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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.

Woolly Hugs: Little Hugs for Little People. Crafting continued!

981 replies

KnottyLocks · 18/10/2012 18:16

Our project launch thread can be found here

This is an ongoing project. Thanks to the amazing efforts of crafters and donors, to date we have received 38 wonderful Little Hugs. Our first batch have been sent to Yorkhill Hospital today Smile

Photographs of our Little Hugs can be found on our Woolly Hugs website and on our Facebook page, MNWoollyHugs.

The basic aim is to provide little blankets and quilts that give comfort to babies and small children who are seriously ill in hospital.

This is the continuation of Phase 1 of the project.
We are developing contacts for future phases.

How you can get involved:

You can help by either making a complete Little Hug
Or
By making 6" squares using Stylecraft Special DK yarn or Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK, Rowan Cashsoft DK and Sublime Extra Fine Merino wool DK

For all of the Little Hugs:

Minimum size: 18 inches by 18 inches
For example, that's 3x3 6 inch squares with a small edge.
If you would like to make a blanket or quilt that is bigger, that would be lovely too.

Colours: Your choice!
We'd like to be able to provide a range of Little Hugs suitable for boys and girls.
If you would like to make something specifically for a boy or girl, that would also be lovely.

Things to avoid:
Buttons
Sequins and beads
Any embellishments that could scratch delicate skin or could be swallowed.
If using applique, it needs to be firmly stitched on with no hard edges.

Materials and ideas:
Woolly Blankets:
Suggested yarn: Stylecraft Special DK, a soft, non-scratchy acrylic that is a very reasonable £1.60 - £2 for 100g ball.
Pure cotton DK
If you would like to make a whole blanket, you could use a different weight yarn and a yarn other than those above. The essential thing is that it needs to be soft against sensitive and delicate skin and that it can be machine washed.
Ideas:
Blankets could be made from squares stitched or hooked together
Granny stripes or ripples
They could be made in one piece or in blocks, as well as squares

Quilts and stitched blankets:
Pure cotton and good quality fleece. The cotton can be from recycled sources.
We suggest that you wash both separately before sewing to allow for any difference in shrinkage.
Ideas:
Traditional style quilts, from simple square designs to more complex patterns
Cotton edged fleeces, with or without appliqué
Quilt and fleece combination: quilted front with a fleece back

Donors:
If you would like to contribute towards materials, you can either donate via Paypal here on our Woolly Hugs website with a message letting us know which project you are donating to. If you do not have Paypal, please PM RatherBeOnThePiste as we have other ways that you can donate.
Without our donors, our projects really wouldn't happen. You are as vital to them as the crafters and materials. Bless you. Smile

If you would like to take part in this project but feel you can't due to the costs involved, please PM Pistey and we'll try to help with materials.

As ever, thanks for your support Thanks

OP posts:
Flojo1979 · 26/10/2012 21:22

Am I in the right place?!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 26/10/2012 21:25

Yes!

GlaikitFizZombie · 26/10/2012 21:29

Frogged it. Went wrong and had and extra nostril :( or the chin was in the wrong place I'm not sure.

I might just get on with my squares for cup and leave the dragon to someone who understands

Flojo1979 · 26/10/2012 21:30

Is there any sirdar wool that can be used? As my local wool shop seems to stock this. But not DB or rowan wotsit.

GlaikitFizZombie · 26/10/2012 21:36

If you are doing a whole little hug Flo you can use any wool you want. But if you just want to do squares to be incorporated in a joint blanket then y need to stick with what's in the op here.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 26/10/2012 21:36

Flo, If you can make a whole Little Hug then you can use whichever wool you like as long as it is machine washable and soft. If you want to contribute squares then we need them to be the wools given for consistency you see. Have you looked at any of the online companies for wool deliveries? That might make it easier?

Flojo1979 · 26/10/2012 21:50

I wasn't sure of the sublime one u mentioned was a sirdar, Google wasn't very clear.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 26/10/2012 22:00

tis like this one Flo

droitwitchymummy · 26/10/2012 22:02

Glaikit if your wings are fine hang onto them and I can have a go at the body if you like.

Flojo1979 · 26/10/2012 22:05

But a lot of websites say sirdar make it, if u Google 'sirdar sublime' it comes up with that wool. Oh well I guess I should pop along to the local wool shop and see if she stocks it!

HairyPotter · 27/10/2012 08:39

Couldnt see a thread already, hope it's ok to start one,

Glasgow Woolly huggers meet up here
come and join us for coffee, cake and possibly a wee bit of knitting Grin

KnottyLocks · 27/10/2012 09:27

Morning Smile

You're yarnbombing the boards today , Hairy Grin

OP posts:
HairyPotter · 27/10/2012 10:16

Blush Grin Thought I'd try and recruit more huggers. Did I mention the cake?

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/10/2012 10:28

One day we will come and have cake!

KnottyLocks · 27/10/2012 10:35

We certainly will Smile

OP posts:
GlaikitFizZombie · 27/10/2012 10:39

Cake, biscuits, frothy coffee, what's not to like!!

droitwitch I was thinking about my dragon disaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhster in the middle of the night. I was going good guns until row 7 then I got confused about picking up the wrap [hconfused] and the knitting it with the nest stitch. I'm not increasing there am I? Anyway the nostrils looked ok after that part row 1-22

Then the shaping of the snout I did the nostril side fine, but I still had 6 stitches on the top side when I followed the instructions to shape the bottom of the snout so the shaping was to the side of the mouth rather than the bottom. Does that make sense?

If anyone else wants to help/advise/point and laugh :) then this is the pattern

nickeldaisical · 27/10/2012 11:29

this is the one i'm using
not that colour....
it's very smooth and lovely, but it's stranded rather than twisted and is thus a pita to crochet!

nickeldaisical · 27/10/2012 11:30

that picture is not the proper wool - it looks fluffy and twisted, which it definitely isn't.
that's naughty.

nickeldaisical · 27/10/2012 11:31

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Sx4&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=870&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=8apA1KfINDMjhM:&imgrefurl=www.purplelindacrafts.co.uk/patons-smoothie-dk-yarn-2102-blue-mix-2885-p.asp&docid=SrNwP15ooD_F2M&imgurl=www.purplelindacrafts.co.uk/ekmps/shops/purplelinda/images/155982065_o.jpg&w=1024&h=565&ei=zbeLUJj1IOHN0QXDtoHgCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=200&vpy=165&dur=24&hovh=167&hovw=302&tx=90&ty=80&sig=112086767207104962799&page=1&tbnh=138&tbnw=262&start=0&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:69" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">that's a better picture

nickeldaisical · 27/10/2012 11:34

Fizzy - i had to unpick my tiger.
tis only fair.

GlaikitFizZombie · 27/10/2012 11:38

I'm going to try again tonight.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/10/2012 12:19

Fizzy - it won't even let me look at your picture! Even the computer knows how rubbish I am at knitting Grin

A gorgeous granny square Little Hug has arrived safely from the lovely HappyTurquoise have just uploaded its photo to the Facebook page. Thank you so much HT, tis smashing Thanks

GlaikitFizZombie · 27/10/2012 12:21

It's a PDF pistey, that's maybe why, here is the ravelry link www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-12

droitwitchymummy · 27/10/2012 13:00

I'll have a look at it when i can get near the pc. Tge tablet & phone are useless at pdfs

droitwitchymummy · 27/10/2012 13:26

Glaikit at the end of row 22 did you have a total of 36 stitches?