Did you know Gayle Robbins? No? Let me tell you about her. I only knew Gayle for a couple of years, but she had a big impact on my life. I met her when I was volunteering at the Senior Nutrition Site here in Weyauwega. Gayle was (I think) the part-time site manager for a while until they found someone who could take the job full-time. But, she was still around as a volunteer.
Gayle and I shared a love of fiber arts, particularly knitting, although Gayle was very skilled in crochet as well. Gayle had won numerous awards at the Waupaca County Fair for her work (as well as some awards for her lovely photography). So, knitting is what brought us together.
When I met Gayle, she was about 6 months or a year out of her course of chemotherapy from breast cancer. And, yes, she had lost her hair during her chemo. But, being a knitter/crocheter, she just made herself some hats. In fact, she liked hats with brims, but the yarn wouldn’t always cooperate, so she would thread some craft wire through the edge of the brim and shape it the way she wanted. Ingenious!
Not only did Gayle make her own chemo caps, but she also made some for the people she met at her chemo sessions. Especially in our Wisconsin winters, being without hair can be more than a little problem, so a hat is more than just a fashion item.
Gayle was very supportive of Patrick’s and my plan to open a yarn shop. She had some business background and gave me some good information as I was trying to write our initial business plan. She and I had also talked about how the shop would have a sitting area where people could come and knit or crochet together along with Stitch Night (Thursday evenings). And she was very excited about the idea of doing some community/charity knitting projects. And why wouldn’t she be? That was right up her alley – right along with making chemo caps for others, helping in the community garden, volunteering with the senior meals, and I’m sure lots of things I don’t even know about.
In July (2011), Gayle was diagnosed with recurrence of her cancer and she started back with chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Our shop opened in the end of August. Gayle was able to visit the shop several times before she became very sick in January. I visited her late in the fall at her home and we sat and worked on our knitting and crochet projects together while we talked. That’s what yarnies do, right?
On February 1, Gayle passed from this earth to Heaven. We lost a dear friend that day.
In her memory, the Knitting Nest is doing a chemo cap knit-a-long. Gayle’s husband, Steve, has brought some of Gayle’s stash (the mark of a true yarn crafter – she had quite a stash!) to The Knitting Nest to donate for knitting chemo caps. To join us, all you need to do is stop by the shop and pick up some yarn and a pattern (if you need it). Knit or crochet as many caps as you’d like, drop them off at the shop before May 1, and we’ll deliver them to the chemotherapy center at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Appleton. Very easy – and incredibly helpful.
Cancer is scary. Hair loss is just one more thing to worry about for someone dealing with chemotherapy. Sure, they could go buy a hat somewhere, but getting a handmade hat says to them that someone cares about them enough to try to make this process a little easier for them. So, the next time you have a few minutes to stop by The Knitting Nest, come in and pick up some yarn and a pattern to make a chemo cap and show some love to someone who’s having a rough time.
