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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

OP posts:
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KnottyLocks · 18/09/2013 07:33

You are all brilliant Smile

Huge thanks Thanks

Woolfey, no need to apologise my lovely. We know only too well that RL can be pretty hectic! X

OP posts:
JollySleepyGiant · 18/09/2013 07:36

I've decided to give up on hugs for the moment as I just don't have time :( I started what was meant to be a hug the other day, only to discover that the yarn I've bought is not very washable so it's just not suitable.

I shall be back at it after Christmas though, if I don't find time before.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/09/2013 17:40

Bless you Jolly we really do understand, big hugs from us, and thank you xx

RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/09/2013 17:47

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Some thanks yous this evening :)

Thanks To a lovely donor who yesterday sent some funds to help with our general costs. Hugely thoughtful, and we really appreciated it, thank you. We only have a proper name, and have thanked directly by email, but just wanted to thank here too. You are a star X Thanks

Thanks Macdog for the most lovely red, blue and yellow crocheted Little Hug for a child in Yorkhill, so gorgeous Thanks

Thanks LizaTarbucksAuntie For a super snuggly garter knit Billie's Blanket for the Ghana collection. Just perfect. Thank you Thanks

And as many will have seen, the Little Hugs have arrived safely with Family Support at Yorkhill. Huge thanks now to Frances for thinking about where best they go and distributing them. I can imagine that can't be an easy task.Thanks

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

MNPlovesthesunshine · 19/09/2013 21:59

Glad they have arrived. Xx

RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/09/2013 22:21

Me too! :)

RatherBeOnThePiste · 20/09/2013 16:22

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

And the first and certainly very beautiful Billie's Blanket for a child in Bangladesh is here. Huge thanks to the very lovely Rachel Ives, tis absolutely gorgeous. Thanks

And in case you missed our excitement this afternoon, MNHQ are going to match fund what we raise on the Woolly Hugs Just Giving page for World Child Cancer! WOW!!

Thanks Thanks Thanks Huge thanks, Justine xx

The linky is here, just in case you were wondering :)

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

KnottyLocks · 20/09/2013 16:38

Gorgeous blankets Smile

Huge thanks to all, crafters and donors alike Thanks

OP posts:
KnottyLocks · 20/09/2013 16:39

Match funding

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 26/09/2013 09:05

Match funding

RatherBeOnThePiste · 26/09/2013 09:09

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Beautiful woolly treasure has been arriving, huge thanks to the crafters and donors, there is much awesomeness around. :)

Thanks HilaryM for a gorgeous crocheted Billie's Blanket in sherbet, spring green and parchment. Tis just lovely Thanks

Thanks To lovely MrsBaker Two gorgeous striped knits, lovely textures too using different stitches, one is a Little Hug for Yorkhill, the other a Billie's Blanket. Gorgeous Thanks

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

CatsInCustard · 26/09/2013 14:33

I'm hopefully planning to make a 24 by 24 inches Little Hug in bright coloured squares. Getting wool at the weekend and will dig out the knitting needles Smile

RatherBeOnThePiste · 26/09/2013 19:16

Oooo sounds lovely :)

Thank you so much!! Thanks

tribpot · 26/09/2013 22:22

Hello huggers!

I'm just popping by, since weirdly a number of my worst work moments have been recounted on Woolly Hugs threads, to announce I resigned today. No job to go to - all a bit WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE 'WTF have I done' at the moment.

Anyway, I do also have three squares to send off, so will DM you Pistey :)

Woolfey · 26/09/2013 22:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 26/09/2013 22:32

All change at a Trib Towers then?! Big hugs lovely. Xx

tribpot · 26/09/2013 22:50

Well that's good to know, Woolfey - although I hope I don't pick up another husband, cos there's laws against that sorta thing Wink

I've had some positive feedback today to suggest there are options I can try and chase down, although I don't have very sort of 'conventional' experience for my sector that translates easily into a similar job in another organisation. And knitting for a living is not yet an option Grin

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/09/2013 10:44

Really good re the positive feedback trib, fingers crossed for you X

Am Babetting away, but want to add in an oblong solid granny or trad granny in the next one, any ideas anyone on the how? Saw a blanket made like this, just wonder how you start it off... Brew

KnottyLocks · 28/09/2013 09:28

Sending hugs and positive vibes , Trib x

Pistey, do you mean an oblong that runs the length of the panel?

OP posts:
TheWoollybacksWife · 28/09/2013 09:42

Good luck Trib. The best thing I ever did was to resign from a job I hated. I didn't go back after ML and was lucky enough to be able to be a SAHM for a while.

I have just this week got a new job - only a few hours a week and at about a third of my old hourly rate, but in a school office with the prospect of it becoming a more substantial role in a month or so.

On the down side - this will eat into my crafting time and my planned Christmas poncing plus I have to move house before Christmas. I have sparks coming off my needles trying to get ahead of my to do list Grin

RatherBeOnThePiste · 28/09/2013 09:56

Yes, I do, so instead of stripes, try an oblong granny along one edge.

Morning :) Brew

JollySleepyGiant · 28/09/2013 12:19

dishclothdiaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/striped-rectangle-granny.html?m=1

Pistey, here's the pattern for a rectangle granny.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 28/09/2013 17:00

Ooooo thank you Jolly, that is exactly the sorta thing, I shall have a look,
thank you Thanks

AnyaKnowIt · 28/09/2013 17:36

Marking my place as its dropped off threads I'm on.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 30/09/2013 20:43

Okayyy, tried the granny oblong and it is lovely, just like an granny, only um... oblong but it isn't quite what I had in mind. Am trying to work out starting chain to get the length I want. Tis a bit random. Tried with 23.

Anyway, I shall include the piece I have done. So now am on the hunt for a solid granny oblong which might look more like stripes which is what I think I'm after, any ideas anyone?