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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 · 13/08/2012 12:54

Hello there Smile

Lovely woolly treasure has arrived safely, heartfelt thanks to all Thanks

Thanks MyNewCatIsfab Absolutely lovely, snuggly knits in pink, teal, green and cream, just lovely Star

Thanks MumtoTiny Really lovely pink heart knitted squares, lovely Star

Thanks Whore Lovely purples, cream, pink, silver grannies, absolutely super, and Good News - I have that purple and will happily finish off for you! We can take gold in the Crochet Doubles Grin Star

Thanks MinnieBar Totally gorgeoise pink knits - an icord flower, bear paw, and checkerboard super Star

Thanks Umami Beautiful green and cream crochet 3D flower squares Star

Apologies, missed the post arriving this morning so a registered packet has gone to the sorting office, I have a red card Smile Sadly they are only open until 12, so I will go first thing tomorrow. Thanks

Enormous thanks to all Thanks

WhoremoaneeGrainger · 13/08/2012 15:32

Hahahaha that made me laugh Pistey. Crochet Gold! I really like the square i did that was one row cream one row pinky. I didnt want to send that one. Am tempted to just join up a load of random lengths until it weighs about 14g, and just crochet the square up, as it comes, as it were. Obviously all shades that work well together, but then you would get colour change half way round, if you see what i mean. Will just be loads of ends for me to sew in though Sad

LinzerTorte · 13/08/2012 16:46

Still no sign of my square? I checked with DH and he did post it on Monday.

PurplePidjin · 13/08/2012 16:52

Whore, tuck 'em in as you go Wink

RatherBeOnThePiste · 13/08/2012 17:03

Linzer - was it registered? Only there's still one at the post office, am getting tomorrow morning...

WhoremoaneeGrainger · 13/08/2012 17:30

Can you tuck them in on granny squares? I would if i was knitting, but i can only crochet grannies!!!! Need to find a way to meet up with you pidj and you can show me..........how long have we been trying to sort that out? .

How is the bump coming along??

PurplePidjin · 13/08/2012 17:34

You can if you do solid grannies! I'm currently unemployed, so just let me know when you're free and I'll be there :)

Bump is 6 months big and definitely no longer just too many pies Wink

WhoremoaneeGrainger · 13/08/2012 17:47

Oh. Sorry to hear you are still unemployed. Although baby growing is very important business to be engaged in, you know. Its a growing market

What are solid grannies?

WhoremoaneeGrainger · 13/08/2012 17:48

Oh....and am supposed to have two weeks off starting next week - so fingers crossed it goes ahead.........

PurplePidjin · 13/08/2012 17:58

Where you tc in each st instead of working clusters.

I'll show you over coffee and more pies cake :o

WhoremoaneeGrainger · 13/08/2012 18:03

Deal!

PurplePidjin · 13/08/2012 18:17

When?

LinzerTorte · 13/08/2012 18:58

I doubt he sent it registered, Pistey - posting parcels abroad is ridiculously expensive without adding any extras. I wanted to post my two balls of I-was-sure-I'd-ordered-pink-but-it-turned-out-to-be-orange wool that I'd bought for a previous blanket to another MNer, but it would have cost ?15 - more than double what the wool cost me in the first place!

PurpleKittyKnitting · 13/08/2012 19:07

I may have missed my name but have mine arrived yet?

RatherBeOnThePiste · 13/08/2012 19:11

Hopefully tomorrow Linzer X

PurpleKittyKnitting - Yes! On Tuesday 7th I did your thank you Smile Thanks

PurpleKittyKnitting · 13/08/2012 19:14

sorry, I was checking both threads as I wasn't sure which one it was for, we were out all day on Tuesday and missed it! (blush!)

PurpleKittyKnitting · 13/08/2012 19:16

I have made a little start on the next ones, I checked the name of the colour today, it is VAMP!!

PurplePidjin · 13/08/2012 19:26

Excellent colour, PKK, one of my faves :o

Somersaults · 13/08/2012 20:49

Whore and Pidj, funny you were talking about solid granny squares, I just finished one at the weekend - here it is!.

I quite enjoyed it and I like it better than the other type of granny square.

KnottyLocks · 13/08/2012 21:13

Evening all Smile

Some lovely woolly work on show. Top banana Smile

OP posts:
KnottyLocks · 13/08/2012 21:15

Vamp is one of our favourites : has been used to hook together a couple of blankets as it is one of the magic colours that just seems to go with everything.

OP posts:
WheresMyCow · 14/08/2012 08:10

Morning All Brew

Hopefully you should receive my squares Hmm today Pistey. They will definitely need some stretching as they looked decidedly unsquare and not very 6 inch when I was putting them in the envelope BlushShock

Perhaps I'll get better with practice Grin

RatherBeOnThePiste · 14/08/2012 17:12

and lo, they are here WheresMyCow Smile

Gorgeous woolly treasure arriving safely today, tis all marvellous Thanks

Thanks WhenIsItMySleepyTime Beautiful deep bluey/purple and cream wavy stripes

Thanks Hobs Don't worry! These are lovely, pink garter and rib, super Star

Thanks WheresMyCow Pink and green super snuggly garter squares, lovely Star

Thanks WhenDoISleep Just gorgeoise purplicious garter square Star

Heartfelt thanks to everyone Thanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 14/08/2012 17:21

Apologies, peaked too soon Smile

Thanks PracticallyPerfectNot An adorable ladybird on a leaf, plus dancers, knitted in pinks, lovely! Star

Whenisitmysleepytime · 14/08/2012 18:46

So pleased they arrived! :)