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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:
nickelbarapasaurus · 08/08/2012 17:11

i made 4.
:)

KnottyLocks · 08/08/2012 17:11

Cheers, Minnie. Grin

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 08/08/2012 17:14

Hold tight Smile

Lots of woolly thank yous coming up!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 08/08/2012 17:17

I'm smiling at a squillion squares and I'm smiling too because my son has just made me a cup of tea Shock

TeamGBIWI · 08/08/2012 17:24

What's he done?

TheInvisiblePoster · 08/08/2012 17:27

I was about to ask that Team! or What's he after?Grin

RatherBeOnThePiste · 08/08/2012 17:30

Grin That did cross my mind too BIWI and IP, it was tea and a kiss, am trying to hope he is just being lovely....

KnottyLocks · 08/08/2012 17:30

Have you checked the state of the kitchen?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 08/08/2012 17:31

Good lord! Tea and a kiss? Brace yourself for trouble!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 08/08/2012 17:37

Just as well you said to check the kitchen Knots. I did. The fridge door was left wide open Grin

PurplePidjin · 08/08/2012 17:39

Oops, sorry, i meant to imply that making one square for a blanket is a superb effort which is much appreciated and that any more is seen as a bonus! Blush

SoupDragon · 08/08/2012 17:48

At least there was no biscuit with the tea. Or, heaven forbid, cake.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 08/08/2012 17:59

no cake, but thinking about it there was a teeny snickers this morning Shock

PurplePidjin · 08/08/2012 18:02

What does he want? What has he borrowed? What has he broken?

RatherBeOnThePiste · 08/08/2012 18:10

Lots of gorgeous woolly treasure arriving safely this afternoon from all over the country and even further afield, and the lovely (slightly puffing ) Posty wished us luck with our blanketeering, she doesn't know MN Shock but may try to knit us a square Smile

Thanks SwedishEdith Absolutely gorgeous green and purple textured knits Star

Thanks BigboobiedBertha Lovely pink heart (bless you for not blocking, all will be well Smile ) and snuggly purple knit Star

Thanks MapofTassie Lovely pink and duck egg blue garter squares, super. Star

Thanks Conniebelle Just beautiful, crochet flower squares, and a lovely granny Star

Thanks Nyx Absolutely lovely knits with floral pattern, fab colour too Star

Thanks greengoose Beautiful flower squares crocheted in green and purple, stunning. Star

Thanks stressedHEmum Not rubbish at all! Love the fair isle hearts, and the star, gorgeoise textured knits too Star

Thanks FrankieandArthur Beautiful cross, lovely stripes and textures, a granny too Star

Thanks LibrariansMakeNovelLovers Gorgeous colour, and super snuggly, a moss stitch and purl square, lovely Star

Thanks TheInvisiblePoster Super textures, love the bobbly ones! Pinks, cream and a teal too and thank you for the flower embellishment, smashing! Star

Heartfelt thanks to everyone, what an amazing response we are having! The blankets for expat and for Giraffes will be absolutely glorious. Thanks

In the fullness of time, there will be photos of the finished blankets on the woolly hugs website We will announce they are up with a link here, and on Facebook and Twitter, both MNWoollyHugs, so if you have liked us or follow us, you will see it in your newsfeed.

And as always, rest assured all cards will be looked after until they travel with the blankets X

Thank you

stressedHEmum · 08/08/2012 18:23

Glad they got there all right, Pistey, and that they are useable.

Somersaults · 08/08/2012 18:51

Oh ok! Good :)

Calyx · 08/08/2012 20:04

Hiya guys, my sister Nyx has asked me to pop on and say thanks for the speedy pm's with the address, she posted her 2(?) squares on the 6th. And I can see from messages above it's been received! Yay :)

She's coming back home this weekend and I'm sure she'll be on herself (she's having withdrawals from having no internet I think!) but she asked me to make sure and post on here so you knew she'd got the pm's and sent them xx

NoobytheWaspSlayer · 08/08/2012 20:45

Glad they have been received safely - and a big THANK YOU to you Pistey. Smile

KnottyLocks · 09/08/2012 08:39

Morning, lovely woolly folk Smile

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 09/08/2012 15:57

Afternoon all Smile

More woolly treasure has arrived safely, all absolutely lovely Thanks

Thanks Psychomum5 Beautiful knitted patterns and textures in pink/cream/blue, lovely and snuggly, Star

Thanks PuddleofPiddle Lovely pale green flower crochet squares, really super Star

Thanks TodaysAGoodDay Beautifully knitted stripes in blue & cream and pink & green, lovely Star

Thanks DancesWithWoolsEnPointe Just lovely, pink and green knits, patterns and textures, really super Star

Thanks RedRosie Super snuggly pale blue and green stripes, very clever, and absolutely no apologies needed X Star

Thanks KnitternotTwitter Totally gorgeoise knitted textured patterns, loved the ribbed one, in silver and pink Star

Huge thanks to all Xx

TheInvisiblePoster · 09/08/2012 17:55

Really pleased that my squares arrived safely:)
It's lovely to be a part of this, so much love in each stitch I hope it brings at least a little comfort to Expat and giraffes.

Thank you for keeping us all up to date PisteyThanksThanks

DancesWithWoolsEnPointe · 09/08/2012 18:01

Pleased they got there - I'll post before the deadline one of these blankets

RatherBeOnThePiste · 09/08/2012 20:37

That will be Monday 3rd September then Dances.. Just sayin Wine

TodaysAGoodDayForTeamGB · 09/08/2012 21:09

I'm so pleased they arrived safely Smile x