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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.

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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 · 03/09/2013 21:27

Oh big hugs Oma, sorry you aren't well. Hope you are much better soon X

Jolly - we haven't kept a count, but if you look at our FB page, there is a photo of all blankets received. Lots!

It is nearly our first anniversary of starting making Little Hugs. Was looking at the old threads earlier and we started this project on September 14th last year. So delighted it is going from strength to strength.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 04/09/2013 14:32

Afternoon :)

RiaOverTheRainbow · 06/09/2013 01:12

What's the best way to attach applique (1-2 inches)? With smaller things I just use the ends of the wool, but I don't know whether that'd be secure enough for something bigger.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 06/09/2013 07:14

Morning Brew

I need to find this out too Ria, am just finishing lemon's woolly hug and have the most gorgeous life sized knitted daffodil to go on, made by the very clever droitwich.

Keep meaning to ask Knots, but I shall and will come back to you!

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Beautiful Woolly treasure arriving yesterday from the very lovely PurpleFrog - all just stunning, a granny striped Billie's Blanket, an over sized granny square Little Hug and a fabulous Babette panel. And such beautiful colours - photos on FB already, do have a look.

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Woolfey · 06/09/2013 13:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 06/09/2013 15:39

Knotty is back in the land of communications now - huzzah! Ria she just said to sew it on, same way, so just about to give it a whirl on the daff. I'm going to use base colour as all ends have been sewn in. See how it goes :)

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Beautiful woolly treasure has arrived from our very own MrsDeVere, two gorgeous Billie's Blankets. Photos already on our Facebook page, both glorious mixes of pinks and lavenders, and granny square style. Thanks

Huge thanks MrsDeVere, these are just lovely, and will go to children in Ghana from you and your beautiful girl. X

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

KnottyLocks · 06/09/2013 16:04

Hellooooooooooooooooo Grin

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KnottyLocks · 06/09/2013 16:11

Ok, folks have been asking about Last Posting dates for the next batch of Billie's blankets, so here they are:

Last Posting date for any Babettes: Friday 1st November

(these are coming straight to me so PM if you need the address)

Last Posting date for Billie's Blankets for Bangladesh: 22nd November

Thanks
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RatherBeOnThePiste · 06/09/2013 19:06

Evening Wine

littlemisswise · 07/09/2013 11:01

Pistey, is it possible to join in to knit some Babettes? I have knitted squares before. DH is going away for four months in ten days so I shall be a bit bored!

KnottyLocks · 07/09/2013 11:04

Oh yes please, LittleMiss Smile

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DancesWithWoolEnPointe · 07/09/2013 11:10

Morning - I have been on a crafting sabatical, but I am ready to re-engage. I will try and do some babettes in the next few weeks and get them to Knots.

Mhw02 · 07/09/2013 12:57

Finally! Blanket finished. I've been working on it since the start of June so it's really exciting to see it all finished, all ends sewn in at last. Off to the post office now.

And then I need to decide what to start on next: another granny stripe, a stylecraft patchwork, a posh wool patchwork or a fabric patchwork. Someone make my mind up for me, please!

TheWoollybacksWife · 07/09/2013 13:08

Mwh02 if you look at my profile there is a picture of a circles in squares blanket I have just finished as a gift. I made 35 squares and I used join as you go to put the square together. Then a few rows of edging and ta-dah only 532 pesky ends to sew in. I must practice the crochet them in as you go along method!

It finished up at about 5 foot by 4 foot and took about 800g of Stylecraft.

JollyHappyGiant · 07/09/2013 13:32

www.redheart.com/free-patterns/crochet-corner-corner-throw

I fancy doing one of those as my next hug :)

Mhw02 · 07/09/2013 14:19

Those are both gorgeous (though eeek at 532 ends!) Thank you. But I already have designs in mind, just need to decide which stash to plunder - stylecraft, rowan/debbie bliss, or fat quarter stash. And if the stylecraft whether to make another granny stripe (have just finished one) or squares, and if the fat quarters whether to go for the floral fabric or the burnt orange...

GlaikitFizzog · 07/09/2013 16:15

Hello! I've been of the woolly hug radar for a while, but I am back in the swing of things now! I have a billie blanket almost done and a whole pile of plain squares I was going to try to hook together myself, but I think it would better done by the experts :o

I'll give a babette a whirl too. Not sure how it will look just knitted though. Is a 12 inch knitted square better than all the smaller ones sewn together (I Also don't trust my sewing skills tbh)

KnottyLocks · 07/09/2013 17:05

Hola, Fizzy. [cava]

Up to you really. Am happy for you to send 4 x 6 inch squares and I'll stitch them together if that helps.

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AnathemaDevice · 08/09/2013 18:10

Hello all!

I've decided to post on this thread rather than just lurk, in the hope it will motivate me to actually finish the Billie blanket I started weeks ago.

I've got a bagful of various shades of greens, pinks and purples left over from other projects, so I thought I'd have a go at making a babette blanket. The squares have turned out fine, but when I join them it's going a bit wobbly. Where am I going wrong? I've undone the joins and tried again so many times. Should I just persevere and hope that it straightens out as more squares are added?

MrsDeVere · 08/09/2013 21:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KnottyLocks · 08/09/2013 22:34

Oh what a surprise Grin I'll see if I have some Magenta here to add to your 'rainbow '

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KnottyLocks · 08/09/2013 22:36

Anathema, how many squares are we talking? Are you stitching or hooking?

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MrsDeVere · 08/09/2013 23:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 09/09/2013 06:57

Morning :)

GlaikitFizzog · 09/09/2013 07:11

Morning! Brew