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

Morning beautiful people. Just wow. So much kindness. You are all so lovely! Making a big coffee and I’m straight into PMs.

And we have a wonderful donor of funds to thank. Super generous. Thank you so much to lovely JB!

@bookbook Thank you. That’d be wonderful. Thank you.

@WitchDancer it can be yes. Thank you.

Where do i send yarn to please ?

Thank you so much @IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls thats so kind. Would you like to send directly to a crafter?

Yes thats fine if thats what is easiest and best x

Thank you - that is incredibly kind, I'll PM

Good morning everyone

@IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls just PMd with the info you need, another huge thank you.

So everyone who requested yarn - it is on order from Wool warehouse if we used donated funds or it will be coming directly from a donor.

Please remember to post on here when it arrives, all donors love to see their donations in action (rightly so)

Wool Warehouse is still talking about a delay of 4 to 6 days, so do bear with, it will arrive, think from experience that is just their worst case scenario.

Please do remember to keep posting photos of squares on here, it is lovely to see the blanket in progress

And if you are seeing this thread for the first time, please do join us, still plenty of time, and we'd love to have you on board

First squares are here!

Beautiful treasure arriving safely from @ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba Gorgeous grannies. Thank you so much

I will do a couple - have some wool in the right shades.

So sorry. xx

@KnottyAndPistey thanks so much lovely.

Debbie Bliss Rialto DK - sea shade
ordered and sent 💐

Managed RAF blue for the heart , but is the turquoise star too bright a blue ?
With love for the grey lady in every stitch xx

@KnottyAndPistey I can do some squares. I still have the King Cole Cream, will that be ok to use? I have some Drops Dark Blue leftover which I think will be ok (although my husband says it looks purple…). Could I possibly ask for red & grey please if there is any available & I’ll do some RAF themed squares, I have a soft spot for the forces as my husband was in the Navy. If not, don’t worry, I’ll just use up what I have. With much love to thegreylady xx

If someone could send me some yarn, I can do a couple of squares.

Very sad news Would love to contribute with some squares. I have sent a PM. I will have a go at a rabbit and mouse.

This is one of the most beautiful things that has happened to me. Tom would have been so moved too. I am going to post a couple of photos of him xx Most recent ones are in pyjamas so I missed those.

I could only fit one but here is him being Santa a few years ago.

How do I say thank you for something as big as this? From the bottom of me heart to all of you thank you 💕💐💕💐💕💐

Oh , he is the perfect Santa ! Bless him .

And I’m sure I speak for all the knitters and donors when I say it’s a privilege to be able to do this small thing for you . xxxx

My not me…

@thegreylady I am so sorry for your loss. This is an incredibly moving thread and I hope you will feel the comfort of it. Much love to you.