Please or to access all these features

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:
LackaDAISYcal · 10/07/2012 23:12

Signing up :(

I'll pm you pistey, as I will need some wool. I've got some pink left over from a previous blanket, but it's not enough to do a full square.

Honoured to be a part of these new blankets.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 10/07/2012 23:23

Giraffes - lovely to see you. Big hug for you lovely girl. We know exactly what you mean, and bless you X

The creaking PM system has held up just about tonight, I did worry in places it will be said Smile

But the light is off, and I hope all are replied to. The response has been utterly amazing, heartfelt thanks to everyone Thanks

I will catch up with PMs in the morning.

Night all X

RatherBeOnThePiste · 10/07/2012 23:40

An important job before i go.....

Some lovely donors to thank tonight, we really appreciate your support Thanks

Thanks EveryPicture

Thanks YouremindMeoftheBabe

Thanks BustersofDoom

Thanks MoonCupGoddess

Thanks Mopale

Thanks alwaysme

Thanks weblette

You are all complete stars are we can't thank you enough X

If you donated to us tonight but didn't give an MN name, we haven't thanked you out here on the thread, I am just coming to you privately, didn't want to out anyone Xx

outtolunchagain · 10/07/2012 23:43

I would like to knit a square but am away until 24th July ,will that be too late?

CakeistheAnswer · 10/07/2012 23:48

Giraffes - I have the hugest admiration for the dedication you have shown to Expat and Aillidh. It must have been very tough for you too. I'm so so sorry to hear that you have also suffered such an unbearable loss. Thank you for being there for them. Thanks

Pistey - thank you for taking on this enormous task, you are a star! Have PMed you.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 11/07/2012 00:02

outtolunchagain - have PMd you and Cake Thanks

BigBoobiedBertha · 11/07/2012 02:07

Count me in too. I have yarn so I will continue use that.

Lovely idea to do something for Giraffes as well.

Thanks again to Knotty and Pistey for organising. Flowers

Karis33 · 11/07/2012 02:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

BigBoobiedBertha · 11/07/2012 02:13

Pah!! Should have been some of these Thanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 11/07/2012 07:44

Morning all Brew

Have replied to PMs and am now off to work until lunchtime, will catch up then.

Thank you everyone Thanks

DharmaBumpkin · 11/07/2012 07:53

Hiya; I have just learnt to crochet and would love to help if you still need crafters. I can do 3D flowers and plain squares, whichever is most needed.

I would appreciate a wool donation as I'm skint Blush Let me know if you'd like me to crochet a couple of squares.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 11/07/2012 07:57

Dharma - you have mail Thanks

KnottyLocks · 11/07/2012 08:04

Morning all Smile

I'm posting this again as a few more people have asked:

last posting date for squares is 6th August

Thanks
OP posts:
WheresMyCow · 11/07/2012 08:07

I haven't knitted since I was at school (a long time ago!) but would love to donate, so will PM you piste Smile

PurplePidjin · 11/07/2012 08:10

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1514861-Blanket-Meet-ups-Sign-in-here

Thread for anyone who thinks their skills are a little rusty, or fancies swapping wool colours around, or wants to eat cakes with other lovely blanketeers Thanks

Jajas · 11/07/2012 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MumToTiny · 11/07/2012 09:04

Have PM'd Pistey Sad

Practicallyperfectnot · 11/07/2012 12:55

Please also include me. Lovely to be able to knit something pink.

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 11/07/2012 12:56

Hey RatherBeOnThePiste - messaged you yesterday but not sure if you got it?

KnottyLocks · 11/07/2012 13:12

Cuppa, Pistey will be back from work soon. I'll check. Smile

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 11/07/2012 14:11

Apologies Cuppa, think yours was lost, I knew last night the PM system was creaking, it kept freezing, or not sending first time, but hopefully today it will be better!

Have just sent you the thing again, can you let me know on here it has arrived safely and apologies X

Right, off to my PM box Thanks

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 11/07/2012 14:36

no probs - you've probably got a squillion PM's so not surprised your inbox is a bit creaky (sounds like a euphemism Smile)

RatherBeOnThePiste · 11/07/2012 15:13

A creaky inbox

Am worried about the reliability of the PMs so what I am going to do is send a group PM to all the donors and all the crafters as a confirmation, please only reply if you hadn't had this info before, then I can make sure you have had all the details Wine

Pleiades45 · 11/07/2012 16:58

Pistey, receive a group email about the other blanket in progress but not about this one. Am I on your list as a crafter looking for a donor?

RatherBeOnThePiste · 11/07/2012 17:12

Haven't done this one yet, just about to start Smile

But yes I do have you on this list, hopefully soon you should hear X