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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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107
KnottyLocks · 25/06/2013 18:44

X 2 Smile

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KnottyLocks · 25/06/2013 18:46

So you could have one 6x 12 like this:

3" + 3"
6"
3" + 3"

Then either same again or

3" + 3"
3" + 3"
6"

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KnottyLocks · 25/06/2013 18:47

Possibly Gin time...

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Jules146 · 25/06/2013 20:30

Thanks Knotty will have a play... I didn't realise this would be so difficult for my little brain!

KnottyLocks · 25/06/2013 20:55

I know how you feel. My language was most vibrant trying to work mine out!

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RatherBeOnThePiste · 26/06/2013 06:57

I have several bits of paper with layout scribblings on, and even then, when it came to it, I hadn't made enough of the tiny squares. Grin

Morning Brew

bebejones · 26/06/2013 22:24

I was very anal organised about it, most unusual for me!! I drew a grid of 12 squares by 12 squares and marked out a layout over the top of this. When I was happy with it I counted up how many of each size square I needed. I had 1x6" 2x4" 4x3" and 10x2". I figures my brain would never cope with just having to fit them all together, I'd get far too confused!! Wink

KnottyLocks · 27/06/2013 09:34

Blimey, that is organised!

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HoggyTruffle · 27/06/2013 09:49

So to make a babette panel I would need Stylecraft DK, a ruler, graph paper, coffee followed by gin and a long train journey?

I think my solution will be to hand colouring pencils to DD or ask DS to write a babette random design computer program. Smile

AnyaKnowIt · 27/06/2013 12:20

Are they really hard to do? :O

LizaRose · 27/06/2013 15:07

As hard as you want to make them, Anya. I just did four six inch squares and hooked them together!

AnyaKnowIt · 27/06/2013 15:24

thanks Liza have finished my angel hug. would take a picture but did has nicked it.

Jules146 · 27/06/2013 18:26

Grin I have don't it!! Yesssss! Not saying it is perfect but I have managed to hook it all t

Jules146 · 27/06/2013 18:28

... Hook it all together! Thanks to the help from Knotty I won't be posting it just yet though.. will get Snortis' squares done first and post together... Providing they are going to the same place?! Confused

Wolfcub · 27/06/2013 18:29

graph paper?!?! maybe free styling my babette wasn't the way to go Shock

AnyaKnowIt · 27/06/2013 18:43

Just about to start my first one. Do they have to be closed granny squares?

KnottyLocks · 27/06/2013 20:13

Yaaaayyyy Jules Grin and yes, squares and Babettes sent to the usual place, please.

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KnottyLocks · 27/06/2013 20:15

Anya, they can be solid or traditional grannies, or whatever pattern you like as long as they aren't too holey.

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RatherBeOnThePiste · 28/06/2013 10:42

Morning Smile Brew

HoggyTruffle · 28/06/2013 14:03

I've started too with a 6" square to be on the safe side. I think it is time to draw a picture as my attempts at making it up as I go along aren't usually successful.

AnyaKnowIt · 30/06/2013 09:25

first Babette done Smile

KnottyLocks · 01/07/2013 19:41

Oh fabulous, Anya Smile

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AnyaKnowIt · 03/07/2013 09:47

have started another but had to slow down as dd has dropped her day time nap Sad

KnottyLocks · 03/07/2013 20:37

Ah, remember that well!

Testing times indeed!

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KnottyLocks · 08/07/2013 21:52

Asking for this to be moved to Arts and Crafts now.

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