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:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 11/01/2013 20:27

Bless you Babs, thank you X

RatherBeOnThePiste · 11/01/2013 20:30

Another Little Hug is on its way to a fellow Mumsnetter.

Poor ClutchingPearls' son is in hospital with nasty complications from the bastard chicken pox virus.

Her thread is here

Much love and strength from us all travels with the Little Hug. Tis a cotton and fleece one, there is a pic on Facebook.

nickelbabe · 11/01/2013 22:31

Right.
I'm sacking my tiger.
I'm going to buy some more orange and black wool and make either a stripey one or follow pidj's pattern for squares.
It's too important to do a crap one.

Also, DH got me some fab turquoise wool for Christmas which I'm going to use to make a bog standard granny. It's proper chunky and is self patterning
I've taken a pic with my phone but can't upload it cos i don't know how

droitwichmummy · 11/01/2013 23:38

Nickel if you go into your profile then into photos it tells you how to upload

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/01/2013 07:53

Poor tiger Sad

KnottyLocks · 12/01/2013 08:14

Awww, Tiger Sad

OP posts:
nickelbabe · 12/01/2013 11:47

can i do that on the phone droitwich ?

i'm on the computer now ,anyway.

I'll upload it in a sec.

I'm not frogging the tiger, I'm just not going to finish the blanket.

he's still in his made-up state.

MNPin2013 · 12/01/2013 12:22

Love the Dragon Fizzy

Antonella doing a weekend wooly gathering on the south coast?

droitwichmummy · 12/01/2013 14:42

Nickel, you can do it on the phone but you have to go to the desktop site. I know you can't do it on the mobile site. Not sure about the app

nickelbabe · 12/01/2013 14:43

ahh, i see.
i will try that next time.
anyway, i've put a pic of the new wool on my profile

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/01/2013 17:26

fab woolly wool nickel Smile Really looks chunky and gorgeoisely snugly.

Two lovely Little Hugs arriving from HaveToWearHeels today, both knits, lovely colours. What woolly wool is the reddy one Heels? They are both lovely and I don't know what she was worrying about!

Thank you Heels, you are a star ThanksThanksThanksThanksThanksThanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/01/2013 17:30

Thanks also to HaveToWearHeels for the two lovely stylecraft grannies for a Little Hug, I will keep them safely, until they can be joined into a Hug.

ThanksThanksThanksThanksThanks

nickelbabe · 12/01/2013 17:36

it's also 100% acrylic, so good for those with woolly problems (i can't have wool, it makes me go all itchy and rashy)

nickelbabe · 12/01/2013 17:37

have just realised that I can actually crochet with wool, i just can't wear it.

fraktion · 12/01/2013 19:27

I have a possible very little hug - it's shy of the required size because it was a stash buster and I ran out of wool?

GlaikitFizzog · 12/01/2013 19:49

What wool Frak? I may have some thing inmy stash that could finish it off.

tribpot · 12/01/2013 19:55

If it's only a bit shy of the size it might block out a bit as well.

fraktion · 12/01/2013 20:05

It's a 19inch diameter circle in an emeraldy green stylecraft acrylic/wool mix.

It just looks a bit small, being a circle, to be the required area. They should be 324insq vs my 283insq I think.

GlaikitFizzog · 12/01/2013 20:23

I don't have any on the requisite wool which is a surprise but I would think and 19inch circle would be ok, but pistey is the font of all knowledge on these things.

KnottyLocks · 12/01/2013 20:34

Frak, can you remember the colour of the wool? We have a stash of Stylecraft so could top you up.

OP posts:
fraktion · 13/01/2013 01:35

I don't remember it at all :(

It isn't like any of my stylecraft DK.

I may just edge, back and send. It may do for a tiny one it a portable cwtch.

MNPin2013 · 13/01/2013 23:05

Back, that was meant to see is there a woolly meet up in the South?

MNPin2013 · 13/01/2013 23:06

Grrrrrr, that was meant to say is there a woolly Meetup in the South?

HaveToWearHeels · 14/01/2013 21:14

Just got back from a weekend in Tallinn, even managed to find a lovely craft shop and bought back 200g of wool for ?4 which was a bargain. Good job I only had 10kg baggage otherwise it could have been very dangerous.
Pistey Glad the hugs arrive OK, the red coloured one is made of Robin Paintbox DK 100% Acrylic

HaveToWearHeels · 14/01/2013 21:15

Did I head Woolly Meet Up ?