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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

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

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Somersaults · 19/10/2012 22:13

HappyTurquoise, how did you join your sunny Little Hug? Was it joined as you went along? It looks lovely however you did it and I'd like mine to end up lovely too :)

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HappyTurquoise · 19/10/2012 22:25

I did it by joining the squares in rows, then joined the rows together. Where I joined the rows together, there's a bit of a ridge when it lays flat (it is a flattering photo, thank you!)

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HappyTurquoise · 19/10/2012 22:36

There's a Youtube video...
That says it is 'as you go'.

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HappyTurquoise · 19/10/2012 22:40

Well, it's a bit like that! But instead of joining the way she did, I put the long stitiches (Trc?) into the 'gaps' to maintain the checkerboard pattern. Not sure if I did have a video for it, or just watched what I could and then went by trial and error.

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skiffler · 20/10/2012 08:53

Just found new thread (more Wine, less [crochet] than I was expecting...). So pleased to hear that the Little Hugs made it.

I'm starting to feel the urge for a ripple blanket now - I've never done one before. But I don't have much in the way of pretty colours, and I was supposed to be using up my stash, not adding to it... What to do?

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KnottyLocks · 20/10/2012 08:56

Buy stuff Grin

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KnottyLocks · 20/10/2012 08:57
Halo
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RatherBeOnThePiste · 20/10/2012 09:09

Wine

Still feeling the call of the Masons pack

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KnottyLocks · 20/10/2012 09:24

Do it!

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KnottyLocks · 20/10/2012 09:25

I may have the devil inside today . prob best to ignore me.

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KnottyLocks · 20/10/2012 09:25
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MrsDeVere · 20/10/2012 09:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skiffler · 20/10/2012 10:03

So, supposing I were to listen to the devil (aka KnottyLocks) and buy an Attic24 pack - how many Little Hugs would those 17 balls of woolly goodness make?

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Trazzletoes · 20/10/2012 10:14

Ahem thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you x 1,000,000.

DS is on the sofa, snuggled under his Little Hug. It brought a smile to his beautiful face, which is no mean feat these days.

Thank you xxx

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GlaikitFizZombie · 20/10/2012 10:27

Aw trazzle, I'm so glad to hear that. I've been lurking on your other thread, but I a big splodge of light coming from Scotland. After your posts the other day about hats, I've been looking at funky hat patterns. I have loads of wool in my stash doing nothing. I'm happy to try to knock something wearable up.

Speaking of my ever growing stash! My attic24 pack arrived today! And my free book is a book of 20 mug hugs!! I secretly wanted the Christmas one, but hey no, it was free!

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GlaikitFizZombie · 20/10/2012 10:32

100s skiffler its massive! Dh may have just had a heart attack when I opened it. I just stepped over him! I think he is still breathing!

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RatherBeOnThePiste · 20/10/2012 10:35

Oh Trazzle I am so glad the Little Hug has arrived safely and is already in use, so moved to know it has made him smile. Bless him, hug for you my lovely and a gentle one for him.

My splodge of light is as bright as ever.


(I won't be making him a hat btw, you wouldn't thank me for it, neither would he! i am always looking with amazement at the crafting ability of others Smile)



Xx

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nickeldaisical · 20/10/2012 10:58

yeay Trazzle! Grin

glad he's enjoying it :)

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Mirage · 20/10/2012 12:43

Hurray,I'm glad it arrived ok-sorry,I didn't know there was another thread.Smile
Trazzle I'm glad that your DS is enjoying his little hug.

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DameFannyGallopsAtaGhost · 20/10/2012 12:47

Phew, my hug arrived. Blush for the lateness though. Shall try and get another over for December.

I was planning on cross-stitching into the centre panel, but I haven't done any since school and had to be cut free from the first attempt, so thought it was safer to leave it Grin

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GlaikitFizZombie · 20/10/2012 15:30

Does anyone know if there is an knitting equivalent to the attic24 blanket? Or should I just go stripey?

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workhouse · 20/10/2012 19:38

Hi all, has anyone used this cotton yarn, Rico Creative Cotton Aran, for a little hug? They have it here www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/rico-creative-cotton-aran-all-colours?utm_source=ravelry&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ravelry-yarn
The colours are so lovely and it's machine washable. There are several baby blankets using it on Ravelry so it should be o.k. Sorry for the masssive link.

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skiffler · 20/10/2012 19:41

Ripple is just increases and decreases, so no reason why not. Hang on...

Here's a knitted pattern that has a ripple effect. The pattern is called feather and fan, and I imagine there are probably hundreds of examples out there.

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BarbaraWoodlouse · 20/10/2012 19:56

Ooh that's a tempting price Workhouse! And lovely colours. Watching with interest. Looks like it might have a tendency to be a bit splitty?

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workhouse · 20/10/2012 20:11

Yes...I'll have to concentrate hard on my knitting! There are several mentions that it is soft though, which is good, so I think I'll go for it.

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