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

[KnottyLocks]

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

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.

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

Is it?

It is most definitely here

Hello lovely xx

Sorry, lost track

Sorry, lost track

I was so inspired after doing my squares for Cup's blanket that I've started my first ever baby blanket. It's going well so far! How many balls do you reckon I'd need? It's about 22inches wide and I'm using the Rowan dk Cashsoft.

I started my first Little Hug last night, I'm aiming to get it done by Christmas, but I'm not promising anything!

I've got a couple of questions. Firstly, would a black and white blanket be suitiable? Once I've finished this blanket I was thinking of making one that looked like a chequered flag (thought it would be nice to give to a racing car obsessed child), but I'm not sure if the colours would be too dull.

Secondly, are there any printable leaflets/information sheet about the little hugs? I'd like something to give the ladies in my crocheting class, and maybe the staff in my local wool shop.

Morning all

Sally, I am sorry I don't really know, but I will try to find out for you. I am doing a similar sized granny stripe one and have 4 balls of each, and hope that will be enough, but will need to do a border too. You're knitting aren't you?

Anathema - black and white would be lovely, we've had one already and actually it is bright. The lovely Cup recommends black and white because the high contrast is visually stimulating for babies. Thank you

In answer to your second, at the mo, we don't have anything printable but we could easily do that. We have all the info on the website. Easily done into a PDF though.

Well, nobody strangled fell out too much with anybody during our weekend, just my darling boys x4 and I at Centreparcs

I have received some lovely quite thin cashmere from ebay (less than £4 for 50g); no idea whether it's genuine, but it feels nice.
I was thinking maybe a small cables baby blanket? In off white?? Hm, maybe not too washable... I think I have not throught this through .

Pacific, knit up a 4" swatch and bung it in with a normal load. If it shrinks/felts, it's pure wool of whatever variety.

If so, and you want to use it for Woolly Hugs, maybe make some small items and sell them to raise funds for either the PayPal account or to buy something more suitable? Cashmere baby hats £5 each?

Ooooh, baby hats!! That's a great idea, thanks, Pidjin

At least the wool could then still be used to benefit the Little Hugs. And you get cute easy projects that aren't time dependant. And you might even turn a profit!

How quick are you, I've got a 5lb8oz 3 day old in need of a teeny cashmere hat but he's growing pdq :o

Pidj!!!!!!!! congratulations!

Congratulations Pidj, tell us more....DD or DS... all broody now.

Anyway back to Hugs, I have just finished a domino knit blanket which is veeeeeery bright. I didn't think it look right without an edge. Soooooo I am proud to say I have just done a crochet edge on it and I am really chuffed.

I am now hooked on hooking, so this could be a late night. Off to have a go at a granny square :)

DS, b 8:06 Monday morning with a little assistance from pethidine and last-minute syntocin after 34 hours in labour. 6lb2oz 11 days before EDD, doing very well :)

What's a domino knit blanket?

Awwwwww....bright green teeny weeny hats

Morning all inc newest Blanketeer

Sounds lovely HaveToWearHeels, hope the granny went well

Good morning Aunty Pistey

:o

morning. Pistey just checking you received my squares? They were posted monday. Sorry if you've acknowledged receipt somewhere and I've not seen it, RL being a bit of a bugger at the moment and not allowing me much time for MN/FB

Well done Pidj, he took you by suprise then arriving early ?

A domino blanket if when you knit one square onto the next, so no sewing at the end. very quick to knit (only knit stich) but very effective. GetOnYourDancingShoes did one which I admired, so I asked for the details.

Thanks lovely MOS, yes Xx

Could I join in, probably for batch 3? I have just finished some baby cloths for DH's friend so have some free time ATM. I have some wool, but probably won't get it done by next weekend.

He's my first so was fully expecting to go over! He has warmth, food and love plus necessary safety equipment so not too much of a shock :)

Domino effect sounds fab

he's your first! awww, pidjy!

awwwww

rest up, then, you have noooo idea how hard work it is! (sorry)

Yeah, I'm currently in the sat on the sofa making dp bring me biscuits stage :o

I assume it turns into the nightmare i keep getting told about at some point?

Oh I didn't realise he was your first :)
I only have one and it looks like that's it for me sadly. Food, warmth and love is all he needs.

Domino is good you can do the squares as small as you like so can just pick up when ever you get a spare 10 minutes, although I would say just enjoy you boy for now.