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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.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.

897 replies

KnottyLocks · 18/06/2013 16:06

This is a continuation of our Little Hug and Billie's Blanket projects.

Little Hugs will continue to go to babies and children who are seriously ill in Yorkhill hospital and Billie's blankets will be sent in Billie's name, via the wonderful charity World Child Cancer, to children undergoing treatment for cancer in low and middle income countries.

Our aim with the Babettes is to make some bigger blankets for older children, both for Little Hugs and Billie's Blankets.
We will still make blankets of other sizes too.

THE BABETTES

The idea is to make a 12 x 12 inch panel, either crochet or knit, that can be added to others to create bigger blankets.
The panel can be made as one piece, or as a combination of squares, stripes or patterned. For example, a large granny square, or 4 six inch squares together, or a panel of stripes.
The design is up to you as long as it isn't too holey and will be fine stitched or hooked to others.
If you choose to use separate squares as part of your design, can we ask that they be either stitched together, hooked as you go, or hooked together with the seam on the back.

Yarn for Babettes: Stylecraft Special DK only, so we know that the blankets will wash and wear well and, unless your tension is very tight, use 4mm hooks or needles.

Colours: your choice although for practical reasons, we advise avoiding white and cream.
Some colour combinations that would work: blues/greens, purples/pinks, spring colours, primary brights, rainbow shades.

If you Google 'Babette blankets', you'll get an idea of what we have in mind once the panels are combined.

***

FOR WHOLE BLANKETS - Little Hugs and Billie's Blankets:

Minimum size: 18 x 18 inches for Little Hugs; 24 inches by 24 inches for Billie's Blankets.
If you would like to make a blanket that is bigger, that would be lovely.
The children we send Billie's Blankets to are aged 0 to 14 and Yorkhill treat children of a similar age so we will need bigger blankets too hence our Babettes.

Colours: Your choice.
Although again for practical reasons, we advise avoiding white and cream.

Things to avoid:
Any embellishments that could scratch delicate skin or could be swallowed.

Materials:
Suggested yarn for Billies Blankets: Stylecraft Special DK, a soft, non-scratchy acrylic yarn.
If you would like to make a whole blanket, you could use a different weight and make of acrylic yarn. The essential thing is that it needs to be soft against sensitive and delicate skin and that it can be washed and dried quickly and easily.
For Little Hugs: As above, plus any of our usual Woolly Hugs woolly wool or yarn that is soft and can be machine washed.

We would also love fleece backed quilts, or edged fleece blankets if you prefer sewing.

As always, we also welcome any 6 inch squares made using the Stylecraft Special DK or any of the usual Woolly Hugs blanket wools.

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 Thanks

Knotty and Pistey

Website- www.woollyhugs.com
Facebook ? MNWoollyHugs
Twitter - @MNWoollyHugs

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RatherBeOnThePiste · 30/08/2013 18:25

Thank you Anya, glad your parcels arrived, and the contents are just gorgeous, huge thanks X

RatherBeOnThePiste · 30/08/2013 18:33

Evening lovely woolly chums Wine

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Beautiful woolly treasure arriving, huge thanks to all, it really is so heart-warming and just marvellous X Thanks

Thanks For Billie's Blankets - Fan and Ninja

Thanks For Little Hugs for Yorkhill AnyaKnowIt and Mrs Baker

Thanks For Babette Panels Fan, AnyaKnowIt and Ninja

You really are all STARS

Thank you

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

KnottyLocks · 30/08/2013 18:36

They are fabulous Smile Thanks

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Mhw02 · 30/08/2013 18:41

Pistey, I know the posting deadline is tomorrow, but I have a big blanket that hasn't a hope of being ready for then, but if I work very, very hard this weekend I might just get it finished in time to post first class on Monday. Would that still make the deliveries?

(If the answer is "no", I shall put it to one side and actually attempt to finish my long-promised Angel Hug.)

Mhw02 · 30/08/2013 18:44

Oh, and I meant to say - Fan, Ninja and Anya's Babette panels are gorgeous! I'm well impressed!

AnyaKnowIt · 30/08/2013 19:31

me being a pain again

did you get 2 parcels from me. I sent a angel hug and a blue and yellow babette

TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 30/08/2013 19:38

Anya I see 2 babette panels and an angel hug from you on the fb page, they're gorgeous!

AnyaKnowIt · 30/08/2013 19:45

ah yeah see them now Blush

KnottyLocks · 30/08/2013 21:18

Mhw, we can wait until early next week. Smile

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PurpleFrog · 30/08/2013 23:28

That's fine Knotty. I eventually made a DECISION over my blanket. That involved starting a Little Hug a few days ago. I only have 2 more rounds to do, then I have to wash both blankets - I should have them in the post on Monday as well. Smile

KnottyLocks · 31/08/2013 08:16

Smashing Smile

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TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 31/08/2013 10:52

I noticed someone asked for the pattern for one of my blankets on fb, don't want to completely out myself Smile it's this one but with a different colour pattern and dk yarn with the addition of a V stitch round with the bright pink as it's brighter than I thought. Although what was I expecting from a yarn called bright pink Grin V stitch starts chain 5 (counts as 1tr and ch2) and tr into same st, skip 2 st, tr ch2 tr into 3rd st, hope that makes sense, at the corner instead of ch2, ch3 or 4 depending on your tension to make the corner. If you start the V st in the centre st of a 3tr cluster it'll work nicely into the corners and your next 3tr cluster row will line up nicely.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 31/08/2013 11:04

Thanks lovely Ninja - shall go and share that on the FB page. Thanks

AnyaKnowIt · 31/08/2013 21:43

The woolly hug for red is lovely.

Am having a clear out as moving again would anyone have any use for 3 balls of style craft wonder soft 2ply in white? Free to a good home.

Dutchoma · 01/09/2013 06:44

I would

RatherBeOnThePiste · 01/09/2013 06:58

Morning :)

RatherBeOnThePiste · 01/09/2013 07:00

There we are - Anya, a perfect home for the woolly wool. :) Hope the move goes well. X

KnottyLocks · 01/09/2013 07:33

Morning all Smile

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AnyaKnowIt · 01/09/2013 09:29

yay Grin

do you want to pm me your address Grin

Mhw02 · 02/09/2013 07:54

50 peskies down, only 100 more to go!

(Bangs head against brick wall and wonders why I didn't sew them in as I was going along.)

KnottyLocks · 02/09/2013 09:37

Ouch....on both counts.

Hate sewing in peskies

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RatherBeOnThePiste · 02/09/2013 14:18
EllenJanesthickerknickers · 03/09/2013 00:13

I've just finished a babette and nearly finished another, now the nights are drawing in. Wink Trouble is, I'm not sure about my colour choices. I get overwhelmed in the shop and can only afford a few at a time and end up choosing colours that look 'meh' together. I can do the crochet, I'm actually quite good at the crochet, but I need someone with 'style' to choose my colours for me...

I've got most of a ball of magenta, violet, aspen, white and half a ball of khaki. What other colours can I get to go with some of these to look lovely?

KnottyLocks · 03/09/2013 07:12

Ellen, let me find my colour chart and I'll be back after the school run Smile

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EllenJanesthickerknickers · 03/09/2013 07:46

Knotty, you're a darling. I need a colour wheel or something. Smile