Joan Sherdian, owner of Heritage Spinning and Weaving in downtown Lake Orion, has helped weave together a cancer-fighting event now in its third year.
Along with Bridget Dean, who owns a similar type of shop in Berkley, Sheridan started Knit Michigan, a non-profit organization devoted to helping cancer patients and their families through the fiber arts.
Sheridan said her reason for wanting to start Knit Michigan came about when two of her friends were stricken with cancer.
Other cancer patients find solace in coming into her yarn store, Sheridan added.
‘They are centers of warmth and comfort for people going through cancer and other life crises,? Sheridan said. ‘It’s a caring environment.?
Knit Michigan has helped expand that idea into an event that in 2008 raised $30,000 and distributed over 2,500 chemo caps statewide.
‘We’re trying to create a sense of community,? Sheridan said.
The money raised at this year’s event will be donated to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center, Beaumont Hospital’s Rose Cancer Center, Genesys Health System, Gilda’s Club and U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Academy of Sacred Hearts, located at 1250 Kensington Road in Bloomfield Hills.
There are two types of admission offered at the daylong event: a ‘general public? admission price of $10 that goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, and a ‘marathon? admission that costs $90 and goes from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The ‘general public? admission price provides complimentary lessons to those who wish to try their hand at spinning, knitting, crocheting, weaving or felt-making.
Visitors may shop at sixteen different yarn shops from around the state, which will have finished products, yarns and kits, books.
Guests are also invited to bring their handmade comfort items to the event for donation to cancer units around the state.
‘Marathoners? participate in an expanded 14 plus hour program with special offerings.
‘Marathoners? will have access to all ‘general admission? programs plus spend time crafting with fellow ‘marathoners.?
‘Marathoners? are encouraged to ask their associates, friends and family members to sponsor their fiber day. The goal for each ‘marathoner? is to obtain $250 in sponsorship solicitations.
Vendors, crafters and yarn stores from all over the state will pack two large rooms. There will be demonstrations, how-to stations and an abundance of scarves, mittens and other handmade goods available for purchase
‘It’s turned into a multi-faceted fiber event where people can learn spinning, weaving and knitting,? Sheridan said. ‘I wanted to involve people from all the different fiber areas.?
There will also be opportunity for knitters of the next generation to learn their craft, Sheridan said.
It’s also a place where people from the on-line knitting community can meet face-to-face.
‘We send the chemo caps all over the state,? Sheridan said