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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:
Hobs · 21/07/2012 11:51

I have received my wool this morning. It's a beautiful bluey shade of DB Cashmerino. Thank you Thanks to whichever lovely person donated it (and thank you also for slipping in those chocolates - you have really made my morning). I'm afraid I can only knit relatively simple squares, but I will take care with them and they will be knitted with love. Thank you so much xx

crazynanna · 21/07/2012 11:58
Blush
nickelbarapasaurus · 21/07/2012 16:23

i haven't just been to the knitting shop and i haven't just bought a 2mm, 3mm, 3.5mm and 4mm hook.
no.
i haven't.

Glaikit · 21/07/2012 17:05

:o nickel! How many balls of wool did you buy too??

nickelbarapasaurus · 21/07/2012 17:51

none.
I actually didn't buy any wool - I'm concentrating on this project, and I have the wool for that Grin

I did stand in the shop going "Ian's going to tell me off. I shouldn't be buying any hooks. Should I just buy this one, this one and this one? But I need this one too."
GrinBlush

nickelbarapasaurus · 21/07/2012 17:51

this is exactly the reason why I always send DH to the shop with the book order.

Glaikit · 21/07/2012 17:56

I have sooooooooo much wool and no idea what to make with it!! I just keep buying it, putting it in my stash box (and overspill stash box that dh doesn't know about). I'm particularly bad of its reduced, because it would be rude not to!

LollipopViolet · 21/07/2012 18:42

Just thought I'd pop my head round the door to say thank you to all the lovely crafters - one of you is apparently going to put my design into wool. I'm visually impaired so knitting/crochet are just impossible no matter how many tutorials I watch :( but I know my way around Photoshop so thank you to whomever brings my idea to life :) Thanks

droitwichmummy · 21/07/2012 18:59

Today I have mostly been knitting roses Smile I am channelling my donor as I knit Wink

soremummy · 21/07/2012 20:57

Lollipop that sounds like a wonderful thing to do. If you ever want Amy designs knitting I'd be happy to give it a go for you

KnottyLocks · 21/07/2012 21:22

Evening all Smile

Lollipops, your crafter has the pic of your design and is totally on the case Smile.

Soremumy, I have added your lovely offer into my notebook. X

OP posts:
LollipopViolet · 21/07/2012 23:29

Knotty, that's great, thank you :) x

If anyone is ever stuck for designs, I'll happily try and create some :)

RatherBeOnThePiste · 21/07/2012 23:36
Smile Evening. Wine
Thumbwitch · 21/07/2012 23:51

That's lovely droitwich! :)

FormerlyTitledUntidy · 22/07/2012 00:38

I couldn't find any patterns for little crocheted rose buds, so I freestyled myself one this evening for expat's and giraffe's blankets. I will make a few more, it looks really sweet, only about an inch wide and dusty pink.

I hope my donor thinks that's ok. I have done a lacy bullion heart square too. But I haven't done much, rl has been unuaually hectic. Have lots of woolly love left though, should get another 5 or 6 I'd say

Mermaidspam · 22/07/2012 00:43

Glad they reached you Pistey.

Really enjoyed (although that seems the wrong word, given the circumstances) doing the squares, I'll be putting my name down for many more in the future.

KnottyLocks · 22/07/2012 07:34

Morning Smile

Formerly, I'm sure your donor will be very chuffed. The roses sound beautiful. Smile

Mermaid, Thanks

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/07/2012 09:55

Morning Smile Brew

Just catching up with PMs Thanks

fanjodisfunction · 22/07/2012 11:52

Morning (just) Ive just finished the squares for expat and giraffes, the pics are on my profile. Thank you to my lovely donor for the heather and blue wools, I had some left over wool from previous woolyhugs to make the forth square.

Umami · 22/07/2012 16:23

Beautiful squares fanjo. I love the butterfly!

WoollyWoolfe · 22/07/2012 18:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DharmaBumpkin · 22/07/2012 21:16

Adding to the chorus, I also love the butterfly & the offset flower, fanjo. Yay you :)

fanjodisfunction · 22/07/2012 21:44

thank you

the butterfly was copied from this webpage Butterfly

I then sewed it onto the square.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/07/2012 21:46

Beautiful fan, I am wondering if we could upload the pattern to the crafting guide on Woolly Hugs? Do you have a link you could PM me that I could upload?

We are keen to add to the guide as we go along, so adding links for all these new lovely patterns would be great, we are building up such a fab resource for ourselves, Dharma, is there a link for your lovely bobbly pattern - tis gorgeous too (you have mail btw) Thanks

Just replying to PMs, it has been a busy day in the World of Wool Smile X

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/07/2012 21:47

x posts fan - when I get on my proper computer I will have a go at uploading your link Thanks