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Woolly Hugs is a charity established by a group of Mumsnet users. They knit / crochet handmade blankets and other items for families experiencing difficult times.

Woolly hugs

Woolly Hug crew over HERE!! Chernobyl project 2017, our second thread

999 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 22/03/2017 08:25

Welcome to our second thread supporting our Chernobyl project 2017, the end of the first one crept up on us!

For the last three years we have been making warm, comforting Little Hugs for Belarusian teenagers and children visiting the UK for recuperative holidays during the summer with the fabulous charity the Chernobyl Children's Project and Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline. Photos from previous projects can be found here..

Each year these marvellous charities bring children who live in the most contaminated area near the Chernobyl reactor over to the UK. In summer, when the dust causes radiation levels to rise, it becomes even more important for as many children as possible to leave their contaminated homeland for a few weeks of fresh air and clean food. The rates of childhood cancer are very high, the most common cancers being thyroid and leukemia. Coming to the UK for a four week break increases their immunity against the awful disease when they return home. Often these children are in remission. Sadly though there is a high chance of these children falling ill again. They all suffer living in such difficult conditions and with very little.

Last year 36 children, teens and their interpreters went home with a beautiful Woolly Hug. This year we are keen to help even more groups, so Liverpool, Gloucester/Leeds (same Leeds group but this year spending 2 weeks at each location) Portsmouth and Helpston, Northampton.

That is about 70+ blankets!! shock Gin

With your help we know we can do this


Gin Gin

Please do join us, here’s how..

Crafting Information

  • We would like 12" squares in bright and cheery Stylecraft Special DK colours.
  • PLEASE AVOID USING black, bright green, bright pink, browns, greys, citron, sunshine, fiesta, jaffa and any pale pastels, white or cream for practical reasons. This will help squares fit together more easily.
  • Make squares in a neutral colour theme, or more specifically for a boy or girl. As much as we don’t like to think of colour as being gender specific, these children may.
  • We will be happy to accept 6" squares if making a 12" one feels too much.
  • Crochet or knitted, 4mm hook or needles. Single colour, mixed colour, simple, complex.
  • No blocking and please sew in pesky ends.
  • If needed, we can supply yarn. Let us know if we can send to you.
  • Posting of squares please to the South Coast address, PM if you need it. star

    If you think you’d like to make a whole blanket that is WONDERFUL, but please contact us first. We will be asking for gender neutral blankets which are 48 inches by 60m, but would just like to chat to you first, thank you!

    Supporting with funds
    If anyone would like to donate funds to support this, we would be so grateful. Please PM us for the donation info. Thank you xx

    Can anyone help with extras?
    There are a few extras which we will be collecting too alongside squares, items which really help, if you would like to add in any of these we would love to receive them for the children, thank you, bless you.

    Underwear aged 10 plus. New only
  • Adult size socks (one size fits all) new
  • Toothbrushes, single packed please
  • Hairbrushes
  • Toiletries, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo etc, but not bars of soap please.
  • Sanitary Towels
  • Plasters
  • Vitamins, please check suitable for 10 years+
  • Any little luxuries that teens might love, eg hair clips, make up bits, stickers etc.

    If you would like to add 50p in when you post squares for ice creams that would be so kind, we will split any money we receive between the groups.

    Last posting of squares (plus whole blankets) and any extras is Saturday 8th April

    No later please as we have to get on and sort at the end of that following week. Thank you. The rush will be on as the first group, Portsmouth arrive in May.

    What a big ask! Good grief!

    But the fabulous Woolly Hug crew never fail to amaze, last year was an astonishing team effort, as the photo shows, we know that together we can do this.

    On behalf of these children and their families, a huge THANK YOU.
    Actually, thank you doesn't really come close.

    Us xxx

  • Photo is the collection from last year that went to the Portsmouth group. star
Woolly Hug crew over HERE!! Chernobyl project 2017, our second thread
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 22/03/2017 08:26

Sorry, our first thread suddenly filled up!

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 22/03/2017 08:27

To confirm then..


Last posting of squares (plus whole blankets) and any extras is Saturday 8th April


We need to crack on with sorting, you will appreciate this is a hooooooge task, so really no later please!

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 22/03/2017 08:28
OP posts:
bookbook · 22/03/2017 08:31

oooh, I'm first !
Well, I came home last night to the card of doom ( blue as it Hermes) so - but - they had left it in a safe place! :)
So I got started - about 7" in a coloured granny so far .

VittysCardigan · 22/03/2017 08:34

Yay, new thread. I am sending in my squares today (along with some bits for other projects)

Woolly Hug crew over HERE!! Chernobyl project 2017, our second thread
Woolly Hug crew over HERE!! Chernobyl project 2017, our second thread
Woolly Hug crew over HERE!! Chernobyl project 2017, our second thread
Bearfrills · 22/03/2017 08:35

Lashing down with rain today and I'm going out tonight so no plans until then. Bear Cub is sleeping and DH is on toddler-wrangling duties, I'm going to crack on with another 12" square Smile

We need a ball of wool smiley.

WitchDancer · 22/03/2017 08:46

I'm here too. We've got some to post too - I'm just waiting for my friend to sort her peskys Confused

KnottyAndPistey · 22/03/2017 08:50

Oh sob, the crew are coming, thought we might have lost you all en route

OP posts:
bookbook · 22/03/2017 09:04

Don't panic K&P - we shall sort us out- you are busy!

bookbook · 22/03/2017 09:05

Vitty - a whole blanket worth of squares , ( it is 20 isn't it, for a blanket?) and they are lovely :)

bookbook · 22/03/2017 09:07

darn it, wish I read and thought properly before posting- Bear - how is Bear Cub- has she settled in the harness okay? and does she have a full wardrobe of legwarmers now? :)

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 22/03/2017 09:09

Mine will be in the post in the next few days (just working on sewing in the peskies). Smile

Bearfrills · 22/03/2017 09:15

She looks like something out of Fame half the time Grin She's got her first follow-up scan on the 12th so hoping to see a big improvement by then.

That is a huge parcel, Vitty!

MrsHathaway · 22/03/2017 09:15

Brew

Morning all!

Bearfrills · 22/03/2017 09:17

I'm outsourcing, I've taught DH to sew peskies. He's been doing my Candy's Hugs 6" ones and says it's fairly easy, they have maybe 4-5 peskies a piece. Wait until I chuck a 12" Chernobyl square his way that has 46 peskies.

Yddraigoldragon · 22/03/2017 09:24

(Still frantically hooking)
Have a bag ready for sending and am on the next batch. There is a good squares leaflet in crochet now this month, look I made popcorns...

Woolly Hug crew over HERE!! Chernobyl project 2017, our second thread
VittysCardigan · 22/03/2017 09:30

Thank you Book - I set myself the target of making enough for a blanket & am chuffed to bits for managing it.

Bear - it is a bit bigger now too! When I got to work my friend gave me 12 x 6" knotted squares to add to it!

PolterGoose · 22/03/2017 09:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MalcolmTuckersOmniShambles · 22/03/2017 09:41

Morning!

How is everyone? Just re-read the opening thread and noticed that a colour called Jaffa is mentioned as verboten. I don't have this in my yarn peg collection! How did I miss it?!



Where's my Yarn Support Group?!!! Grin

AmethystRaven · 22/03/2017 09:42

Right, I've cracked granny squares so I'll try and churn a few out - they do grow much quicker than knitted squares!

Bear your DH sounds fab and I'm glad Bear is doing OK.

I love that square Yddraigoldragon and wow Vitty !

Go Team Chernobyl! Brew

bookbook · 22/03/2017 09:48

Yddraig - could you tell me which issue number - just had a look , and you can buy it as digital for ipads and such.....this sounds like another minor addiction perhaps, but I think it may be useful and not taking up space!

Wh0Kn0wsWhereTheTimeGoes · 22/03/2017 10:47

I'm here too, progress has slowed a bit but hope to be posting in the next few days.

SevenTillFour · 22/03/2017 10:52

I'm here as well I'm held up with real life at the moment, but hopefully will have time to churn out a few plain squares and will send alogng.

Yddraigoldragon · 22/03/2017 10:59

Book, it is the latest, issue no 13. Not sure if you would get the insert with a download though?

SpiralArchitect · 22/03/2017 11:02

Found you! Brew

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