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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:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 17/07/2012 19:50

Grin @Dances

Thank you time Smile

We have some lovely donors to thank, your woolly wool has arrived safely with your crafters, we are all so grateful to you for the part you play. Thanks

Thanks fledtoscotland

Thanks Whatevertheweather

Thanks DoFliesHaveKnees

Thanks goygoy

Thanks SarahStratton

You are all stars, thank you X

And some squares have arrived safely too Smile

Thanks OneWaySystemBlues Beautiful green and pink snuggly knits and a gorgeoise granny, lovely Star

Thanks To all

FormerlyTitledUntidy · 17/07/2012 20:04

:o Dances, I think the ballerina can be saved, don't frog her just yet.

I'm working on a sun for James' blanket. It has bullion stitches on it, which are lovely but taking lots of time, and driving me a bit mental :o

RatherBeOnThePiste · 18/07/2012 07:55

Morning all Brew

Sun sounds lovely Formerly, look forward to seeing it X

WheresMyCow · 18/07/2012 07:59

Morning Brew

Am quite excited and a little bit scared that I've ordered some wool and needles...I kept on thinking about it last night and trying to visualise how to knit Grin

Jules146 · 18/07/2012 08:09

Wheresmycow why not go and have a look at some different videos on YouTube to get an idea and really help you visualise?

WheresMyCow · 18/07/2012 12:02

Can't get on youtube at work, damn IT people will have to get on the laptop at home tonight Grin

RatherBeOnThePiste · 18/07/2012 14:22

Lunchtime [ThumbsUp]

Somersaults · 18/07/2012 16:55

Two squares finished :)

I'm going to begin an attempt at the team heart tonight I think. I feel a little adventurous having mastered a star stitch square yesterday [proud]

DharmaBumpkin · 18/07/2012 21:10

I have finished my two squares, pictures should be on my profile... I don't know who my donor was, but if you sent some blue wool in a purple bag to a very Welsh address, thank you Thanks and these are just as much your effort as mine.

RatherBeOnThePiste, I'll send them off to you as soon as I can - thank you and Thanks to you as well for all the effort you are going to in organising this.

Somersaults · 18/07/2012 21:18

Team heart done :)

Now to choose another pattern. I will try to post photos on my profile of the ones I've done so far.

Nyx · 18/07/2012 21:26

Dharma, those are gorgeous squares!

DharmaBumpkin · 18/07/2012 21:31

Thanks Nyx Blush I have only been crocheting for two months so am still finding my way but am really enjoying it.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 18/07/2012 22:02

Evening all Wine

Dharma, lovely squares, you are doing amazingly well! I look forward to seeing them in the wool and Somersaults - going well too, fabulous. Wine

I have some thank yous tonight. To the lovely donors, your donations have arrived safely with us, and to the lovely crafters your squares have arrived safely too, everyone is fabulous, proper teamwork. Thanks

Thanks MrsHerculePoirot Star

Thanks LollipopViolet Who also designed a square, lovely idea. Star

Thanks DutchOma Beautifully knitted initials, you are marvellous, you have done them all, and I will keep your note carefully X Star

Thanks JustAFleshWound Snuggly pink and cream knit and crochet, absolutely gorgeous Star

Thanks WoollyWoolfe Beautifully embroidered knits, and lovely grannies too Star

Now I know some folk haven't received their woolly wool yet, please don't be despondent, it will come. If I haven't already contacted the donors involved, I will be doing so today or tomorrow and will be getting them to chase it up. Sometimes a colour may go out of stock, we have had this before. But it will all work out in the end [ThumbsUp]

Thank you everyone Thanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/07/2012 07:22

Morning Brew

NoWayNoHow · 19/07/2012 14:31

Thank you to my lovely donor for the beautiful Artesano baby pink and baby blue wool - can't wait to start!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/07/2012 14:35

Good news NoWay Smile You are cleared for take off!!

Thank you for all PMs, just replying now X

TheRealMBJ · 19/07/2012 15:18

Completed squares of to the post office.

Somersaults · 19/07/2012 15:34

Another try at uploading one of my squares seeing as though my profile and apparently Facebook are proving tricky!

Chulita · 19/07/2012 15:35

I've nearly finished a flowery granny square, only to find it's not remotely square. One side is distinctly rounded, argh! Going to unravel and do a normal granny methinks. I've also got halfway through a 'fairy' knitted square and I just can't see how it's going to look like a fairy so may unravel that one and do something simple. I'm too sleep-deprived to be counting stitches!

Somersaults · 19/07/2012 15:37

And here's my Team heart and my moss stitch. I'm working on an hourglass pattern now.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/07/2012 15:42

Yaaayyyyyyyyy!!!! We have the pics!!
And very lovely they are too. Thanks

And MBJ - just beautiful Thanks

Awww. Chulita, bless you for trying in your sleep deprived state X

fanjodisfunction · 19/07/2012 18:13

Im loving all the pictures of the squares some lovely work going on. Im currently trying to stitch on a butterfly to one of my squares and a flower to another. When done I shall post pic's too.

droitwichmummy · 19/07/2012 18:29

I have wool!

Wolfcub · 19/07/2012 19:45

MBJ and Somersaults what lovely squares.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/07/2012 21:06

Go Droitwich!

Evening all Wine

More lovely donors to thank tonight, either your donation has arrived safely with us, or your woolly wool has arrived safely with your crafter, so a huge thank you to you X Thanks

Thanks BlondieMinx

Thanks TheLittleFriend

Thanks OwFriggingOw

Thanks Thumbwitch

You are all stars X