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.

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:
nickeldaisical · 30/10/2012 17:43

ps: have we got a MN Woolly Hugs group on ravelry?

PurplePidjInAPointyHat · 30/10/2012 18:08

Not yet, nickel, but it sounds like a good idea to me!

Tweetinat · 30/10/2012 18:53

Thanks for making it clickable Zombie :)

I followed this patten nickel: colourinasimplelife.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/granny-bobble-blanket.html

It's 4 trebles, then take the hook out, pass through the previous chain space, pick up the loop and pull together. I'm making it sound more complicated than it is! I think technically it's a 'Popcorn stitch' rather than Bobble (according to my book at least) but I think the name suits :)

Tweetinat · 30/10/2012 18:54

Hoping this works as I'm on my PC now: colourinasimplelife.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/granny-bobble-blanket.html

workhouse · 30/10/2012 19:09

I'd love a Ravelry Hugs group too, it would be good for posting pics and such [hsmile]

workhouse · 30/10/2012 19:20

Tweetinat That's a lovely granny square!

GlaikitFizZombie · 30/10/2012 21:14

Had a go at the spikes tonight, but work has frazzled my brain so I have just done a garter stitch square for cups blanket instead! I love mindlessly knitting them looking down and whoosh a whole square is there :o

KnottyLocks · 30/10/2012 21:56

Tweet, that is gorgeous Smile Thanks

Oh yes to a ravelry group Smile

OP posts:
droitwitchymummy · 30/10/2012 22:58

Ravelry group In anticipation of this I popped onto Ravelry last night or the night before, found the MNKnitters(?) group and posted so that we would have somewhere to park ideas. We can either use that or set up a new group

droitwitchymummy · 30/10/2012 22:59

Ravelry MN group here!

bobkate · 30/10/2012 23:10

Thanks Pistey Smile Glad they arrived ok.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 31/10/2012 08:16

Oooo Ravelry!

Tweet that is amazingly lovely!

Tweetinat · 31/10/2012 09:19

Thank you knotty and Pistey. First time I've made anything bigger than a 6in square so I'm rather pleased even if it is a bit wobbly Grin

nickeldaisical · 31/10/2012 10:14

droitwich - that's a really old group, isn't it!
it's been there all along [hshock]

nickeldaisical · 31/10/2012 10:19

cool, just took a profile picture using my webcam.
with my crochet tiger.

how cool is that

CamperWidow · 31/10/2012 11:00

Just found this on ebay......wish I lived closer [hsad]

Somersaults · 31/10/2012 11:12

Wow that is a lot of wool for 99p!!

PurpleFrog · 31/10/2012 11:53

Hmm - a lot of that is the free yarn that came with The Art of Crochet magazine. It is OK but isn't wonderful quality. I'm sure it won't stay at 99p, though!

CamperWidow · 31/10/2012 12:33

Pistey, I've done one square but I could probably get another 2 out of the ball, do you want this one or should I wait and send them all together? Mayb easier to match the colours if I send them all together?

KnottyLocks · 31/10/2012 12:48

Camper, send them together Smile thanks .

OP posts:
droitwitchymummy · 31/10/2012 13:41

nickel Mumsknitter seems to have existed for AGES but no one has used it for a long time. It needs a bit of decorating and someone could put the vacuum round but I found some bean bags for us to flop onto while we eat our curley wurlies and crunchies [hgrin]

Woolfey · 31/10/2012 13:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

droitwitchymummy · 31/10/2012 13:57

Woolfey I doubt we can rename the group but if there was enough interest might we want a Woolly Hugs/MNWoolly Hugs group instead of the Mumnknitters? Just a thought

nickeldaisical · 31/10/2012 14:02

or could we make a new group called Woolly Hugs?

droitwitchymummy · 31/10/2012 14:05

I'm happy to set up a new group called Woolly Hugs if Pistey and Knotty are happy with that. I know they have heaps to do so would offer to set it up etc.