Woolly Hugs. Part 2. The Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled

[KnottyAndPistey]

Welcome to the thread continuing our blanket making journey for the lovely Swashy and her daughter, in memory of their wonderful, precious Ted.

The blankets are finished and going in the post tomorrow. But I can see our original thread careering towards 1000 posts. And I’ve long had a motto that no gerbil should be left behind. So here is our safety thread in case!

Original thread is here…

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5350941-woolly-hugs-desperately-sad-news-we-are-afraid-making-a-blanket-for-lovely-swashbuckled-whose-son-has-tragically-died?reply=147168510

On behalf of the gerbils Maud wishes to say...

I ❤️ KnottyAndPistey

Thank you for the new thread. I’ve enjoyed reading about the progress of the blankets and the exploits of K & P’s furry visitors

Maud's on her way home.

I've followed this thread from start to finish and look forward to the day I can contribute financially as I can't crochet, knit etc but I also hope there isn't a need. But we know there will be. Every Woolly Hugs thread I read has me in tears and reminds me that 99% of posters are wonderful people. This has been a special thread as it has introduced me to Maud and clever posters who have produced the photos. Even if I am sad Maud isn't real. Apparently

I'm 100% sure Maud is real!

See... She's just arrived home.

And... She left @KnottyAndPistey a little going away present when she left.

But what is most definitely 100% real is that Swash's precious package is on its way.

Maud is definitely real, or I must be going absolutely mad, and I miss her little cheery face. Which I've seen is not so cheery this morning!

As I said on the old thread, obviously I am tracking our precious parcel, and I can see it is at a sorting office close to Swashy with the delivery time of before 1pm.

It makes me very twitchy when a blanket/s go out of my care and before they arrive!

Maud snuck real wine into her stuff to take home, and as the Bluestocking stuff doesn't cause hangovers she was a little shocked at what 4 bottles of real red wine can do to a gerbil.

She's taken her binge advil though, has eaten her breakfast and then we shoved her in the shower.

She's decided to take things slowly today and is currently refreshing mumsnet frequently as she waits for Swash's parcel to reach its destination.

It is out for delivery….

I hate this bit with parcels.

I'm twitchy for you!

I'm really excited to see the final blankets in all their glory. But I keep reminding myself that, for Swashy and Dr Swashy, it's not just an impressive piece of craft work, it's a reminder of the gaping hole left in their lives, and its arrival may be bittersweet so I should moderate my excitement accordingly.

I hope the precious cargo arrives safely and that Maud's hangover abates quickly.

So beautifully put, @AlexandraLeaving - exactly this.

They have arrived, safe and sound ❤️.

It has been so emotional to receive them, and open them, and see and touch all the work that has gone into creating these beautiful blankets. And the cushion!

I have read all your cards and messages too. I will, no doubt, read them again and again.

I have told Dr Swashy. She is away for a few days and on a train with a poor signal, but I have sent her some photos that she will, hopefully, be able to see when she arrives.

To be honest, I’ve been in pieces since opening them. Yes, it does touch against the gaping hole that has been left. But it touches against it so softly, and so gently, and it fills the hole with such warmth and love.

I have put mine on Bear’s bed and the hound has strict instructions about it being out of bounds. I am sending a photo.

I will never be able to thank you enough and (again) I feel the inadequacy of my words to convey what I am feeling towards you all. I see Bear in all the squares, and know you have held Bear in your thoughts as you have been holding your needles.

The workmanship is incredible. I can see that, and admire it in awe, but at the moment I am mostly in awe of this beautiful gesture that honours my Bear.

I wanted to write quickly to let you know they had arrived, and maybe my words would be better if I gave them more time to form, but I am writing any way.

Thank you all so much ❤️

Oh it is beautiful Swash.

The amazing skills of all those who knitted and crocheted the squares is evident, and @KnottyAndPistey has done a grand job of bringing them all together.

Whilst I couldn't contribute a square (I'd still be tied up in a ball of wool if I'd tried) hopefully my donation helped a few squares get knitted.

Even though nothing will ever lessen the pain of losing Bear I hope when you wrap the blanket around you it gives you some measure of comfort and helps you feel closer to him.

💙

What a beautiful blanket!

I'm so glad we made this and I hope it helps, as much as anything can help.

What a brilliant community 💙

I am so glad it's with you Lovely Swash, it truly is a Woolly Hug from so many. Love in every stitch. Always true. We send our love to all who love and miss Ted, we will remember him.

Now it is safely with you Swash, I feel we can share the pics I took, apologies if there are duplicates. Hope they give everyone an idea of how beautiful they were. Beautiful inside and out. Thank you one more time to the lovely crafters and donors of wool and funds. It took everyone. Thank you again for however you contributed, you made the difference.

💙💙Our photo album in full can be seen here 💙💙 Just click on the link.

💙

Oh, they are so beautiful, I didn't fully keep up with the last thread but it was lovely seeing it pop up in TIO every day with all the updates, my squares nearly went AWOL in the post but finally made it and it's so lovely to see them with all their fellow squares. Sending love.

That is indeed a very woolly hug. Wrap yourself up in the woolliness and feel the love that’s knitted into every stitch. X

Your 'unformed' words are beautiful, Swash and it's so lovely to see the blanket in its rightful place. Thinking of you and your daughter and so happy to have been part of this tribute to your lovely boy ❤️x

Thank you to everyone involved in making these blankets - especially @KnottyAndPistey for all their work organising and assembling them.

I have a tear in my eye at your words, @Swashbuckled, and I am sending you so much love right now.

Well done to all of the talented knitters and to Knotty and the organisers. Sending love and more woolly hugs to Swashbuckled ❤

Oh, what beautiful blankets! You crafty lot are amazing, you really are.

Sending much love to Swashbuckled.

Serious props to @KnottyAndPistey for bringing all of those squares together. The whole really is greater than the sum of its parts, though many of the parts were particularly great. So pleased that they have reached their destination and that love and care that went into each stitch has arrived too. Sending much love to the Swashes.

😢