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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:
KnottyLocks · 20/10/2011 08:27

Righty ho, it's off to work I go.

Arse Grin

greenzebra · 20/10/2011 08:59

Ive just been reading through the debate on here and I just wanted to send you all some Wine and Thanks blanket making in a big process, I should know I have made a few, (I make one for evey baby I know) and I have made in total 4 blankets over the summer. Most these are crocheted in rows, so dont take as long as crocheting squares together, though I have done one of these this year too, and my didnt it take a long time! I really commend you ladies who have taken it to task to sew them together either with a crochet hook or not. When I did mine they were all edged the squares so it made it easier to put them together so sewing together different squares must be a real undertaking.

I agree with what some of the girls have said, we are not a production line, if we start to produce the same blankets its not the same. Some people contribute so much to this forum that its the people they have touched that decide to pull together to make something or start a collection. Thats what is so nice about it, its done off the bat by people that person has touched in some way. We can't just start to make blankets for everyone.

This is the first blanket I have contributed to, and I only did this because chipmonkeys story touched my heart, as I lost my daughter to stillbirth earlier this year. I have seen the other threads and thought it was a lovely jesture that people were doing this, but I never for a second thought about joining as I didnt know the poster.

I think it needs to stay the way it is at the moment very organic, in its structure. People want to help so they helped, we cant be a production line.

Sorry this is a huge post Blush

pistey I have made the squares. did them last night. So can you pm your address to me. thank you.

TheRealMBJ · 20/10/2011 09:06

I do agree about the production line thing, but sometimes I thing it is important to highlight just how much responsibility is falling on a few individuals.

I know we all greatly appreciate knotty, pidj and the organisers's efforts but because they have been so willing and able to take in the huge task, they now feels responsibility.

I agree that the organic, individual nature of the blankets are what makes them special.

Hmmm... I don't know.

purplewerepidj · 20/10/2011 09:33

Sorry Thumby, only about the first sentence of my post was aimed at you, the rest was general Blush That'll teach me to put people's names in my posts Blush

Just to reiterate - I have never felt unappreciated by all you lovely people. Overwhelmed with too much appreciation and attention, yes, but I think that's probably a good thing Blush

Thzumbazombiewitch · 20/10/2011 09:52

S'ok pidj - in the end it was a discussion that needed to be had so we're all clear on the process and how MUCH work it involves. :)

TimeForCake · 20/10/2011 09:57

This is extremely difficult isn't it? I agree with many things that have been said, especially about the huge undertaking it must be to construct the final blanket. And yes, it cannot always fall to the same volunteers. There are no easy answers are there?

I would add though, that having first started to contribute to Edgar's blanket and having carried on doing so for a lot of the others, I don't think people only contribute to MNetters they "know". I don't think I had read posts by Edgar, Blondes, Magic or any of the others but felt so desperately sad for them that I wanted to help. Not really relevant I know! I do agree it is most appropriate for regular MNetters though, for want of a better phrase. So hard to be eloquent and concise when typing!
Glad to hear you will be a crochet begonia too Pistey!
Thanks to all, as always.

LadyWellian · 20/10/2011 10:02

I spent most of last night dreaming about crocheting blankets together, and there was a big line of MNers (obviously my brain had to make up what they looked like) who were our recipients so far.

So no matter what I say, it seems my subconscious thinks I should learn to crochet.

Whenisitmysleepytime · 20/10/2011 12:17

I've been reading along with the debate and it is so tricky balancing all the different needs of all parties involved. I have no answers. Only much admiration for those who put themselves out for someone else. Thanks

Lady w - I too had knitting related dreams! Too many ore-bed wooly thoughts I think. Lord only knows how those stitching them up get and wool free dreams! Shock

Original poster
RatherBeOnThePiste · 20/10/2011 14:35

Smile Lunchtime!

I also had woolly dreams last night, one of those busy, confusing ones where you are looking for, but can't find someone, and it was definitely to do with the blankets. I got up this morning feeling quite exhausted! Zzzzzzzzzzzz....

I feel grateful to everyone that this debate is taking place. Lots of interesting views and ideas. Still not sure how it moves on from here.

Thanks greenzebra I have PMd you. You surely must knit with the speed of a thousand gazelles Grin

Thanks TerrysNo2 - PMd you too

fabbychic - the wool is on its way and will be with you tomorrow morning.

TimeForCake - Yes an Absolute Begonia! Going on a four hour crochet course on Saturday. Really not sure how it will go, but I have High Hopes.

Is anyone still waiting for wool from a donor? Nelly - did any come for you today my lovely?

This is just for Soupy because she is bound to have forgotten.....
Squares for Chipmonkey to me please by Friday 28th October

So hungry now, I need to find nosh or I'll end up eating the cat....

OP posts:
TheRealMBJ · 20/10/2011 15:17

Four hour course? You'll be a pro by the end. Hope you enjoy it.

purplewerepidj · 20/10/2011 15:21

A butcher friend once told me that the difference between a cat and a rabbit is one rib...

greenzebra · 20/10/2011 15:22

its takes me about half an hour per square, Im not fast, Im just using one colour, thought some plain squares would look good in the blanket. And the ball only did two squares. Sad but its lovely wool, I shall keep it in mind for future projects.

greenzebra · 20/10/2011 15:23

oh and crochet is faster.

SongBirdsKeepSinging · 20/10/2011 15:26

Must be something in the air I too had dreams about wool!

I was walking through a forest of knitted trees looking for my dd....when I found her she was a knitted rag doll and was carrying dd2 who had turned into a cat.....what make you of that?!

Has anyone asked mnhq if they have any suggestions on finding more volunteers to make up the blankets? It's brilliant as has already been said, that there are so many crafters and donors but we can't expect the same few people to do the hardest task all the time.

KnottyLocks · 20/10/2011 16:28

SongBird, it looks very likely I'll being seeing some MNHQ lovely folks next week. Blankets will be discussed as I stuff my face with their cake.

GhoulishGlendaFestersAgain · 20/10/2011 17:16

I don't know if it's too late to help anyone, but Kemps Wool shop, online, has a few balls of Cashsoft, in shade Admiral, very cheap indeed here Thats the only shade though, is it too reddish? looks more deep pink to me

SongBirdsKeepSinging · 20/10/2011 18:56

Oooo knotty I hope they provide lots of yummy cake :)

The blankets are so amazing I hope a solution is found.

TerrysNo2 · 20/10/2011 20:46

4.5 inches down so only 1.5 to go! I think I must be a slow knitter as this is about 2 hours worth for me so far. Is there anywhere I can pick up tips to learn to knit faster?

I have also completely made up my stitch based on a "modified linen stitch" I am doing on a jumper for DH so I hope you will like it! Smile

duchesse · 20/10/2011 21:32

Thank you, not so mystery donor! One green, one silver arrived some time while I was away- possibly today.

SoupDragon · 20/10/2011 21:40

You know I'll miss the deadline no matter how often you post it. I'm crap at deadlines. :o

LadyWellian · 20/10/2011 21:50

Soupy I think it's 5 November?

[hides]

SoupDragon · 20/10/2011 21:55

Fabulous. 8th Nov it is then.

[snigger]

Thzumbazombiewitch · 20/10/2011 22:48

Duchesse - hurrah! thanks for letting me know. :)

mothmagnet · 20/10/2011 23:34

If the blankets could be sewn together, I'd be able to help put a section together - with instructions if possible Smile.
I've sewn blankets together before and know it's such a huge task, let alone if you feel the responsibility of everyone's work.

Maybe there could be a central coordinator who could receive and sort the squares into good 'sets' and then send them out in blocks of twenty - thirtyish, then the parts sent back for final assemblage? I know it's still a lot of work but may help. Also, there's the issue of postage (a fund?) and the crocheted edges, which I'm not sure about.

I think the blankets are brilliant and am amazed to read here how many have been made and are under construction by so few people.

purplewerepidj · 21/10/2011 07:04

The edging is very simple, it just looks complicated written down Angry Wink