea with a very BAD name. Our society is coarsened enough the way it is.
Lisa Flynn
As a woman that has just finished her treatment for breast cancer, for the second time, I find it very perplexing that anyone would take more offense at a word (that they have arbitrarily decided was offense) and believe that opinion to be more important then human beings of all ages suffering and dying from cancer. Wow, talk about priorities!
M Sanders
I am disappointed by the wording chosen. I think bags that were dedicated to certain causes/cancers, etc. like breast cancer (pink with ribbon, etc.), colon cancer, etc. would have been more appropriate and maybe we could have bought one to support our individual cause . Cancer is awful and has affected immediate family and friends. But, I would not buy this bag. I think we accomplish a lot more with our words when we use grace and love and not vulgar words. Cancer is vulgar for sure, but if I am at the dr.’s office, this bag might offend if I have it but if I had one that was more gentle in it’s wording, someone might ask me what I was knitting/crocheting and what the bag was about. Disappointed in Lion Brand on this one and I am a Lion Brand fan. The idea and concept is great but the wording is offensive to me and not something I’d want to carry or have in my home.
Kelly Cofield
would not carry this bag.!
Lesley Klotz
Anyone who has an issue with the “language” has failed to grasp the bigger issue of LIFE and DEATH. Words are just that – words. The love and caring behind this project far transcend any perceived issues of ‘rude’ language. Look into your heart and soul and understand the intent behind the project and expand your understanding of human life. I feel sorry for you.
Susan Gillespie
I told my knitting group about this and they laughed. I,however, feel that civility is necessary to keep society sane and lawful and kind so I object to a major retailer promoting garbage language.