Woolly Hugs. A Blanket for the family of the wonderful NormaStanleyFletcher.

[KnottyAndPistey]

Norma had been a Mumsnet regular over the years across the boards, with a real zest for politics, feminism and strong opinions about Boris Johnson, as anyone at the MN 15th birthday party will tell you. Remembering THE Heckle which was epic. Love her for it. She also ran the Christmas appeal which would have been an astonishing amount of work. She cared enough for others to make it happen. Norma genuinely touched the lives of so many here on Mumsnet, ours included. Such a compassionate beautiful soul.

It was desperately shocking to hear of her death in August. She had been very ill and in the end her body couldn't cope any more. Devastating for her husband and their wonderful children, their families and friends. They will miss her terribly.

Norma really wasn't one to burden others with her worries, but was a very kind and selfless friend. So supportive of others. Generous to a fault in many ways, and very bloody entertaining. We can all learn from her.

We were so glad when her family accepted our offer of a Woolly Hug, truly there will be love in every stitch. Can you help us? We shall need donors and crafters alike, please post below with offers of help.



Norma was a passionate feminist and so we are looking a suffragette colours as our main palette, so please do check these out..

Main colours
Suffragette purple
Suffragette green
Cream but please one of the following - Debbie Bliss Rialto DK 02 ecru, Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM4 cream, or Drops Merino 01 off white

Accents - so not whole squares, but use within a square
Blues
Oranges
Black
Silvers
Red, but one of these two please, Drops Merino Extra Fine 11 Red, or Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM6 ‘Ruby’ please
Yellow please Drops merino extra fine DK no 24 ‘light yellow’



We have some ideas from knowing her across the boards, but different folk knew her differently, so please let us know if you have other ideas.

The ideas we have
Anything connected to feminism and the Suffragettes
Boris Out/ Tories Out/ love for the EU themes would be great.
She loved olives, Border collies, ravens and crows!
She was passionate about the NHS.
Bali was her favourite place.
She loved Banksy, Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett


With your love and support we’d actually like to create TWO blankets, one for her family and a second to auction for Refuge, to help raise some funds in her name. So if making, please try to make a couple of extras, especially in the Suffragette colours.


Simple or complex, made by beginner or expert, we genuinely welcome them all. It really is the love and thought that counts.*

Squares to be six inches, using 4mm needles or hook. Please knot off VERY carefully when finishing or changing colour and sew your ends in, thank you! Previous blankets can be seen on our website



When ready for posting, it will be the Teddington address, if you would like to include a card for Norma’s family, please do, we will pass it on.

Such a stalwart for so many here on Mumsnet, time to do something for her now


We were lucky to know her.



Sending so much love

[KnottyAndPistey]

The suffragettes' colour scheme, devised in 1908 by Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, co-editor of Votes for Women, was an early triumph for fashion branding.


Suffragettes wore purple for loyalty and dignity, white for purity, and green for hope. Members were encouraged to wear the colours “as a duty and a privilege”.

[Peridot1]

Hi - I’m not knitting these days but am happy to donate wool to someone. Not sure how that works?

I remember NormaStanleyFletcher well and have similar strong opinions on Boris Johnson. Was so sad to read the news of her passing in August.

[KnottyAndPistey]

Thank you so much, will message you with details of a crafter later, really appreciate this xxx

[KnottyAndPistey]

Would suggest that purple is a rich 'Cadbury purple' but elsewhere it is more a magenta purple. But somewhere in there is perfect. Just going to look at yarns

[KnottyAndPistey]

This Drops would work, but is a bit darker

Here...

[KnottyAndPistey]

The Drops forest green is good i think

Here...

[BIWI]

I'm so not knitting, I've even given away my needles and wool. Sorry not sorry.

But very happy (although not happy about losing NSF, obviously) to donate some money.

I thought she was fabulous, and it was a real jolt when I read that she had died

[JamieLeeCurtains]

I'm hopeless at crafting but I could help out with buying some wool for somebody else?

[TheWoollybacksWife]

I'd be honoured to make some squares with donated yarn. I have lovely memories of Norma - a truly lovely MNer.

Much love to her family and friends and all who loved her and miss her

[ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs]

I'm so sorry. I hadn't heard she'd died. Not sure how I missed the thread, but I did 😢

I haven't been knitting or crocheting at all, but I'm sure I can manage a couple of squares for her blanket.

I'll order some appropriate coloured wool later.

I expect others will have done some amazingly creative squares before I've even received my wool! Mine will be cosy, but not creative - I'm setting my bar at an achievable level!! We need plain squares to 'frame' the outstanding creative ones, or so I tell myself. 🤣

[Bearfrills]

I can do some squares, got a little hug to polish off and then I'll get right on. I need to check my stash and I'll see if I have the right colours or if I need a donor match up

[KnottyAndPistey]

If anyone would like to donate funds that would be wonderful, we can message you the details.

If anyone would like to donate yarn to a crafter directly, that is wonderful too, let us know if this is you and we will match folk up a bit later

Thank you so much everyone xxxx

[blueskys72]

I'll pm you for donor wool xx

[KnottyAndPistey]

If we are sending you yarn and you are happy to make a few extra for the Refuge blanket do say and we will send accordingly.

Thank you @blueskys72

[KnottyAndPistey]

@JamieLeeCurtains and @Peridot1 will be along a bit later with some details for you, thank you - really appreciate this xxxx

[KnottyAndPistey]

@ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs

I'm so sorry. I hadn't heard she'd died. Not sure how I missed the thread, but I did 😢

I haven't been knitting or crocheting at all, but I'm sure I can manage a couple of squares for her blanket.

I'll order some appropriate coloured wool later.

I expect others will have done some amazingly creative squares before I've even received my wool! Mine will be cosy, but not creative - I'm setting my bar at an achievable level!! We need plain squares to 'frame' the outstanding creative ones, or so I tell myself. 🤣

Yours will be beautiful. So sorry you'd missed the sad news, it is a shock Isn't it?

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

How desperately sad, I had missed the thread as well. Will get on and order some wool

[Costacoffeeplease]

I’ve got these. Sadly only a small amount of the green. Which of the others do you think?

[KnottyAndPistey]

I think of those Costa just the green, can we send to you?

[KnottyAndPistey]

Thank you so much @FiveGoMadInDorset Sorry you had to find out in this way xxxx

[KnottyAndPistey]

We know she had yellow roses at her funeral if anyone would like to recreate those?

[AthelstaneTheUnready]

Thanks for the message, @KnottyAndPistey. I'd love to help. I don't have any wool atm though so if there's a donor free that would be great, or point me to the right colour/type online and I'll order some.

Is crochet ok as well, or would you prefer knit?
x

[KnottyAndPistey]

Crochet and knit are equally perfect @AthelstaneTheUnready thank you so much, happy to send if you let us have your address please?

[Ginisatonic]

I am so sorry to hear this news. I can certainly knit some squares. I’ll have a look later for suitable colours.
Much love to Norma’s family.

[bookbook]

I will gladly help , will check stash this afternoon , but think I have suitable . Love and strength to her family xx