In November, popular British designer, Louisa Harding will lace up her hiking boots and stuff a backpack full of yarn as she heads for Nepal to join a team of hikers for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure pushing their limits with up to nine hours a day of rough trekking.  Her mission is to raise awareness and funds for the Macmillan Cancer Support, a team of health professionals who provide care for cancer patients and their families.  Last year, Louisa’s husband and fave photographer, Stephen, was diagnosed with Lymphoma.  While he was undergoing extensive chemo treatments, the Macmillan staff and nurses became a ‘lifeline’ helping Louisa and her family through a very difficult time.

To give back to this wonderful organization, Louisa has designed a collection of Himalayan Hiking Hats, the first three are pictured below, followed by three more in September.  On each day of her week long trek, Louisa will be photographed wearing one of the hats, saving the seventh design for the final day, that is of course if she has it knit up in time.  Her goal is to knit the last one along the way!

Louisa encourages knitters to join in this challenge, sponsoring her by knitting one of her hats or by just giving.  Patterns are available here to download with all contributions going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

 

 

Hearts of hope gracefully branch out of cables, encircling this toque with a pompom as the finishing touch.  Join fellow knitters on Ravelry for the Himalayan Hiking Hats knit-a-long.

 

A girly twist on the classic argyle tam, Louisa embellishes heart motifs with pink diamonds and a simple cabled rib.

 

A striking combo, stripes and ribs for the guys and a two-tone floral accent for the girls.  Louisa’s husband, Stephen models his Karuwa hat on the bottom left.  A year after completing chemo treatments, Stephen is back at work as Louisa’s photographer and is cheering her on to Nepal.

Follow Louisa’s trek here in November.

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 14th, 2012 at 7:29 pm.