We have been very moved by a request from the Octavia Appeal at the Brompton Hospital. The Brompton Hospital is a specialist heart and lung centre in London complete with the second largest paediatric intensive care unit in the country. This unit takes the sickest babies and children from all over, some transferred immediately after birth, others have become too sick to be cared for at other major hospitals and most are already on life support when they arrive. These babies and children are incredibly sick, and very sadly not all survive. The Octavia Appeal have approached us and asked if we are able to make blankets for these babies who have very sadly passed away.
We are looking for crafters and donors to help make this possible. At an intensely bleak and dark time there is still something very positive that we can do for the baby and their family. Our blankets are always handmade with love and compassion and so are perfect. We can help care for the whole family at this time by making the baby comfortable and snuggled up whilst sending love and a hug to the parents.
We know that we have many crafters and donors who have first hand experience of such devastating loss. We understand that this is a very difficult request, but if you can join with us, and are able to help, then we would love to have you on board. From speaking to some of you, we know how incredibly important blankets like these are to those who receive them.
Like Little Hugs, Angel Hugs will be an ongoing project and the two will run alongside each other.
To our lovely crafters
- Angel Hugs are to be all white and can be knitted or crocheted in any wool suitable for a baby blanket, so 4ply, DK, just as long as it feels soft and cosy. The design is up to you, but it should be kept simple. Angel Hugs can also be sewn using pure cotton and good quality fleece, again white please and in a simple design.
- Minimum size : 24 inches square, going up to a maximum of approx. 30 inches square.
- If making a whole Angel Hug feels too much, but you would still like to support this, we would be pleased to accept simple knitted and crocheted 6 inch squares, which we will hook together. If choosing this option, please use Stylecraft Special DK in white.
- If you would like to take part in this project but feel you can't due to the costs involved, please PM me and we'll try to help you with materials.
To our lovely Donors
We would be very grateful for support from anyone who would like to donate funds to help with this. You can either donate via Paypal admin@ woollyhugs.com but please add a message so we know who to thank and which project it is for. If you don't have Paypal, please PM me as we have other ways that you can donate. We are so grateful to all our donors, without you, these projects could not function.
Knotty is here to help with any questions, and please PM me if you'd like to and are able to join us with this.
It is a very sad request we are making, and yet there is something very positive here too, and we know the Blanketeers have big hearts.
Sometimes thank you doesn't seem enough, but thank you once again Xx
DH doesn't want me to do it but he has long since lost the right to dictate to me