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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:
itsnotjustaslap · 04/08/2012 12:50

I have finished my square - hope it's not too late? Where do I post it too?

RatherBeOnThePiste · 04/08/2012 13:04

Not too late at all my lovely, I shall PM you now Thanks

PurplePidjin · 04/08/2012 21:29

Mine kicks my bladder when i get the hook out.

The bump is a handy place to rest my work while i slurp, though Brew

itsnotjustaslap · 04/08/2012 23:43

Thank you Purple Smile

bobkate · 05/08/2012 00:22

I'm about 2 rows from finishing my last square ready for posting on Monday. I am a bit Sad as I tried to do something that in my head seemed to make sense but I still clearly haven't 'got' the ways of knitting. I think I know where I went wrong, and the square still looks ok but not quite what I had planned.
I was trying to do a thick border all round in knit, with a sunken middle square. I had in my head that it could be like a frame for one of the lovely crochet creations that I'm waaaaayyy off learning how to do
I think where it didn't work was the whole wrong side, right side thing that I haven't quite got yet.
hey ho .... Pistey - can you let me know where they need to be posted to pls and I'll get them in the post on Monday Smile

LollipopViolet · 05/08/2012 10:35

Just looking at these squares, they're amazing. I might try and learn crochet again, I got as far as doing the first line of stitches, iyswim? But then couldn't follow the tutorials to go onto the next line :( I'm left handed as well, which doesn't help!

Thank you to all the lovely crafters who make these squares, they're all beautiful :) Thanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 05/08/2012 11:36

Aren't they just Lollipop? Gorgeous Smile Youtube is your friend for crochet tutorials. I actually found crochet in the round much easier and it was where it began to make sense to me, I had Catherine Hirst recommended and she is very good, plus she also does everything in left as well as right handed. Have a look at her here

PMing you now bobkate Thanks

itsnotjustaslap · 05/08/2012 13:03

Sorry Pistey! Was tired typing Smile

bobkate · 05/08/2012 13:32

Thanks Pistey - I've frogged that last square. Just not happy with it so I'll do again tonight and stay up until it's done!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 05/08/2012 20:34

Evening Wine

Just catching up with PMs Thanks

nickelbarapasaurus · 05/08/2012 20:40

i've sent you one, too Torch

NoobytheWaspSlayer · 05/08/2012 21:07

finished at last - ummmm, and they are definitely beginners efforts! If you can pm me where I need to post them I'll send them off tomorrow. Feel free not to use them, as they are embarrasingly wonky...

RatherBeOnThePiste · 05/08/2012 21:12

Instead of saying they are 'wonky' say they have character' and they will be lovely because they have been made with love and thought, and that is what it is all about. PMing you now Thanks

NoobytheWaspSlayer · 05/08/2012 21:29
Smile
LoveAndSqualor · 05/08/2012 21:51

ah, so glad they got there. Pistey, you're a marvel Smile

bobkate · 06/08/2012 00:39

Matchsticks were needed Pistey Grin. Started at 7 and just finished. I'm so pleased I started again - much happier with this square, although still not quite what I can see in my head. Thanks for the address as well - all I have to do is the cast off and sewing ends in tomorrow morning - then they'll be in the post Smile... and now to bed.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 06/08/2012 07:42

Oh bobcat Shock Hope you slept well, look forward to seeing them Smile
Just off to my PM box Thanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 06/08/2012 08:55

who is bobcat?
damn you predictive text Grin

bobkate · 06/08/2012 09:30

Got to sleep about 1 then my youngest did her usual shouting at the top of her lungs and woke the whole neighbourhood at about 6. Hey ho Grin

WheresMyCow · 06/08/2012 09:48

Good Morning Brew

Mine are going to be in the post late...sorry Blush

I should have finished and posted them yesterday, but with one thing and another I didn't sit down until about 9:30 last night...so one is still waiting for pesky ends to be done and the other is half way there on the needles Sad

I won't be able to post them until Wednesday now due to being in work, will that be okay?

Pleiades45 · 06/08/2012 12:20

Just posted my squares for this and Mumof2. Hope they are ok, I've been battling previously none existent tension problems. One square was redone 5 times......

nickelbarapasaurus · 06/08/2012 12:26

mine are in the envelope ready to go.

we've got a new "pictures" subject:

i've made a woolly hugs thread in the "arts and crafts" topic
:)

Nyx · 06/08/2012 13:54

I'm on holiday with very intermittent internet access (i.e. I have the use of a computer for 10 mins right now and that's more or less it...!) - I have two squares knitted, and they are in an envelope, but I don't have the address to post to. I've sent two or three pms to people I see have posted theirs, hoping that somebody kind will message me right away with the address.

Please message me! Thanks in advance Grin

nickelbarapasaurus · 06/08/2012 13:56

hope you got my pm nyx! Shock

Somersaults · 06/08/2012 18:13

I posted mine for expat and giraffe's blankets today Pistey so hopefully they'll be with you tomorrow.