Woolly Hugs: A Blanket for fellow Mumsnetter thegreylady. Can you help us please?

[KnottyAndPistey]

Very sad news, lovely thegreylady’s husband died in early summer, she says I had the sweetest kindest husband possible, never a quarrel, a mutually loving relationship and eventually we have seen all 5 dc through university, happily married and we share 9 amazing dgc. It will be the hugest loss, they had been together for 35 years. Our love and thoughts are with her and all the family, who will miss him terribly.

We are so pleased to say that thegreylady has accepted our offer of a Woolly Hug, and we hope that she will feel our love and support and that the blanket may give whatever comfort it can to her.

His name is Tom.

We want to make this blanket a real celebration and tribute to Tom, will you join us?

We shall need crocheters, knitters and donors. If you would like to donate wool or funds, we can match you up. If you would like to join in but need donated wool, we can help there too. Please PM with your offer of help.

The Yarns.. Just from the brands listed please because we know they combine for wash and wear. If you still have any of our wools that have been discontinued - Artesano Superwash Merino DK, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK, Sublime extra fine DK, or James C. Brett Pure Merino DK in your stash, please do use them.

The Yarn we will be Using….

• Debbie Bliss Rialto DK only on this site.. HERE
• Drops Merino Extra Fine DK, currently on sale here… Have had a restock too.
• Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK
• Katia Merino 100% DK
• King Cole Luxury Merino DK
• Patons Merino Extrafine DK Currently on sale https://ladysewandsewknits.co.uk/product/patons-merino-extrafine-dk/ here]
• Also Ebay is always a possible option. Please shout through if you need help tracking yarn down.

Ideas from thegreylady

• Tom's favourite things were narrow boats and cricket
• He was born in 1936 (could someone do this date please?) and did his national service in the RAF. The roundel (as below) would be straightforward to recreate.
• Tom was a Yorkshireman and proud of it. ( Yorkshire rose anyone?)
• He always called her Mousey and he was Rab to her (short for rabbit) a bit daft but loving and lovely - so mice and rabbits please!
• Tom had the bluest eyes and was a devout Catholic.
• Forget me nots are really special.

These really are just ideas, we also need simple squares too. 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!

Main colours
RAF blues and greys
Other blues from sky to navy.
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
RAF Red

Accents, but not whole squares please.
Yellow
Greens
Mouse or rabbit colours!
Black
(Please shout if you need any others to achieve this)

Posting will be Teddington, we will set a last posting date as soon as we know folk are underway, but it won't be before the end of September.

Thank you so much lovely Woolly crew.

Lovely thegreylady we are thinking of you all, sending love and strength. xxxxx

How very sad, my love and thoughts are with thegreylady and Tom’s loved ones.
I’d love to help, I’ve PM’d.

I’m sorry to hear this, much love to thegreylady and family. I have lots of blues in my stash so I can definitely help

Such sad news.

I can make 4 x 6" bobble stitch squares each with a number on :- 1, 9, 3, and 6.

If this is an acceptable idea please let me know and I'll order some yarn over the weekend.

I will do some squares - maybe a rabbit and a mouse.

Wow! helpers already, you are all totally amazing! THANK YOU!

@Fairyfellowsmasterstroke Love this idea, it'll look fabulous, yes please, thank you

I'm in, will pm now.

Sending love to Tom's loved ones x

@PurpleFrog - thank you, she'd love this

@EquallyDetermined - thank you

@MadisonAvenue @TheNinjaGooseIsHooking I'll be right along to PMs, just got to do Mums taxis, and I'll be back!

Such sad news, love & strength to all the family & friends.
I'm in & have yarn, I'll make 2 squares

I’m in - will be my usual plain heart/star squares , but sounds like Tom was a real star.
The RAF motto is “Per Adua ad Astra” , so doubly appropriate I hope.
With love to thegreylady and family xx

I can help, what a beautiful story and wishing strength and comfort to Greylady and the family.

I will check my stash as I may have some blues left but I'll let you know if more are needed

I'm in transit today with patchy internet while headed home but I absolutely can help if you don't mind sending some yarn my way? I have some small amounts of Drops in accent colours (black and a bit of taupe, possibly for a mouse or a rabbit?) but definitely don't have any of the main colours.

So sorry to hear this. Sending love to thegreylady and family. I have some blues in my stash so will do a square or two.

I can do some squares - they will probably be plain though.

I can do some squares - and I'll try to make a forget-me-not one as well as an RAF roundel.

If the appropriate colour yarn can be sent to me, I can produce a roundel or two. Or if any colour yarn can be sent, I can do some plain squares.

Happy to help out. Thegreylady is a name I recognise, mainly because I find myself agreeing with a lot of what she posts. I'm so sorry for her loss.

I'm in for a couple of squares and am ok for yarn - have sent a pm.
Sending much love to thegreylady and Tom's loved ones

Happy to help out. I’m fine for yarn.

I've found a forget-me-not pattern so I'll plan to make a square with those on.

I'm in - I can probably do a Christian fish if that's appropriate for a Catholic? I've messaged for wool.

My condolences to TheGreyLady and family.

I will be happy to help - can do a square with his name on if that hasn't already been offered ?

I’d love to help. I’ll try to make a RAF circles square.

Really sorry to hear of TheGreyLady's loss. I will make some squares x