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Woolly hugs

Woolly Hugs is a charity established by a group of Mumsnet users. They knit / crochet handmade blankets and other items for families experiencing difficult times.

Original poster

Very sadly another blanket is needed, for Chipmonkey....

726 replies

RatherBeOnThePiste · 06/10/2011 22:22

We have heard the dreadfully sad news that Chipmonkey's baby daughter died unexpectedly this week. Condolence thread is here Chipmonkey has said tonight that she would love to receive a MN blanket.

Because Knotty is snowed under a mountain of wool, I am taking on the coordination for this, so if you are a donor or a crafter needing a match - please PM me and I will match you up. I know there is an amazing army of donor, knitter and crochet stars, and I am hoping that you will feel able to help with this blanket too.

So if you feel that you can help, please PM me with your offers: crafting, donating, need wool, don't need wool, and I will sort it all out, and when you are ready to post, PM me for the address.

I will have to get back on the deadline...

But thank you in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/10/2011 19:55

Bloody Hell Pidj, you make that yourself?!!

OP posts:
TheRealMBJ · 19/10/2011 19:56

I do want to help though, because, I really don't want to see compassion fatigue happening and them coming to an end, BUT it really can't go on like this, relying on the same (less than) handful of people doing all the work.

Original poster
RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/10/2011 19:58

I think Whatever's blanket is 81 squares...

OP posts:
TheRealMBJ · 19/10/2011 20:02

I think that part of the problem is that most confident, experienced crafters are all too aware of just how much work goes into making up a blanket while the rest are largely oblivious.

SoupDragon · 19/10/2011 20:10

I am both aware of the amount of work involved yet completely inexperienced and unconfident :)

purplewerepidj · 19/10/2011 20:17

Edgar's was 5'x5' so 100 squares.

Rinders' and Blondes' ended up 6'x4' so 96 squares each

The raffle blanket is 4'x4', or 64 squares.

Magic's three are also 4'x4'

That's a metric fuckload of generosity from MNers already! Grin

Original poster
RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/10/2011 20:30

I shall steal the phrase metric fuckload of generosity Pidj and pass it off as my own Grin

I think these blankets are truly amazing, I really do, and will support them in any way I can, be that admin, collection, Parcel Piste in my motorised beast, donating, knitting possibly even one day crochet But sadly that all falls short of the bit that is needed.

OP posts:
TheRealMBJ · 19/10/2011 21:01

Sorry Soupy I didn't mean any insult anyone.

purplewerepidj · 19/10/2011 21:01

Nope, it's all important!! We just need to spread things out a bit more Grin

Also, I'm now known all over mumsnet as the "person who does blankets". Some fucker's nominated me for a Christmas pressie Angry very kind of them but I'm just the fronthooker - there's an imperial shitload of people who have contributed to this project, of which I just happen to be the most memorable!

NellVarnishedInAPuffOfSmoke · 19/10/2011 21:04

I just want to say Thanks to all you co-ordinators, collectors, deliverers and sewing togetherers - you are doing a marvellous job to manage the projects you have already, together with families and work. I know it is an enormous job to sew a blankie together - I barely managed a scarf.

If my sewing together didn't look like it was cobbled together by a hobbit with a blindfold on, then I would gladly do it but it would look a bugger.

I'd better stick to the squares and the lurid flowers. [hgrin]

LadyWellian · 19/10/2011 21:04

Afraid I also lack both the skills and the time for the assembly (though Pidj I may still take you up on that offer of tea and cake crochet lessons one day).

If this ends up being a burden - which I sense it may be becoming - then we lose the spirit of it a bit. When Edgar's son died it was such an outpouring - we can't become a production line. I can knock up a few squares here and there but if that's actually adding to the stress of the few who have the skills and commitment to assemble the blankets then it's not really helping anyone.

I'm aware this sounds a bit harsh and heartless and isn't probably coming across as I mean it to, but I hope you understand what I mean. We're just a bunch of normal Grin folk at the end of the day, not some kind of woolly superheroes.

Original poster
RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/10/2011 21:08

Pidj - make up your mind love, are we imperial or metric?!!

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 19/10/2011 21:09

I don't think anyone could have foreseen from the first blanket that it would take off the way it has.

Original poster
RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/10/2011 21:10

If the blankets were actually sewn together, not hooked, I really could do that bit. Maybe they need to be assembled differently to make them more manageable? Then they could have their crocheted border at the end.

OP posts:
purplewerepidj · 19/10/2011 21:15

They're hooked together because that's what I find easiest! My hand sewing always comes up too tight. Other things work for other people. There's absolutely no reason why the blankets shouldn't be sewn together.

I'm pretty sure it's possible to knit a border then sew that on? Although tbh, one single line of crochet with a few hearts scattered on it seems easier imo...

angelpantser · 19/10/2011 21:17

I can't commit to anything this side of Christmas but would be happy to take a turn on construction in the New Year. Don't know if I'm of the standard to do Pidj's trademark edging but if you're happy with a double crochet edging I'll give it a go.

KnottyLocks · 19/10/2011 21:19

Angel, I'm not doing a Pidj's edge either. Picot here!

purplewerepidj · 19/10/2011 21:21

it's not that hard even i can do it Confused

TheRealMBJ · 19/10/2011 21:22

Well said LadyWellian if it becomes a 'production line' then the spirit is lost Sad

Original poster
RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/10/2011 21:23

So no reason why they need to be hooked together? Could be done differently to make it more accessible to more volunteers? LIke me?!
That may well help share the load better, more volunteers may come forward... And they don't all need to be done in the same way.

OP posts:
LadyWellian · 19/10/2011 21:24

Hahahaha Pidj you should see what happens when I pick up a crochet hook!

KnottyLocks · 19/10/2011 21:24

I really don't think we need to create a thread for general debate though. It needs to be discussed by those who understand what's involved. It'd be far to easy to comment and pass judgement on who should have a blanket without understanding the efforts involved in making that blanket happen.

I actually feel quite uncomfortable about people judging fullstop. It all starts to became impersonal in a bizarre way.

LadyWellian · 19/10/2011 21:26

Absolutely, Knotty. Finding it really hard to put my thoughts together on this but you're right on the money there.

KnottyLocks · 19/10/2011 21:30

The other trouble is we have sort of become a victim of the success of the blankets.

I honestly don't feel overwhelmed by what I've chosen to take on. However, I had a very realistic idea of what was involved already. The making up is actually not arduous for me. The pressure is from the expectations; from handling people's lovely work and knowing you need to do it justice. self-imposed maybe, but It's a pressure none the less.

KnottyLocks · 19/10/2011 21:35

I also feel that although it would be great to have more makers, it could also work against us.

People would see far more blanket threads. Would they start to wash over them? Probably. Not just the issue of compassion fatigue though: the expectations would be far higher to provide a blanket for every one with more to make them. Then we'd be back to needing more crafters to make with the very real possibility of not enough wool and squares to make the blankets with.