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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:
nickeldaisical · 31/10/2012 14:18

I think i might have crossposted Blush

your last one wasn't there when i started typing

KnottyLocks · 31/10/2012 14:44

Droitwich, that sounds smashing. Smile

If you could do that , there could be a Crunchie or summat in it for you Grin

OP posts:
ZombieArmsDragOnTheFloor · 31/10/2012 15:07

As a completely irrelevant aside, I don't like Crunchies.

nickeldaisical · 31/10/2012 15:09

how do you not like crunchies? [hshock]

ZombieArmsDragOnTheFloor · 31/10/2012 15:11

Not enough chocolate.

droitwitchymummy · 31/10/2012 15:44

I'll have a go at the woolly group tonight if DH and DS let me get on the PC!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 31/10/2012 17:41

I prefer chocolate buttons to crunchies btw, but I actually prefer Twiglets to buttons.

None of that is stopping me eat all sorts as I wait for little Trick or Treaters. DH has gone over board and we have dry ice that pours out of our front door when we open it, combine that with green back light. You get the picture. My hall way currently looks like it has fog though as there is a certain amount of back wash of dry ice Grin

Thank you Droitwich that is very kind of you Thanks Just replied to your PM too Thanks

PurplePidjInAPointyHat · 31/10/2012 17:44

Currently munching my way through a chocolate orange after a 2 hour journey home - should have been 25 minutes but there was a fatality further up the line Sad

RatherBeOnThePiste · 31/10/2012 17:46

A reminder...

Deadline for the second batch of Little Hugs is to be last posting on Saturday 1st December, do PM me for the address for posting when you are ready... Huge thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 31/10/2012 18:29

I have easily had 40 children here so far, they are liking my spooky green smoke I have spooky music too now [hsmile]

Two lovely Little Hugs have arrived safely today, thank you both. Because I am so late getting to them I shall wait until I can take their photos in daylight tomorrow to upload to Facebook.

Thanks Pidj - Cute pink and purple crochet with cream border, lovely Star

Thanks HappyTurquoise Gorgeous black and white fabric with rainbow fleece backing, just super Star

Photos tomorrow, thank you

GlaikitFizZombie · 31/10/2012 19:02

I make my own crunchies you can have as much chocolate on them as you want! Half milk half white, orange choc! Ooh I might have to make some now!

ZombieArmsDragOnTheFloor · 31/10/2012 19:05

I have a Do Not Disturb sign on my front door. Can't be interrupted when I am hooking!

GlaikitFizZombie · 31/10/2012 19:07

I've got a "baby sleeping, but help yourselves" bucket on our doorstep! I anticipate the kids who are first are the luckiest!

Somersaults · 31/10/2012 19:13

I'm loving the help yourselves idea! Might go and do that in a minute :)

ZombieArmsDragOnTheFloor · 31/10/2012 19:34

Ordinarily I have treats and have done pumpkin carving but the children are away with their father so I've had a year off.

droitwitchymummy · 31/10/2012 20:54

AHEM! I declare the Ravelry Woolly Hugs Group open!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 01/11/2012 09:40

Photos of the two Little Hugs from yesterday are now up on Facebook, thanks once again to HappyTurquoise and Pidj

nickeldaisical · 01/11/2012 10:34

I couldn't eat any of our trick or treat stuff.
still trying avoid dairy (okay, obvious dairy and not doing very well so might go back to it in full) so couldn't eat the chocolate cake rolls and can't eat haribo because Aldi didn't ave the veggie sort.

CamperWidow · 01/11/2012 17:39

Ok, started on the second square, trying the mock honeycomb. I quite liked the daisy pattern but found it a bit draining to do with all the p3 stuff. Quite like this one, it's easier!

KnottyLocks · 03/11/2012 08:00

Morning all Smile

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 03/11/2012 09:19

Morning Brew Smile

Just posted pictures on WHFB of two gorgeous crocheted Little Hugs which arrived yesterday, both from the lovely FaintingGhost

Thank you so much Thanks ThanksThanksThanksThanksThanks

FaintingGhost · 03/11/2012 10:55

Glad they got there safe :)

nickelrocketgoBooooooom · 03/11/2012 11:22

I'm getting really stressed now.

the blanket is perfect since I frogged and Pidj showed me the way to perfect squares.

however, the tiger in the middle is a funny shape, and it's emphasized now that the square is perfect. :( :( :( :(

I can't frog the whole thing :(

I had an idea that I could put some fleece as wading at the back of the tiger's face, and then make a perfect crochet circle in the background fabric and stitch it on.
so it becomes a soft cuddly toy as well as a blanket.

what do you think?

PurplePidjin · 03/11/2012 11:35

Ooh, fantastic idea! Like a cuddle toy but for big kids!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 03/11/2012 11:42

I think I wish you weren't so fed up and stressed lovely Nickel Sad hug x

You've worked so hard on your tiger, i agree you cant frog it all, but i do love your idea, sounds great.