Woolly Hugs: Little Hugs. Crafting away.

[KnottyLocks]

A new thread as we've managed to fill up two already

The project launch thread can be found here

The second thread is here

This is an ongoing project so Little Hugs can be made and sent to us at anytime. We will suggest posting dates from time to time to collect batches for sending off to Yorkhill Hospital.

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.

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.

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. You are all complete stars

[KnottyLocks]

New thread for Little Hugs and Billie's Blankets is here

[MOSagain]

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Some photos on Facebook (MNWoollyHugs) from a lovely mum from Yorkhill. Just copied her thank you message below, bless her son, bless them all.


Just wanted to say thank you for the beautiful blankets my son received while he was at Yorkhill. Baby Tom spent the first 6.5 months of his life there, 6 months of which he was in intensive care. His first blanket was a little cream one he got on his first day there... It really made a difference that he had something that wasn't hospital supplies, that someone had taken the time to make something for a little baby like him was really touching.

The second blanket was a big colourful one and was given to us when he was very unwell in PICU, it kept him warm when he was so sick and unable to move or breath for himself and was sedated and ventilated, especially as it could get quite cold at night in that ward. it also felt nice knowing there was love and care knitted in the blanket and we were leaving him tucked in underneath it at night when we had to leave to go back to Ronald McDonald. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who runs this and all the amazing crafters out there. We parents really appreciate it, you have no idea how much it helps xx

[KnottyLocks]

Welcome , Butterfly

[MOSagain]

hello all, must marking spot. Finally got off arse and sewn in ends on my little 'rainbow' hug so will post to you tomorrow Pistey Not sure how much you need for hooking together/edging? Not got a huge amount of denim so let me know x

[Butterflybramble]

Just thought I'd stick my head in and say 'hello'.

I signed up to MN just to keep in touch with all the WoollyHugs projects after NomDeClavier introduced them to me.

Have introduced my mum and one of her friends so hoping they will be joining in too!

[RiaOverTheRainbow]

Thanks Pistey, that attic24 guide is excellent.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Morning

There are a couple of ways using double crochet, that are straightforward, it will depend whether you want to see the join or not. On the big blankets we have the seam on the top, it sorta frames each square, and works with knits and crochet, if you have a look on the website you'll see what I mean.

Have a look here though she crochets granny squares from the back so you don't see the join.

[RiaOverTheRainbow]

What's the best way to join granny squares? I'm still figuring out this crochet malarkey.

[Mhw02]

Excellent, will just post along with the blankets.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Ooooo, we'd be very happy to have those, thank you!

[Mhw02]

I have finally finished my little hugs, so they'll be posted on Monday or Tuesday. Very sorry they didn't make this posting.

Could anyone make use of some fleece for a little hug or Billie's blanket? If so please let me know. For reasons impossible to fathom I have got it into my head to attempt a sewn quilt next - I just fancied having a go. This decision may prove disastrous! Anyway though, I bought some fleece and some cotton fat squares today. I asked the girl in the shop for 1 metre of fleece, but she just gave me an off cut, as she said once she'd cut a metre, the remainder would be too small to be sellable, so I took it home and discovered I'd been given a bit of fleece 164cm each side. I'm wanting to do something small to start off with and because I'll be hand sewing, probably just 24 inches square, so wanted to know if anyone more experienced than me who isn't going to destroy the material as I undoubtedly will could make use of the remainder? I've got some rose pink and also some apple green. Can also send half cuts of the fat squares as I've got more than I need of them too.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

The box of Little Hugs arrived safely at Yorkhill yesterday Hopefully soon they will be with the children and hard at work.








More have arrived, they're absolutely beautiful, huge thanks to our amazing friends in the Glasgow Woolly Mafia, and to very lovely ButterflyBramble and the equally lovely AnathemaDevice

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Just waiting for UPS, beautiful Little Hugs arriving in the last couple of days from Sylvia Gunning, JulesJules, PiggyPlumPie, TheWoollyBacksWife, coffeeandchocolateplease and schooldidi.

Heartfelt thanks to all, just marvellous X

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Just getting the collection ready for Yorkhill, have UPS coming tomorrow.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Morning

[AnathemaDevice]

I finally posted my first little hug on Saturday, though due to the bank holiday it won't go anywhere until Tuesday, so it will probably be too late to get added to the next Yorkhill delivery.

Now I've got to decide on what to make next. I think I spend more time on Ravelry and Pinterest looking at blankets than I do making them.

[KnottyLocks]

Welcome home, MOS

Well done on your treck and big hugs for your Woolly missionary work. X

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

Welcome back MOSagain!

[MOSagain]

hello, back from deepest darkest Peru and just checking to see if my squares turned up ok?
Didn't get much done whilst away but did manage to get 3 new recruits to join in with little hugs and billie's blankets. Two novices who are going to try a few plain squares and an experienced hooker. Between the 4 of us we are going to aim for some 'team trek inca trail' blankets

[Mhw02]

Okay, there's no way I'm going to have my current blanket ready for posting tomorrow: I grossly underestimated how long hooking together would take when I have a mixture of knit and crochet squares!

I did however, get a bargain in John Lewis today for my next blanket - Rowan 50g Organic Belle DK (it's a half wool/half cotton mix) in various colours for £2.75 a ball (usually £5.50 both in John Lewis and Deramores). Was very excited by my find. Now just need to decide whether to do squares, a big granny square, or attempt a ripple blanket...

[Jacksmania]

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

We haven't set a maximum size, just a minimum of 18 inches square which is a good size for a baby, thank you

[Mhw02]

Glad mine arrived safely. By the way, is there a maximum size for the Little Hugs? I've got one nearly finished at the moment, but am swithering over whether to leave it as is and just hook it together, or whether to add another row. If I hook it together as it is now it might just make the post on Saturday; if I add another row, there isn't a chance!

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Jacks, hope you are better soon X

Morning