Knitted Knockers

Bluffton Women Team Up to Help Breast Cancer Survivors

KnittedKnockers 1224 1

December 2024 Issue

By Edwina Hoyle
Photography by (top and bottom)
Cassidy Dunn Photography


KnittedKnockers 1224A chance encounter between Rosa McGeehin and Beth Freeman in Hampton Lake a year ago led to the creation of a new group to serve breast cancer survivors. Rosa was riding her bike, and Beth was gardening. Rosa stopped to introduce herself and during their chat, Rosa asked Beth if she knew how to crochet. They decided to team up. Beth could teach Rosa how to crochet and Rosa knew all about Knitted Knockers. Both women belong to Turtle Trackers so they would bring their supplies and crochet during the meetings.

“After a Turtle Trackers meeting, a woman asked me if we were making Knitted Knockers. I said ‘Yes’, and she reached in her top and pulled out a Knitted Knocker. She told me she was grateful to have them and that they made a real difference in her life. I will always remember that,” Beth said.

Now retired, Rosa was a surgical nurse at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. She worked for 13 years in the busy OR, assisting Dr. John Bostwick, who specialized in breast reconstruction. “Emory is a teaching hospital, and it’s so big that people from all over the world go there. They would give Knitted Knockers to mastectomy patients right after surgery, and that’s where I learned about Knockers.”

Knitted Knockers is a national non-profit organization that has 3,500 individuals and groups registered in 50 states and 30 countries. Rosa and Beth started a local Lowcountry chapter called Knitted Knockers Hummingbirds in August 2023. Knitted Knockers provides free breast prostheses for women who have had breast cancer and undergone a mastectomy or lumpectomy.

Knitted Knockers are created with the softest yarn and handmade by volunteers who knit or crochet. Knitted Knockers are soft, comfortable, beautiful, and when placed in a regular bra, they take the shape and feel of a real breast. Traditional breast prosthetics can be hot, heavy, and sticky and can’t be worn for six weeks after surgery. Knockers are adjustable, washable and can even be worn while swimming. Volunteer knitters provide these to women just for the asking. Knockers are available in different colors and all cup sizes.

Women who have had mastectomies want to go out in public, and they want to feel pretty after the worst experience of their lives. Rosa has two sisters with breast cancer, so it’s a very personal issue to her. Rosa said, “At the turn of the century physicians would tell only the husband if a woman had breast cancer, and it was up to him whether or not to tell his wife since there was no cure.”

By the 1960s, if a woman had her breast(s) removed, she was given small sacks of birdseed to use as a prosthesis. “Thank God for all the research now,” Rosa added.

“Rosa is an incredible recruiter. She can talk to anyone, and she’s gotten volunteers from a dog park, the post office, while getting her oil changed, at Home Depot—anywhere! So, our numbers have increased!” Beth said.

Their first volunteer is a friend of Rosa’s who lives in Laredo, Texas, where Rosa grew up. Their chapter now serves South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Laredo, TX.

They now have 21 active volunteers. “Our volunteers are so dedicated and produce so many Knockers; we have distributed 166 pairs since August 2023!”

In just over a year, their chapter registered with the national organization and became “state providers”. Beth explained that women can request Knockers from the official website. They specify size, color, and whether they want regular Knockers or those made for swimming. Then the KK Hummingbirds go to the website and fill orders based on what they have available and ship directly to the individual.

Beth and Rosa also reached out to Jo Panayotoff of Handy Hooters in Beaufort to learn about the process of signing up medical facilities and non-profits that work with breast cancer patients to become providers. KK Hummingbirds give starter kits to providers and ask them to register with the national organization. They now have 11 providers that offer free Knitted Knockers to their patients and clients. Rosa stays in touch with them to record how many they give out and to see if refills are required.

“We also hold workshops every other month at the Bluffton Library. It’s a place to gather, work, and answer questions. We provide the yarn, and we have enormous boxes of fiber fill. We have some very talented volunteers who really knock ‘em out,” Beth exclaimed. Rosa added that there are strict protocols about how the Knockers are made, and if anyone has difficulty, one of the more experienced knitters and crocheters can help. New volunteers are always welcome.

How Can You Help?


• Create awareness by liking and sharing on Facebook @knittedknockers.
You can make posts, ask questions, and even learn about international needs.

• If you can knit (or crochet), get a pattern and make knockers.
Attend one of the workshops at the Bluffton Library.

• Donate. Knitted Knockers is 100% volunteer-run and need funds to purchase materials and pay shipping costs. If you would like to donate locally, be sure to specify that your donation is for Knitted Knockers Hummingbirds. Donations can be mailed to Knitted Knockers Support Foundation, 1405 Fraser St. #F103, Bellingham, WA 98229 or made via PayPal at www.knittedknockers.org/donations.

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