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

[KnottyAndPistey]

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

@KnottyAndPistey a couple of my friends had PayPal donations bounce back as undeliverable. I have suggested they go via the website or contact you on here. I hope that is ok. They really wanted to support this blanket.

@Boiledbeetle I found blossom crochet videos good. Also attic 24 has diagrams/photos on her webpage which are helpful. Another good thing is finding a little course near you. Good luck it is definitely lots of patience and persistence!

It’s two Lls in WOOLLY

it catches folk every time

thank you. I can help them hopefully

Maud and Fawley fell asleep waiting by the window. I had to carry them to bed. I darent tell them about Monday yet.

Oh bless them. Being on window watching duty is tiring work.

Could you get up before them on Monday and say you've already seen the postie delivering to next door so obviously no post at Woolly Hugs HQ.

Or give them a bottle of window cleaner and some cloths to while away the time whilst they are waiting.

So cute when asleep.

Thank you.

When I can pick up the courage to go near the crochet hook again I shall check those out.

Maybe I could pop mine in an envelope, pop them on the mat?

Oooh! Yes! Do that! If more than one stick them in different envelopes with way too much sellotape on them. That will keep them occupied for a while.

I've put mine in the post today.

I couldn't crochet for years but cracked it during lockdown. I can only do granny squares and hearts and stars. Cannot seem to progress haven't the patience to progress beyond that. I can't remember which video worked for me but it wasn't Bella Coco. I had to keep pausing and replaying. But, once I "got" it, my fingers suddenly knew what to do. And so much easier to undo than knitting. I really want to be able to do some of these fancy squares - they are so gorgeous.

We have treasure!!

💐 @EnchantedDaydream ⭐️ Two beautifully crocheted squares in soft pink and sage. Gorgeous.

Thank you!

💐 @Igneococcus ⭐️ Such gorgeous knits. Beautiful textures. Delicious colours. And chocolate! I must hide this from Maud.

Thank you!

💐 @Bearfrills ⭐️ Super crochet. So very beautiful. So much detail. Gorgeous.

Thank you!

Isn’t our blanket going to be just stunning?
❤️

Maud is very impressed with @EnchantedDaydream squares.

And Maud thinks these are lovely squares @Igneococcus

She wants to know where the chocolate is. She can smell it but it appears to have disappeared.

On seeing so many beautiful squares Maud went into filter overload.

She has now gone in to an image time out.

At some point she might be able to get her photo with @Bearfrills squares correct.

It's a work in progress.

She may have to look at them individually when her image allowance resets!

It truly will be. But that's hardly surprising given the so many talented women that have made squares.

What a beautiful bumper delivery day!

Does Maud know about tomorrow's Easter egg hunt?

@Igneococcus at the moment she is 2/3 hot cross bun, I daren’t mention Easter Eggs.

😲

And yet she persuades you to give her more.

She's only small where is she putting them all?

That's the face I make as well if someone hands me a hot cross bun.