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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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107
RatherBeOnThePiste · 09/07/2013 06:56

and lo...

Morning Brew

KnottyLocks · 09/07/2013 07:14

Morning Smile

Thanks MNHQ Thanks

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TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 09/07/2013 08:29

ah there you are, I'd lost this thread Shock

I've 2 more rounds to go on ds2's blanket and will then get cracking Smile

AnyaKnowIt · 09/07/2013 19:59

I can't get it to go 12''

Mhw02 · 09/07/2013 20:50

Just finished all the individual squares of my Babette panel, now just need to finish sewing in all the ends there are a lot of them as the squares are multi-coloured - sobs), and then sew all twenty squares together. This could take a while...

KnottyLocks · 09/07/2013 21:19

Anya, what size is it? What sort of layout are you going for?

Mhw, 20 squares??? Blimey.

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Mhw02 · 09/07/2013 21:29

21 actually. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to do 8 single round squares! It's going to make the sides of the block awfully wibbly though.

AnyaKnowIt · 09/07/2013 22:17

Its not anything now, I threw a strop and undid it all Blush

KnottyLocks · 10/07/2013 07:13

Ah! For a supposedly relaxing thing, this crafting has a tendency to make me swear like a trooper at times.

Mhw, Don't panic about the wibbly edge, it'll be fine when hooked to another panel.

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AnyaKnowIt · 10/07/2013 13:19

I know that feeling well. I'm always swearing under my breath and hugging and puffing at it.

my problem is I get ideas beyond my skill level Grin

AnyaKnowIt · 10/07/2013 13:20

*huffing

PurpleFrog · 10/07/2013 15:03

I started my Babette panel last night and have done two 6" squares. I am thinking of placing them diagonally and doing 8 x 3" squares to fill in the gaps. I have been good and chosen only 3 colours... Smile

... but I think I will have to put health warnings on the package to only open wearing sunglasses! Wink Grin

RatherBeOnThePiste · 10/07/2013 17:42

I hardly ever swear over my woolly wool

RatherBeOnThePiste · 10/07/2013 17:42
Hmm
RatherBeOnThePiste · 10/07/2013 17:43
Smile
RatherBeOnThePiste · 10/07/2013 17:43

Ideas beyond skill level? Sounds very familiar!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 10/07/2013 17:46

This Little Hug arrived today with SallyBear's beautiful 13 year old DD, bless her, she's having another round of arduous reconstruction surgery at Great Ormond Street in August. Sally says her DD likes brights and rainbow stripes - we hope it's zingy enough!! It certainly goes with love, strength, positive vibes,sunshine and hugs from us all. Xx

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Huge thanks to those who had sent in separate stylecraft squares to be added to a joint LH project and to those who made some extra for this - Rubycon, HaveToWearHeels, Soupy, bebejones, Woollfey, TheWoollybacksWife, bluesky, TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission, EllenJanesthickerknickers, UniqueandAmazing and Knotty. Thanks

As always thanks to the lovely donors too. Thanks

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 10/07/2013 18:18

It's truly lovely! Has an attic24 feel to the colours. I'm going to link it to the SN board. Smile

Mhw02 · 10/07/2013 18:26

That blanket is stunning! All the best to SallyBear's daughter for her surgery.

AnyaKnowIt · 10/07/2013 21:04

Just seen the blanket on facebook, its amazing the colours are lovely.

HoggyTruffle · 10/07/2013 21:27

The blanket for SallyBear's daughter is wonderful.

My Babette is in the post. I planned it, measured it, joined it together, measured it again, swore a bit, unpicked it, made the squares bigger and re-joined. I hadn't accounted for the fact the joining makes everything slightly smaller. Doh! It was fun though.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 11/07/2013 11:56

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Just beautiful. A Little Hug for a child at Yorkhill Hospital has arrived from the very lovely MonroetoAngeline.

Tis absolutely gorgeous, a huge thank you to her Thanks

and thanks too to the very lovely HoggyTruffle for a gorgeous Babette panel. Thanks

Pictures are on our Facebook page MNWoollyHugs, they are lovely!

and........ Smile

The next batch of Billie's Blankets will be heading off to children in Ghana in the Autumn. To make sure we have them ready to go, the last posting for whole blankets and Babette panels will be SATURDAY 31ST AUGUST. Thanks Thanks

Making the same deadline for the next batch of Little Hugs for Yorkhill. Thanks Thanks

A HUGE thank you Xx

No... bigger than that, a GINORRRRRRRMOUS thank you!

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

AnyaKnowIt · 11/07/2013 13:32

I'm looking at the pictures on Facebook with a face like Envy
they are all beautiful Grin

Mhw02 · 11/07/2013 19:26

Babette panel in the post. I was going to do a border around it to try and straighten out the edges a bit, but it was already measuring up at exactly 12 inches. Oh, and I had a little fight with the envelope when I was in the Post Office trying to get it to fit a large letter (the postage more than doubled for a small parcel). Now the wee woman at the Post Office counter did say to me that it fitted, but it was a squeeze, so Pistey, if you get charged for underpaid postage, please, please let me know so I can square it with you.

Right, and now I'm instituting a Strict Rule that I am not allowed to start any more new projects until I finish at least three of the ones that I currently have on the go!

KnottyLocks · 11/07/2013 22:58

Only three?

I wish Grin

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