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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

OP posts:
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107
KnottyAndPistey · 14/05/2016 10:28

Morning Brew

KnottyAndPistey · 17/05/2016 17:02

"Earlier this year, my four year old granddaughter was admitted to hospital with JDM, Juvenile Dermatomyositis. She was kindly sent a beautiful Woolly Hugs' blanket which she loves and which gave her great comfort during the long 14 weeks in hospital. She is doing extremely well and thankfully is now at home, still snuggling up with her blanket whenever she needs rest on her very long road to recovery. I was so touched by this thoughtful gift, which meant so much to us all, especially my little granddaughter, that I decided to send you these blankets as a thank you. My blankets are not as skilfully made as my granddaughter’s but I hope they help give others the love and support we experienced during an extremely anxious time. Thank you so much - you are doing an amazing job.”

Thank you so much to lovely Sue for her message and for these which will go to little children in hospital. We wish her granddaughter all the best, we are thinking of them. xxx

Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.
KnottyAndPistey · 17/05/2016 17:04

Wow! This stunning Little Hug is for a child in hospital. It is beautifully made by the very lovely CA. Thank you so much!! xxxx

Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.
KnottyAndPistey · 20/05/2016 08:34

Lovely P!

Thank you so much for these beautiful Little Hugs for poorly children in hospital. They are adorable. xxx

Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.
Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.
KnottyAndPistey · 23/05/2016 19:16

Such a beauty! It's a Little Hug for a child in hospital, beautifully crocheted by the very lovely ME. Thank you so much. xxxx

Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.
KnottyAndPistey · 01/06/2016 15:05

Celebrating the start of #VolunteersWeek with the most enormous THANK YOU to our wonderful Woolly Hugs crew, crafters and donors alike.

Every stitch, every moment, every penny given freely, ordinary people doing extraordinary things, proving one person can make a difference, and bless you all for it. So many children and their families feel love, support, comfort, kindness and compassion through your overwhelming generosity.

Loved and looked after. To all our amazing volunteers who make it all possible THANK YOU!! xxx

Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.
KnottyAndPistey · 08/06/2016 17:15

Afternoon Brew

PurpleFrog · 08/06/2016 18:21

Have you announced the Kinship Hugs anywhere on Mumsnet yet?

I have done around 10 squares so far. Do you want me to put them into bags according to colour family when I send them?

BTW I like the idea of having colour schemes for joint blankets. There have been a few recently where all the squares have blended in nicely... except for mine! Grin

KnottyAndPistey · 10/06/2016 16:39

Not yet purple, tis on the website and FB at the mo. No need to sort them, unless you want to, am doing that here and getting to grips with the colour schemes. Knots is very good at putting colour together, these will all be stunning!

KnottyAndPistey · 10/06/2016 16:40

Important Billie's Blanket update!!

Our next collection will be for children in Malawi with the wonderful folk at World Child Cancer.

Last posting is Wednesday 27th July.

Thank you so much. xxxxx

Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.
qazxc · 06/09/2016 18:55

Wool mountain is all packed up and ready to go . That's about a year worth of crocheting and knitting.

Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.
KnottyAndPistey · 07/09/2016 08:12

Woooaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

KnottyAndPistey · 07/09/2016 08:13

Extraordinary - thank you so much!

qazxc · 07/09/2016 08:48

Yes, the postman is going to need a bigger van. 😉

KnottyAndPistey · 07/09/2016 08:55

Yayyyyyyyyy!!!!

qazxc · 07/09/2016 15:58

That's it there on the way!

qazxc · 07/09/2016 15:59
  • they're Blush
qazxc · 07/09/2016 16:23

And we saw Ronan Keating in the petrol station. Very exciting day all round.

KnottyAndPistey · 07/09/2016 18:25

Oh win win!!!

KnottyAndPistey · 07/09/2016 18:26

Thank you so much! Grin

Thanks
CommunistLegoBloc · 15/09/2016 11:39

It's taken me an embarrassing amount of time to clock this project! For Little Hugs, do we just make any style of blanket (s) and send them to the usual address?

KnottyAndPistey · 22/09/2016 09:36

Yes please, all sizes are in the OP

Morning Brew

bookbook · 06/03/2017 10:35

Morning
@KnottyAndPistey
just a query.
I wanted to get started on the Little Hug in bamboo I asked about. I have done one pattern repeat so far ( just to check I will have enough wool !) .
I then worried that the pattern is a bit lacy for tiny fingers and toes, so could you just let me know whether it is suitable? I haven't gone far, so it will be easy to pull back and do a different design :)

Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.
Woolly Hugs: The Babettes, Billie's Blankets and Little Hugs.
KnottyAndPistey · 07/03/2017 17:50

It looks beautiful book you crack on, thank you xxxx

bookbook · 07/03/2017 21:52

will do :)