Blanket for Matildawormwood: Sign up thread for crafters and donors.

[KnottyLocks]

We recently heard the devastating news that Matildawormwood's beautiful baby son, Daniel, was born sleeping.
Matilda's thread is here. Our thoughts are with Daniel and Matilda?s family.

We have offered to make a blanket and Matilda is very touched that people would do this for their family. We hope that the blanket may give whatever comfort it can to them all.

So, we need knitters and crocheters. If you would like to donate wool, then we can match you up with a crafter.
At the moment there is quite a lot of wool still in circulation because of the current blanket projects. Where possible, we hope to 'recycle' as much as we possibly can.

RatherBeOnThePiste will coordinate and match crafters and donors, and deal with the admin side. I'll try to answer any queries you may have and will put together the blanket.

If you would like to be involved in any way, please post on this thread and PM Pistey with your offers: crafting, donating, need wool, etc, and she will match you up.
If you are offering to donate, we would be grateful if you would let us know if you'd like to donate 1 or 2 balls of wool.

One ball should make at least 2 x 6' squares.
If you are a crocheter and/or an experienced knitter needing donor wool, could you let us know when you PM us as we can send part balls from the 'recycled' wool stash. Thanks.

The wool we are using:

• Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK (NOT the baby cashmerino)

• or Rowan Cashsoft DK.

They are very similar and can be combined.

• 4mm knitting needles or hooks

• knitters cast on 33 stitches (this is a guide for less experienced knitters)

• 6" squares

We are also introducing two new yarns:

*Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK.
It's another 'silky' wool that fits in nicely alongside the DB and Rowan wools and can be combined with both.

*Artesano Superwash Merino DK.
Although it isn't as silky as our normal wools, it is soft yet hardy and washes in the same way. It has the added appeal of being a good ethical option and is very reasonably priced.

The Colours:

Blues, greens and cream.

Ideas for squares:

The initials D and N

Motifs: Stars, trees, birds, hearts, snowdrops, sailing boats.

Please don't feel daunted by this as we really love plain squares and simple textures too. They look as stunning as the more complex squares and actually play a vital role in the overall effect.

Previous blankets can be seen on the WoollyHugs website. We also have a Facebook page: MNWoollyHugs.

As always, thank you so much for your support.

I'm really sorry.... I've had a moment and done something silly.... I've posted my squares without sewing in the ends. In my defence I made the squares last week but only got to post office today.

I remembered as I walked out of the post office and I'm very scared of the post mistress so couldn't ask for them back.

I'm not sure what punishment is appropriate but I accept it will involve a darning needle..... Sorry again.

Just back from posting my four squares? but despite getting there well before actual closing time, apparently I've missed the posting deadline, grrr. So they should be with you Tues, apols.

Squares are on their way now.

Posted my 7 squares this morning - enjoyed learning a new knitting technique on each one - this was the end result. :)

I'm still in the middle on one last square but that can probably wait until the next blanket that uses blue (I'm sure there will be another one :()

I was in a rush to get them in the post Knotty so I didn't put in any cards (I'll send them later) but you'll know the parcel is from me

Oh flip. I forgot to take pics again

Nessa, don't worry, my lovely. Post when you can

PastaBee, obviously that Post mistress is scarier than me then Don't worry about the ends, I'll sort them. Won't hold it against you this time

Minnie, Tuesday is fine, no worries.

PrettyBird, [thumbsup]

LookAtHerGo, can you email us at admin @ woollyhugs . com ? I'll take some pics and email them to you, if you like. As long as you put a note in to say they're yours obv!

Woolly Arrivals today from:

Mittz very lovely crochet and basketweave squares.

PippiL Gorgeous beestitch, super snuggly

Pleiades beautiful kingfisher crochet

And....

without a name:

4 snugglies in cream, blues and minty green from North of the boarder. Anyone claiming them?

Evening

I'm pretty sure I know who the unnamed North of the border squares are from. I shall send a PM.

And lovely Trumpton..... I do need a Bodkin. Maybe you'd like to come over?!

On my way ! Oh sorry got loads on this week ! Gah wish I could sleep !

Lovely Trumpton, hope you are asleep now, if not, I pass you matchsticks X

I had a parcel arrive for the Blanket Projects yesterday, a special delivery that needed signing for, but we were out, so I shall go and collect it on my way to work tomorrow morning.

Slept from 5.30 untill 7 so not too bad . I actually use bodkins not matchsticks to keep my eyelids open doncha know

I am knitting/crocheting 2 blankets, one each for my DC's. They will eventually be Double bed sized and I am hoping to do the reverse in a material quilting back.

Progress is slow and many of the squares are based on similar stitch patterns but people on here have inspired me to try and learn a new stitch every dozen or so squares and I am working on my very first Bee stitch square.

I am right chuffed with myself

Prettybird, your squares are amazing! Could you ever be persuaded to divulge the tree pattern please?

I'm so sorry for not keeping up with the thread. Thanks Pistey for sending wool, it's very kind of you. I've done two squares which I will post.

Thanks to my brilliant donor - I think I can guess from the thread who you are - I appreciate your efforts in getting the wool sent and will post when it arrives. Thanks!

Hello, just to say that my squares went in the post this morning. A plain one and a slightly less successful striped one. My first try at stripes so hope they're ok ish. Talk about pesky ends though!

Search Minniebar's posts with "apple tree" in the text - it was her pattern. I mention earlier how I adapted it - but it is possible to do the full pattern with casting on 33 stitches and truncating the trunk.

Ps meant to add my apologies for not posting on Sat- DS took a very keen interest in using his potty, so I couldn't pass up the chance to start using it. meant I was too scared to leave the house all day though

Posted this on the wrong thread. Now posting this in the right thread for mothmagnet

This is the apple tree pattern Minniebar linked to. You need to subscribe to be able to download it - although there's no cost.

The pattern prints out ridiculously small, so you need to blow up the chart bit to be able to decipher it or maybe that is just my aging eyes

Casting on 33 stitiches and then working the central bit of the pattern (the extra stitches you make once the you start knitting the branches are "compenstated" for by the cabling), making the trunk only about 10 rows long works out OK for a 6" square. You need to watch the decreases at the top of the tree - because they are "outwith" the central bit of the pattern that you are following, it's easy to miss doing them.

The other thing I'd recommend is doing it in a lighter coloyur than dark forest green, so that it is easier to see where you are in the row or maybe that's my eyes again - especially as you are not following the pattern exactly.

Thanks prettybird, and also for the extra tips I've tried cabling for a blanket project before but found it kept 'shrinking' and it was impossible (for my small brain) to calculate how many stitches to cast on - your info is brilliant.

I have joined Ravelry in the past, they have some amazing patterns but hadn't seen that one. I'll dig out my password. Weirdly, I was thinking about how well the pattern stood out in a darker colour, maybe I'll try both light and dark.

Thanks for the link and post.

Afternoon

Woolly treasure arriving today from:

PrettyBird stunning knits and some sweet treats, many thanks [thumbsup]

PastaBee lovely cream and blue squares ignores peskys

AllMuddledUp gorgeous blues. The boat is perfect, it's not wonky just sailing on the crest of a wave

LandOfSoapAndGlory blue and pale green knits, absolutely lovely

AnathemaDevice Oi! this is lovely crochet, don't think otherwise, I simply won't have it!

LookAtHerGo Fabulous crochet. Pics been taken again

Mejon beautiful green garter stich knits and a snuggly moss stitch

DontCallMeBaby lovely stripey square

TodaysaGoodDay smashing snuggly green

And yesterday's squares have been claimed:

StressedHEMum they are lovely, even the blue one

thank you, lovely woolly folk

Wow, there's loads

Don't eat it all at once Knotty - you did demand ask for some more, claiming a faulty batch !