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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:
Somersaults · 21/10/2012 23:49

*shall recommence.

as if I've ever been normal

PurplePidjInAPointyHat · 22/10/2012 08:21

Piccies please, Nickel!

Good luck, Somersaults, see you on the other side Thanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/10/2012 08:25

Morning Woolly Chums Brew Smile

Looking forward to seeing this tiger!

craftynclothy · 22/10/2012 09:19

Sorry I've not been around much lately. I had an exam on Weds afternoon so was frantically revising. Hoping to work on dd's blanket this week and during half term and then pick up again after that. Though if I get a bit bored with doing hers I'll slip in some other stuff.

SoupDragon · 22/10/2012 09:23

Are the mini hugs and the squares for 5boys to be sent to the same place?

KnottyLocks · 22/10/2012 09:36

Morning all Smile

Apologies for being absent : chaotic weekend and now work today. Will be back later.

OP posts:
CamperWidow · 22/10/2012 12:02

Afternoon all!

I have just recieved by beautiful donation in the post and I've now got to spend hours trying to find a pattern to do it justice!!!

Cheers!!!!

nickeldaisical · 22/10/2012 12:14

here's the corner
and what i've done on rows so far.
it's curly now, but it should even out.

PurplePidjInAPointyHat · 22/10/2012 12:29

:o

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/10/2012 13:02

Good news Camper, glad it has arrived safely Smile

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/10/2012 13:03

Love the tiger X

IShallWearMidnight · 22/10/2012 13:12

I've almost finished Hug no 2 - Dd wanted be to do a two coloured spiral, but I couldn't get the hang of that all, so found a four coloured pattern, then have made it up to fill in the corners and get each side to be the same length more or less. So I now have three more rows of the border to do, and then sew in some ends forgot that I could crochet them in as I go along Blush. So that's another one almost ready for posting Smile.

Someone asked further back how far the stylecraft multipack goes - the answer is very far indeed - I reckon I could manage 6 18 inch square little hugs in treble crochet, more if I do granny squares. When I've finished this one, I'll weigh it and Do Some Sums.

droitwitchymummy · 22/10/2012 13:50

Did someone request a dragon?

SoupDragon · 22/10/2012 13:59

It has to be a knitted dragon to go with the crocheted tiger...

GlaikitFizZombie · 22/10/2012 14:10

I'm trying to knit a dragon, however I've never knitted in the round before so it might just be a snake!!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/10/2012 15:22

I've finished my first mini-hug - it's on my profile stealth boast.

GlaikitFizZombie · 22/10/2012 15:26

Looks fab SDTG! Looks like the block busters board! I'll have a p please bob!!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/10/2012 15:41

Lolol - you're right, it does!

nickeldaisical · 22/10/2012 15:45

that's fab STDG :)

talking of retro-stuff:
is anyone able to knit/crochet Tetris blankets?
that's all the rage at the moment Grin

GlaikitFizZombie · 22/10/2012 15:48

Should be easy enough to do with fairisle/intarsia. I was thinking that fairisle would do a decent space invaders motif the other week!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/10/2012 15:56

You could do a tetris one out of crocheted granny squares.

PurplePidjInAPointyHat · 22/10/2012 16:00

Or that log cabin knitting thing lots of people like because there's no sewing?

Love it, SDTG, I'll have a t please, Bob Brew

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/10/2012 16:16

So delighted, just had an email from our friends at Yorkhill!

"Just to let you know that I received the beautiful woolly hugs today. They are absolutely amazing, thank you so much.....I am sure the families will appreciate these so much."

She says that they will be passed on to Family Support, and then onto families, hopefully as early as this week. There are families in Yorkhill right now in very dark times who will be receiving comfort, support and love through your Little Hugs. I feel teary but so happy too. Everyone should be so proud of what they have done, the care, compassion, love, generosity and time folk put in was truly awesome, and you are continuing to do so, bless you X

Thank you doesn't really seem enough sometimes, but thank you Thanks

MOSagain · 22/10/2012 17:09

Wine cheers and of course Thanks to you and knotty for organising it all. Without you there would be no woolly hugs

droitwitchymummy · 22/10/2012 17:14

I am thinking about this dragon Grin