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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.

A Blanket for Expat: Sign up thread for donors, knitters and crocheters.

870 replies

KnottyLocks · 10/07/2012 14:25

It is with deep sadness that I'm starting this thread asking for your support.

Aillidh passed away on Saturday evening, in peace and surrounded by love.
Many of us have followed Aillidh's journey, our hearts touched by this brave and beautiful little girl. She will live long in our memories.

Our hearts and thoughts are with Aillidh, Expat and their family.

As part of this project, we will also be making a blanket for Giraffescantdance. Since Aillidh's diagnosis, Giraffe's has been a constant support and the most remarkable friend to Expat. She has walked this journey beside her and continues to do so, sadly understanding it only too well as she, like Expat, has experienced the devastating loss of a beloved daughter. Our thoughts are with her, as well as our thanks.

We hope that the blankets may give whatever comfort they can to them all.

So, we need knitters, crocheters and donors.
If you would like to donate wool, then we will try match you with a crafter.
We think that there may be wool still in circulation because of the current blanket project. 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.

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, in some cases more. We now have a Paypal facility to make this easier for all.
Whatever way you'd like to be involved, please PM Pistey: it really helps us to know how many people are involved. Thanks

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 hopefully 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

The two new yarns we introduced recently:

*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:

Pinks, blues, greens, warm purples, silvers and cream (preferably Debbie Bliss 013, if possible)

Ideas for squares:

The initials A, L, S , R and E

Motifs:
Aillidh loved all things girly, so any motifs that reflect this would be wonderful.
Plus roses and bears

Please don't feel daunted by any of the ideas 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 here on the Woolly Hugs website. We also have a Facebook page: MNWoollyHugs and are on Twitter @MNWoollyHugs. If you 'like' our Facebook page, you'll be updated on progress via your News Feed.

As always, we thank you so much for your support.

Thanks Thanks Thanks

OP posts:
KnottyLocks · 12/07/2012 08:02

Birnam, send Pistey a PM to let her know. Many thanks.

I'm off to work too, but will check in later.

Thanks, everyone Thanks

OP posts:
Primrose123 · 12/07/2012 12:45

My wool has arrived. Thank you!

Whenisitmysleepytime · 12/07/2012 13:18

wool has arrived here too! :)

Thank you to K Mc lovely cream and dark blue/ indigo debbie bliss from cucumberpatch.

the hook will be out tonight! :)

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/07/2012 13:42

Such good news that wool is arriving with crafters - well done the donors!

Just working through all PMs, but I must say we have had the most amazing response, so touching and heartwarming. Thanks

BupcakesandCunting · 12/07/2012 14:03

Hello lovely blanket people :)

I have just donated via the Wolly Hugs page as I am useless at crocheting and had a bit of a game getting the right wool for the last blanket I donated for. So I hope that's OK, someone who knows what they're doing can buy some on my behalf! Thanks

Thanks Thanks Thanks

Pancakeflipper · 12/07/2012 14:19

My wool arrived today. Which is Thank you to the lovely donor whoever you are. You are lovely and the wool is the most beautiful aubergine purple.

Pancakeflipper · 12/07/2012 14:20

Sorry - I interupted my own sentence - meant to say which is a quick turn around as only PM'd Pistey on Tues.

Pancakeflipper · 12/07/2012 14:23

OOh just looked at the delivery note and it say is from a K.M. any relation to Sam?????

Thank you lovely K.M - honestly the wool is divine and when I pack it for posting I always give it a a little X, will add one from you.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/07/2012 14:31

We do have such super speedy donors! Honestly they are amazing Thanks

Bupcakes - we are all sorted, thank you so much, you have a PM from me, and you are a lovely blanket person too, donors and crafters alike are fabulous Blanketeers Smile

rubycon · 12/07/2012 14:43

My wool came today, thank you so much - needles at the ready!

amalur · 12/07/2012 14:47

I have pm'd pistey as I also would like to contribute to this generous effort. I too followed Aillidh story and found it too much to bear.

aJumpedUpPantryBoy · 12/07/2012 17:08

My wool has arrived - thank you so much to my donor. I hope I can do it justice

ExitPursuedByABear · 12/07/2012 17:32

I've just placed my wool order - sorry to my knitter that you might be later starting than some others.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/07/2012 17:39

Hey, no apologies needed lovely Exit! Very many thanks for donating the wool, you are marvellous. We [heart] the donors, we really do, couldn't manage without them, perfect teamwork. You are luffly, so no apologies!

Good news that lots of wool is arriving safely, will just wait a bit longer for those coming home from work, and then do a full list of lovely donors to thank. X

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

PurplePidjin · 12/07/2012 17:44
Thanks
IvanaNap · 12/07/2012 19:39

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn as this poster has privacy concerns.

Wolfcub · 12/07/2012 19:57

I'd like to try, I have crocheted part of a farm in the past but that was a long long time ago, I might be able to manage a plain square, will supply own wool and have pm'd Pistey

bluebump · 12/07/2012 20:00

I am happy to make some squares for both blankets. Let me know if I need to get my own wool.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/07/2012 20:16

Lots of lovely donors to thank tonight, your wool has arrived safely with your crafter, or your donation has arrived safely with us. Either way we give you our heartfelt thanks, we honestly couldn't manage without you Thanks

Thanks Frenchplait

Thanks BIWI

Thanks HereComesBod

Thanks MiaAlexandrasMummy

Thanks LemonEmmaP

Thanks BupCakesandCunting

Thanks ChazsBrilliantAttitude

Thanks OwFriggingOw

Thanks PrettyVacant1

Thanks oopslateagain

You are all [stars]

Thank you too for all PMs Thanks

NoWayNoHow · 12/07/2012 20:29

I know I'm late to the party, but I've found my 4mm needles after our move and am happy to be matched to some wool if there's any still going, otherwise will be more than happy to get for myself. Not experienced enough to make something from part balls of different colours, I'm afraid, but I can knit a pretty basic one-colour square. Let me know/PM me for anything if you need to.

It is so dreadfully sad that we have so many of these threads at the moment, and I would like to do anything I can to help with all of them. I will make as many squares as you like, depending on the time frames you need to work to.

fanjodisfunction · 12/07/2012 20:34

nowaynohow pm pistey, and she will sign you up to get a donor.

OhDearNigel · 12/07/2012 21:03

I will knit a couple of blocks, how long do we have ?

OhDearNigel · 12/07/2012 21:14

I can't pm from my blackberry and am at my parents' tonight with no internet - could you pm me piste ?

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/07/2012 21:38

Evening Wine

Thank you for PMs, hopefully have replied to them all Smile

Nigel - I'm coming to you now....

Mermaidspam · 13/07/2012 00:04

Awaiting my wool delivery, looking at patterns to crochet.

How many squares do I do?