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

Beautiful crocheted treasure arriving safely. Super. Thank you so much lovely @MadisonAvenue

Beautiful treasure arriving for grey . Thank you so much lovely @Bearfrills

Pic fell off!

Beautiful granny squares. Thank you lovely @WitchDancer

Honestly the darkest day here ever. Pouring too. Apologies for the pics! Lighting is terrible.

Final FINAL call then. I’m away for the weekend. But moving on next week to construction!

Gorgeous squares!

@KnottyAndPistey Could you confirm if my squares have arrived ok pls? I posted them nearly 2 weeks ago but only via regular mail… I can’t remember if I put a note in, I’m sure I would’ve done <maybe 🤦‍♀️> Thank you

Gosh @KnottyAndPistey, you must be dreaming squares at the moment!
@thegreylady, thank you for the photos. My squares were definitely done for you, with love for you, but I look at the pictures of Tom and wonder what on earth he would make of them, and all this! Thank you for posting the photos - seeing them has made this so special for me.

He would have been so touched. He valued things that were made with love more than anything bought. He hated throwing things away or shopping for new clothes. I have kept his oldest shirt, a crumpled cream linen jacket and a multi coloured striped jumper. He always wanted a Welsh blanket but this would have meant so much more. I wish I could show it to him. I will treasure it all my life and leave it to my daughter in my will 💐

Huge love @thegreylady I like to think he knows xx

Apologies to lovely @Raiponceinatangle
Id unpacked and out away without updating this thread.

Absolutely gorgeous crochet, and love the embroidery. Beautiful. Thank you so much

@KnottyAndPistey
Have my squares arrived , please ? - there were 4 in the package , 2 each for JanH and the grey lady .
Must be almost 3 weeks since posting , getting a bit anxious now . Thank you x

hmmm. Not yet @Yiayoula but I’ll go to the sorting office. See if they are stuck for some reason. It has happened before. I can’t go until Tuesday. But I’ll def go then.

Thanks very much, @KnottyAndPistey , and sorry to add to your workload.
Fingers crossed x

Sorry to bother you my 2 squares and a red and yellow Little Hug were - left in the porch - on 5th Oct at 16:05 by Evri and I haven't seen them.

Thank you! Appreciate you checking 😁

I'm just catching up on this after a bit of a gap- just lovely to see the squares and pictures of Tom, it feels like we're getting a little bit of insight into who he was and your time together @thegreylady There's a real sense of warmth.
It's a privilege to be able to contribute to the blanket and I'm glad it's bringing you some comfort

@daciousme1 the hug has def been on social media. Let me check I didn’t just put your squares away. You got a pic pls? Sorry!

More beautiful treasure has arrived. Thank you so much @Iwantacampervan Perfect hearts.

And these beautiful knits have arrived. But I can’t see a name. Thank you so much. Absolutely gorgeous.

@Yiayoula !!
QUICK!!

Absolute treasure which was delivered to 22 Cedar Road by mistake!! Even though your label COULD NOT BE CLEARER! Weirdly we get their post too, but I’m a lot quicker to deliver!!

but. Enough. Her trademark knits in blues. Absolutely gorgeous. Thank you so much lovely @Yiayoula !

Phew! Thanks so much @KnottyAndPistey - am sure you have enough to do without hunting down missing parcels .
Very much appreciate your persistence, am relieved to be part of this beautiful tribute to Tom . Thank you ! xx

One last photo for you. I hope I haven’t already posted this one forgive me if I have, it is one of my favourites. So many of the recent ones show Tom in a hospital bed or not well at home. The ones I want to share are of the lovely, loving husband father and grandfather we all love and miss so very much. Thank you all for caring as well as for your beautiful contributions to the Hug 💐