That is *so* sweet, L.

Happy thoughts and much love to Annie and Gerry.

Oh, crap. That makes all my piddly whines seem ... piddly. You're such a great friend. I will send her the Positive Thought Vibes.

I'm so there. Blessings and luck to her entire family.

And btw, that pattern is AMAZING.

To have a friend like you must be a blessing to her as well.
Well wishes headed Annie's way ...

I hadn't heard, but now that I have, I am also sending Happy Thoughts & Positive Energy to Annie and Gerry and the kids!

They're so lucky to have you for a friend. :)

I met Annie last year during the southern leg of her knitting tour. I found her funny and entertaining. Her love for her husband and children shows every time she speaks about them.
My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family during this difficult and stressful time.

They've been in my thoughts since she first mentioned it on her blog.. how nice that the knitting world is rallying around them. Knitters are the best people in the world.

I'm so glad you are doing this. I did, too, but I don't know her personally and I get maybe 20 readers a day, so it's way cool that you're spreading the word.

I just cry every time I read her blog lately, but I keep reading. The pattern is awesome, by the way, although I doubt anyone really needs much encouragement to help out a knitter in need.

Thank you for spreading the word, I did not know. I know about Annie's work, but nothing about this stressful time in their life. I will send best prayers and energy. You're a good friend.

The Sexy Knitters Club is doing her pattern as their next Knitalong....I'm gonna buy the pattern as soon as I post this. It's always good to help a knitter in need...our thoughts are with her.

Laurie, that just breaks my heart and I will donate and I will pray. Thank you for sharing this opportunity to be "Southern" and give from the heart! Barbara (in San Diego)

Way cool pattern. I must go and make a donation.

Coincidentally, I just yesterday got caught up on reading her blog and found out about Gerri. I'm so glad there's a way for folks to help. Thanks for spreading the information (and the love). :-)

Oh my god, I just followed the pattern link and read Annie's brave but so so sad story of her husband's cancer. I will definitely donate, although I won't be knitting the dress--way too complicated for the likes of me. As others have said, she is so fortunate to have you for her friend.

Thanks for the post. I had no idea her husband was so sick. It's a beautiful pattern and I made a donation. Thanks again for letting us know.

I have never knit any of Annie's patterns but I have admired them tremendously. Your post inspired me to go to Annie's site and donate - thanks to you, Laurie, I got to help someone I admire *and* get a great pattern!

What a wonderful post and dedication to your friend. I hope and pray everything works out for her husband and her family.

Praying for Gerry, Annie and their family's health.

I'm so glad you posted this. She is so amazing and deserves every penny she gets.

you have to come visit her in St Paul & get the tour of all 20 something of our yarn shops.

Kathy in Mpls

ps I am donating platelets, that they use to help chemotherapy patients recover. Maybe it can help Gerri.

Beautiful words, Laurie. Thanks for posting this.

thanks for spreading the word!
I am donating right now.

I just went and made a small donation, and I'll go back and do it again when I have a little more to give. Annie and her family are definitely in my thoughts.

As soon as we get some money into our PayPal account, Merrill's Fund will be donating. Anne, our love and thoughts to you and yours.

I've had the good fortune of meeting Annie, and she's just as you describe. Down-to-earth, smart, funny, loving... I'll help spread the word to help!

Main Street Yarns & Fibers (the "We Love Annie" site) has set up a very nice 6-week sock yarn & needles raffle for only 5$ per ticket - lots of folks sending little bits of money can add up fast!

And all the good thoughts and prayers being sent to Annie and her family can only have a good affect!

Thanks so much for spreading the word about We Love Annie and for sharing that beautiful story. I just read it aloud at the shop and we all were near tears. She's such a special person!

Oh, you.

I adore you, Laurie, you know that - right?

You're amazing. And an amazing friend. Thank you.

Awwww. :)

Um, I think I know Annie!

I read about Gerry this morning and ran over to donate. Hopefully, I can do more later.

Annie rocks!

Prayers to the whole redhaired knitty family. Healing prayers, indeed.

Laurie, this is why we all love you because you have so much love and caring for your friends. You inspire people to be nice.

My prayers are out to their family and friends. This is such a tough thing to handle for all involved, and that includes the friends.

I have just recently discovered you (I know - where have I been?). You were so kind to share Annie's story here. How come the good ones go through things like this and the ones who are hateful and mean to their wives and kids are bopping along on their merry way? I wish I knew the answer. Anyhow, I love your fun take on life and I'm glad you share it with all of us. I try to be happy and positive too, even though I'm going through a divorce now, but it's good to see someone else has made it through with the fun side still intact!

i donated too. i never do that, but i was just looking at a youtube thing of annie's flip books *yesterday* -- and i grew up in st paul, mn and lived in annie & gerry's very own exact neighborhood until i left the area in 1998. i even bought some brown sheep worsted, some meilenweit megaboots, and a skein of mountain colors bearfoot at the yarnery when i was in town june 17. too too much coincidence not to do *something*, even if it's tiny.

Dear Laurie,

Thanks for letting us know about this. Imagine what the world would be like if every time something like this happened we had the opportunity to do something to help.

I am a firm believer that human nature is really, really good but that we are complacent and need someone to rally us for a good cause.

It may sound like a weird thing to say but every time I see something like this, I think "what would John Lennon do?" (I'm going to get one of those little woven bracelets and wear it around.)

I think he would call you up and sing Imagine on your answering machine.

just to let you know, i'm collecting 12" squares in machine washable fibers (knit or crochet) and i will be joining them into blankets for annie & her family (including atticus!) anything left over i thought i could send to the charity of her choice. even if you don't want to, please feel free to pass my email onto anyone else who is interested!

and yes, i bought her dress pattern, too.

annie published my first written piece, and my first pattern. she is an inspiration to me, and i want to give back.

OK - have seen the pattern and LOVE it. Would like to make a donation but don't do the PayPal thing (it's got to do with the fact that I'm outside the US, every now and then they deny that my country exists, etc). If somebody would be willing to make a donation on my behalf - I will refund you with either a trade or a gift voucher of equal value from a place that will take my credit card WITHOUT PayPal - please contact me.

TIA

Well damn. Now a convertible dress pattern was just exactly what I was looking for today. Yes indeed.

Burning a candle for Annie, buying the pattern pronto.

--Dez

Minnie--If you go to www.weloveannie.com and follow the links you can donate by credit card at the main street yarns website. They have donated some wonderful prizes too. And everyone who donates will be eligible for the drawings.

--james

I could never knit such a complex pattern as that dress, but I donated at the We Love Annie site. Pretty cool--they have drawings for sock kits for those who donate ($5 per chance). I've never knit a sock either, but maybe I could swing it if I'm lucky enough to win the kit. In any case, thanks so much for sharing this info. I have heard of Annie, though I haven't read her blog or books. She sounds like a very special woman, and she is very lucky to have friends like you.

Thank you SO MUCH for the post ... I clicked over as soon as I read it and made a donation (and downloaded the fab pattern ... I really can't wait to make it). Your warmth made me feel all warm, too :)

Just found your blog, but have read Annie's for a few months. I'd like to plug Annie's swag found at Cafe Press. There is some seriously cool stuff to be found. My favorite - the Knit for Brains design.

I'll be heading over to 'We Love Annie' now to donate.

This is a good woman that deserves all the good she and her family can get.I bought the pattern and want to suggest she put up another pattern less complex that simple me could knit and pray through every stitch?

Yikes. I am out of the country right now, believe it or not, but as soon as I get home.

what good timing.. I'm having one of those anniversary "moments" myself.

They suck.