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Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?

1000 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 02/03/2026 19:12

We bring such sad news, lovely wafflenose has lost her younger daughter (L) through tragic circumstances and we are just so desperately sorry, thoughts very much with waffle, her family and all who loved her daughter. Really really devastating. Life has been desperately cruel. You may well recognise waffle from music/education/Extra-curricular threads here on MN. Both her lovely daughters have been involved with Mumsnet.

We are so glad waffle would like to receive a Woolly Hug. For those new on here, this is a long standing tradition on Mumsnet where folk come together to make a blanket for one of our own who has been bereaved. There will be love crafted into every stitch. We want it to be a tribute and full of memories. We hope it may give whatever comfort it can.

People have described L as a quiet light, the gentlest of souls. Let us make something truly beautiful in her honour.

So we come again asking for help and shall need both crafters and donors of funds of wool. Can you help us? We would be truly grateful. Thank you

Important crafting info
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! No blocking please, makes it much easier to join squares.

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

We have some ideas for themes..
Initials please E, G, L and K

She played the recorder, the clarinet and the cello, but focused mainly on the clarinet latterly and played in the National Children's Orchestra Under 10s for a while. Her NCO hoodie was bright blue - a bit like Yarnsmith dark turquoise.

She loved art and reading and was very creative. Loved Harry Potter and would probably have been in Hufflepuff house had she been at Hogwarts.

She had a quirky mind and used to love lego.

She was quite a fashionista. Loved Vogue magazine and Miss Dior perfume

Favourite colours were pink and white (pink more than white).

English literature was the love of her life. We are hoping someone can recreate a bookshelf square? One of her favourite books was Jane Eyre. She had also been studying Plath and Hughes.

She loved swimming and the great outdoors, particular the Quantock Hills. (Photo) We are hoping this may act as an inspiration.

Work/volunteering: she did Brownies and Guides and volunteered as a Rainbow Guider and also volunteered on a hospital ward for a while. She worked as a waitress and at the village pub.

She was interested in philosophy and was planning to become a psychologist/counsellor.

She liked Fleetwood Mac.

She kept tropical fish, hamsters and gerbils and loved all other animals especially cats.

She also liked art and photography.

She was very passionate about being an organ donor - and several people have now received life-saving operations because of her. A truly wonderful young woman.

Lots of ideas and ways to get to know L better. If you can recreate a theme on a square, wonderful, but we also need simple squares, A square in one of her favourite colours is perfect too.

The MAIN Colours. We will be using her favourites,
Pinks from pale baby pink through to magenta.
Cream, but only please Drops Merino Extra Fine - Off White (01) or Yarnsmiths Merino DK Superwash - Off White (3045)
Lighter silvers
Greens pale to mid. Think nature inspired

Then embellishments and accents ONLY please (not whole squares)
Blues - sky to navy inc turquoise.
Sunset shades - red, orange, yellow, gold, but only if creating a sunset!
Browns taupe to mid
Charcoal grey
Black

The Yarn we will be Using for Consistency ….
Yarnsmiths Merino DK Superwash - a BIG sale at Wool Warehouse. Has the widest range of colours
Debbie Bliss Rialto DK only available on Love Crafts
Drops Merino Extra Fine DK.
Katia Merino 100% DK
King Cole Luxury Merino DK

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 or have become less easy to find- Artesano Superwash Merino DK, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK, Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK, Patons Merino Extrafine DK or James C. Brett Pure Merino DK in your stash, please do use them.

Posting will be Teddington, please message if you need the address. If you'd like to include a card for her family , please send with your squares. And please don't forget to include your name!

If you can upload photos of your squares on here as we go along, that will be a lovely record, especially if you have donated yarn.

Will set the last posting date once we are underway but it will be approx 6 weeks hence

Thoughts and love very much with waffle, we are so so sorry. Remembering L Star

Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
360
Boiledbeetle · 08/03/2026 12:41

MyrtleLion · 08/03/2026 11:43

I asked ChatGPT about that and it came back with the following :

It’s a mixture of natural talent and rigorous training.

Gerbils like Maud are usually identified very young as showing promise in the key professional areas:

  • tray carrying
  • beverage preparation
  • cake judgement
  • cat diplomacy

Those with potential are sent to Gerbil School of Domestic Excellence, where the curriculum is quite demanding.

Typical subjects include:

Year 1 – Foundations

  • Basic tray balance
  • Biscuit arrangement theory
  • Introductory tea pouring
  • Avoiding stepping in knitting needles

Year 2 – Applied Skills

  • Coffee machine operation
  • Cake portion geometry
  • Negotiation with cats, dogs, and occasionally toddlers
  • Emergency Battenberg procurement

Advanced studies (Maud’s level)

  • Multi-tasking hospitality management
  • Sofa-based morale support
  • Television programme evaluation
  • Strategic Dreamies negotiations and allocation.

Not every gerbil graduates. Some unfortunately specialise in cake nibbling and chaos, which is clearly the educational background of the neighbour’s gerbil you encountered earlier.

Maud, however, is clearly a top-of-class graduate. You can always tell by the professionalism, the tray discipline, and the absolute confidence around hot beverages.

She looked lovely on the day.

I wish she'd worn shoes for the photo but she had to follow the ridiculous gerbil school rule of removing her shoes indoors!

Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?
Boiledbeetle · 08/03/2026 12:53

ifIwerenotanandroid · 08/03/2026 11:48

She likes to get into the spirit of things (or did her litter-brother Maurice come to visit? - she looks different somehow).

Camera filters. She was trying to see what her outfit would look like in red and pressed too many filter options!

Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?
Boiledbeetle · 08/03/2026 12:55

The squares that are starting to appear are amazing.

💐

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 08/03/2026 13:14

@Fairyfellowsmasterstroke those are stunning! I’m sticking to my knitting at the moment. I’m flighty when it comes to craft and this year resolved to actually finish things rather than bitting and bobbing about. So as the Woolly Hugs page says plain squares are needed too, plainer squares is what I’ll do. I’m sure they’ll set off the magnificent ones nicely. I can do one a night.

Babsandherwabs · 08/03/2026 13:59

Ta da! Just posting for approval basically before I continue on 😁 I did one corner wrong but it doesn’t actually notice much so will send it along anyway.

Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?
AlexandraLeaving · 08/03/2026 14:01

What wonderful squares these all are. The blanket is going to be fabulous.

@bookbook thank you especially for the effort that went into the donor card. That will be very much appreciated by the family.

I've just screwed up my bookcase square by mis-spelling 'Jane Eyre' so will spend the afternoon delicately unpicking instead of moving forwards. Sigh.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 08/03/2026 14:11

AlexandraLeaving · 08/03/2026 14:01

What wonderful squares these all are. The blanket is going to be fabulous.

@bookbook thank you especially for the effort that went into the donor card. That will be very much appreciated by the family.

I've just screwed up my bookcase square by mis-spelling 'Jane Eyre' so will spend the afternoon delicately unpicking instead of moving forwards. Sigh.

I've just knitted a shelf of books but I feel it needs titles, etc on them. Am afraid to start In case I !"£$ it up.

AlexandraLeaving · 08/03/2026 14:30

ifIwerenotanandroid · 08/03/2026 14:11

I've just knitted a shelf of books but I feel it needs titles, etc on them. Am afraid to start In case I !"£$ it up.

I totally get you! I am persevering with my not very neat but at least legible titling but it may have been as much of a mistake as the spelling of Jane Eyre... I am sure you will do a much better job than I'm doing.

I really need to get started on her music instead of fannying around with poor lettering.

Yiayoula · 08/03/2026 15:02

Yesterday’s expected visitors struck down by cold virus, so able to press on with the knitting .
My usual hearts and stars, plus a bit of green and silver Drops Merino added in to represent the Quantocks.
With love in every stitch to Wafflenose and her family . 🩷 xx

Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?
Boiledbeetle · 08/03/2026 17:29

Maud has outdone herself today. Look at that Sundat roast.

Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?
Freya1542 · 08/03/2026 17:31

Boiledbeetle · 08/03/2026 17:29

Maud has outdone herself today. Look at that Sundat roast.

That looks divine, loving the gerbil twist on sunday @Boiledbeetle

Boiledbeetle · 08/03/2026 17:50

Freya1542 · 08/03/2026 17:31

That looks divine, loving the gerbil twist on sunday @Boiledbeetle

😁

SeptemberIRemember · 08/03/2026 18:07

Yiayoula · 08/03/2026 15:02

Yesterday’s expected visitors struck down by cold virus, so able to press on with the knitting .
My usual hearts and stars, plus a bit of green and silver Drops Merino added in to represent the Quantocks.
With love in every stitch to Wafflenose and her family . 🩷 xx

Lovely squares, @Yiayoula. I’m glad you posted as I was just about to cast on for a heart, in the same colours, too.

Did you use a design from Jan Eaton’s 200 Knitted Blocks? It looks very similar. 💖

There are plenty of other patterns to choose from. 💖

Yiayoula · 08/03/2026 18:17

Thanks, @SeptemberIRemember !

The squares are from a Debbie Bliss “knit along” baby blanket project that I found online years ago.
I’m on the waitlist at the library for that Jan Eaton book , you’ve just jogged my memory.
Think I may look into buying my own copy as have been waiting ages now !

IoWfairy · 08/03/2026 18:45

I promised a watery square, with swimming in mind. What I have actually created has vibes more reminiscent of ‘lard-up for a midwinter cross-channel swim’ than ‘relaxing dip in a tropical pool’.
It’s also not exactly geometrically square but it’s quite flexible so I hope that whoever gets to assemble our creations can pull it into shape - 😬 Sorry!

Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?
SeptemberIRemember · 08/03/2026 18:48

@Yiayoula The heart square in the Jan Eaton book uses almost exactly the same number of rows and stitches as my 6” square, one of my reasons for choosing it.

I do recommend it as a source book, although imagining it as containing patterns for 200 different squares is a bit of a reach.

IoWfairy · 08/03/2026 18:50

However, on the plus side, I have also finished a Dior inspired square which is square.
God help me, those ends….!

Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?
AlexandraLeaving · 08/03/2026 19:54

I sorted the spelling on JaneEyre and have finished my bookshelf. I think it would probably have been better without the titles but am not going to remove them now they’re done. Made with love is the key I guess.

Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?
ifIwerenotanandroid · 08/03/2026 21:41

AlexandraLeaving · 08/03/2026 19:54

I sorted the spelling on JaneEyre and have finished my bookshelf. I think it would probably have been better without the titles but am not going to remove them now they’re done. Made with love is the key I guess.

That's lovely. I knitted my books in & though I tried one bit of surface stitching, I didn't like it so I unpicked it.

MyrtleLion · 08/03/2026 23:54

AlexandraLeaving · 08/03/2026 19:54

I sorted the spelling on JaneEyre and have finished my bookshelf. I think it would probably have been better without the titles but am not going to remove them now they’re done. Made with love is the key I guess.

That's gorgeous. I'm so glad you did stitch the titles 💙

KnottyAndPistey · 09/03/2026 08:02

Me too Myrtle!

Good morning folks. There’s some astonishing treasure on this thread. Just wow! And soooooo quick. My yarn is still
sitting on the table. In its organza!

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 09/03/2026 08:03

Boiledbeetle · 08/03/2026 17:29

Maud has outdone herself today. Look at that Sundat roast.

I’ve still in a food slumber after the roast yesterday. 😃

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 09/03/2026 08:06

Boiledbeetle · 08/03/2026 12:53

Camera filters. She was trying to see what her outfit would look like in red and pressed too many filter options!

If you think Maud sits too close, her little chum likes this position. Especially for the F1.

Woolly Hugs. A blanket for lovely wafflenose who has tragically lost her daughter. Can you help us please?
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 09/03/2026 08:07

MyrtleLion · 08/03/2026 11:43

I asked ChatGPT about that and it came back with the following :

It’s a mixture of natural talent and rigorous training.

Gerbils like Maud are usually identified very young as showing promise in the key professional areas:

  • tray carrying
  • beverage preparation
  • cake judgement
  • cat diplomacy

Those with potential are sent to Gerbil School of Domestic Excellence, where the curriculum is quite demanding.

Typical subjects include:

Year 1 – Foundations

  • Basic tray balance
  • Biscuit arrangement theory
  • Introductory tea pouring
  • Avoiding stepping in knitting needles

Year 2 – Applied Skills

  • Coffee machine operation
  • Cake portion geometry
  • Negotiation with cats, dogs, and occasionally toddlers
  • Emergency Battenberg procurement

Advanced studies (Maud’s level)

  • Multi-tasking hospitality management
  • Sofa-based morale support
  • Television programme evaluation
  • Strategic Dreamies negotiations and allocation.

Not every gerbil graduates. Some unfortunately specialise in cake nibbling and chaos, which is clearly the educational background of the neighbour’s gerbil you encountered earlier.

Maud, however, is clearly a top-of-class graduate. You can always tell by the professionalism, the tray discipline, and the absolute confidence around hot beverages.

It’s all quite intense isn’t it? 😱

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 09/03/2026 08:13

I believe she only scraped a pass in ‘cake portion geometry’ because ( love her dearly) but I find that quite chaotic. I mean she TRIES

OP posts:
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