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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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TimrousBeastie · 12/10/2013 13:41

Wool ordered. Apart from bits that fall off is there anything else I should avoid?

JollyScaryGiant · 12/10/2013 13:45

Nothing with too many big holes and white/cream are out. Granny squares have an okay size of holes.

TheWoollybacksWife · 12/10/2013 14:41

MrsdeVere Thanks

Pistey you enigmatic tease Grin

I should have a parcel winging its way to you soon.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/10/2013 16:59

:)

RatherBeOnThePiste · 12/10/2013 17:01

Lovely MrsDV - big hugs for you. Thinking of your beautiful Billie. X

TheWoollybacksWife · 12/10/2013 17:58

I've just been to the yarn shop. What shall I make next? A join-as-you-go granny square blanket or a ripple blanket?

AnyaKnowIt · 15/10/2013 13:08

I vote for ripple.

one angel hug in the post

mw02 did that ball of cream arrive? (gets worried again)

Kewcumber · 15/10/2013 13:18

MrsDV - I've just finished my Billies Blanket, its for an older boy and is biggish so has taken me a while and because I'm a rubbish knitter I thought of you and Billie and your family quite a bit while I did it so I like to think you are all knitted into my blanket big girly woo-woo nonsense.

Thanks
Mhw02 · 15/10/2013 14:13

Not yet, Anya. Hopefully it's arrived today.

MrsDeVere · 15/10/2013 16:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 16/10/2013 10:37

Morning all :)

The collection of Billie's Blankets for Ghana are going to World Child Cancer this afternoon. Have just posted a photo of them on our Facebook page.

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

A HUGE THANK YOU to all crafters and donors who have made this possible, what an extraordinary response and thing we are all doing here, tis quite overwhelming. May the children who receive them feel the love and comfort, we are quite certain they will.

Thinking of the beautiful, inspirational Billie, and love to MrsDeVere and her family X

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 16/10/2013 12:46

And the first of the finished Babette blankets is here, just wow, tis a work of art, huge thanks to Knots X

Am rushing to sew a tag on so it can go today, but will take some quick pics too.

Just wow!

KnottyLocks · 16/10/2013 16:38

Huge thanks to everyone. You are fabulous Smile Thanks

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RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/10/2013 09:34

Morning Brew

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Some rather fabulous folk to thank Thanks

Thanks TeamDragon Soupy and her mum have jointly made four gorgeous blankets, three for children in Bangladesh and one for Yorkhill, they are adorable. TheOldDragon (Soupy said that was OK!!) delivers bags of knitted squares and Soupy beautifully makes them into blankets with the most lovely edging, check them out on Facebook. Soupy - please thank your mum, she is a star, as indeed are you! X Thanks

Thanks Onewaysystemblues Absolutely lovely purple and silver granny stripe Billie's Blanket, just lovely! Thank you X Thanks

Galena's beautiful DD is having her spinal surgery today, her Little Hug is with them, huge thanks to the folk who have sent in separate squares and to those who made extra, she loves it.

Thanks EllenJane, SallyBear, RiaOverTheRainbow, PolterGoose, Ruby, BIWI, Soupy, nickelbabe, Tweetinat, Knotty and TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission, and thanks always to the donors.

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

KnottyLocks · 22/10/2013 11:09

Blooming stars Smile Thanks

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EllenJanesthickerknickers · 22/10/2013 17:08

Still no news from Galena, but her DD was second on the list and went into surgery at about 1.30pm. Will update you when we hear. Xx

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/10/2013 18:03

Yes please Ellen, have been thinking about her all day X

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 22/10/2013 20:10

Heard from Galena at 7.30. Her DD was out of theatre a 5.20 and back on the ward at 6.00. She's sleeping now, but whinging (Galena's word) whenever she wakes. I guess any idea about outcome may take a while.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/10/2013 21:52

Oh so glad to hear she is through the OP, bless her. Step one is done. Hopefully she will sleep well and be brighter tomorrow. Thanks lovely

We got a card from her today, sooooo cute. Will
Post it on FB in the morning. Just needed to hear from them first. Xx

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/10/2013 22:17

Couldn't wait, have just posted all the pics now :)

AnyaKnowIt · 22/10/2013 22:20

Has my Angel hug turned up?

RatherBeOnThePiste · 23/10/2013 08:48

Yes my lovely and huge thanks Thanks

Posted thanks and the photo ( tis perfect) on our Facebook page on 17th, but only just over on the Angel Hug thread. Apologies for the delay of putting it on the thread too, and THANK YOU XX

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

watchingout · 23/10/2013 16:39

Hi huggers - newbie in the room..

After lurking on a few threads, and finding the patterns section on the webpage, I have been inspired to get out looking for wool (knitting only atm as I haven't crocheted for 30+ years) BUT the only woolshop in my nearest town only stocks King Cole so I though I'd venture further afield to Hobbycraft tomorrow. But they don't stock Stylcraft either Shock

So back onto magic of tinterwebby thing to search out mailorder. So where do you vipers lovely huggers get your wool please?

TIA

TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 23/10/2013 16:55

deramores and wool warehouse are the ones I use depending on who has what on offer Smile If you're going to use deramores like them on fb or sign up for emails as they always have something on offer, they also usually manage next day delivery.

KnottyLocks · 23/10/2013 18:08

Welcome, Watchingout Smile

Masons work out cheaper than Deramores for Stylecraft if Deramores don't have an offer on.

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