Woolly Hugs. A Blanket for DutchOma, crafters and donors we need your help.

[KnottyAndPistey]

Very sad news I’m afraid. Our lovely DutchOma’s husband Bob died last week on January 6th, after a long illness. We knew he’d been very poorly, but always had hope. Such a sad loss for her, their children, grandchildren, family and friends. Bless them all. They had been married for nearly 43 years. There has been no separate thread, Oma is being supported by friends on the Christian prayer thread here but please do feel free to use this thread to post condolences. She and her family are in our hearts and thoughts, and we send them love.

Oma has supported and encouraged so many Mumsnetters over the years, including us more than she may realise, and has been such a long term staunch supporter of the blanket making projects on Mumsnet, so we were so pleased when she accepted our offer of a Woolly Hug. We will make it with love for her, as a tribute to her beloved Bob, and a celebration of a joint life filled with love.

So we need crocheters, knitters and donors. Can you help us? Please post on this thread, but also PM me ( RatherBeOnThePiste ) with your offers of help so we know where we are. Thank you.

If you would like to donate wool or funds, I can match you up. If you would like to join in but need donated wool, I can help there too.

Knotty ( KnottyLocks ) is here to help with any crafting queries. All crafting abilities genuinely welcome, squares made by beginner or expert are equally welcomed. It really is the love and thought that counts. Squares to be 6 inches, using 4mm hook or needles. Please do PM Knotty if you need help.

The Yarn we are Using….

• Artesano Superwash Merino DK
• Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK (discontinued but some still around)
• Debbie Bliss Rialto DK
• Drops Merino Extra Fine DK
• James Brett Pure Merino DK (also discontinued, some still to be had)
• Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK
• Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK

Just from the brands listed please because we know they combine for wash and wear.

The colours we are using...
A rich, dark palette of blues, greens, purples, plums.

Suggestions for motifs/designs

• Bob loved Holland so we are thinking tulips to celebrate this, we have a beautiful tulip field design for Team Knit if anyone would like this, please email us on [email protected] (Thanks to PracticallyPerfectNot)
• We have initials, do PM if you are thinking this might be for you.
• Can anyone find a ball of wool and knitting needle design?
• Religious motifs, for example angels would be perfect.

Do use the crafting guide on the website to help you with lots of practical info such as help with buying colours, recommended online retailers and if interested there are a lot of linked suggestions for patterns.

Previous blankets can be seen on the Woolly Hugs website and we are on Facebook and Twitter at MNWoollyHugs/@MNWoollyHugs which are both good ways to keep in touch.

This means so much to Oma, thank you so much for joining with us

Pistey and Knotty

Morning Pistey! :) Hope you have a lovely day.

So can I ask, is it you and knottylocks who compile the quilts, and do you have any extra help? Tis a lovely thing that you do! I am sure I am not the only one who would like some insights into how to put a woolly hug together when tensions vary square to square and 6" means something different to everyone (fnar fnar) (oh dear, that ages me!)

Hello there lovely :)

That's very kind thank you, we will have a think, bless you. Yes tis Knotty and I who compile the Hugs, there is something very special about bringing a Hug together. All that love, care and compassion coming into one, you can honestly feel it. Such an honour and privilege to be able to do this.

A while ago, Knotty wrote this about how a Hug comes together for our website, the blanket it shows was the one we made for Wubbly, a beautiful Mumsnetter who died from breast cancer almost two years ago, leaving her DH and young son.

The key to compiling a WH is crochet as there is such good flexibility, and 'wiggleability' a term invented by Knots. I work in exactly the same way as she has described in that piece. When I'm attaching two squares, I do pin them to make sure the variations of 6" square :) match exactly, before crocheting. I have no idea if Knotty does that, I often think she has more hands than I do, so probably not!

Pistey & Knotty

yego is right, what an enormous thing you two do, organising and co-ordinating it all and putting in crazy amount of hours no doubt (at night if anything like me ) so you are absolute stars, definitely and you are amazing!
THANK YOU BOTH!

&

Thank you Pistey! I had read that page on the WH site but the actual technicalities seemed shrouded in mystery! Pins! Ah ha! :D

Pins!

Thanks Zing

I posted my squares first class Wednesday, I didn't have the chance to include a card for Oma, we've had one drama after another here! However 4 squares are coming your way, I have also included the leftovers of the 2 balls of wool I used incase they're of any use or incase I've done the squares really wrong

Hello, I'm sewing my ends in just now, so would you send me the address for posting please?
Thank you!
as it's Friday night.

Afternoon all :)

I will PM you in two ticks, thanks Allalone

Woolly treasure has been arriving, huge thanks to the crafters for all your thought, love and care, it really is something rather special you know.

TitsalinaBumSquash In two shades of deep purple, four gorgeous garter knit squares, super snuggly and abolsutely lovely. Thank you, yes the leftover wool is always very useful. Nothing ever goes to waste.

Rubycon Just beautiful, basket weave, corner to corner knits and a sort of rib, in navy, dark grey, mulberry and bottle green. All just fabulous.

Thank you both so much

Thinking of our lovely Oma X

OK, MN went terribly wonky after I wrote that post, Allalone I am hoping it will behave now, here I come

Morning all :)

You know what? I am already hugging this blanket in my mind, even before the first two squares have been joined together. Reading all your lovely messages makes me cry, but in such a good way.
I'm ok, but it is a very lonely time now that all the visitors have gone, most of the flowers are in the bin and there is a life without Bob stretching ahead. It's a comfort to know that there are people thinking of me . Just wanted to say that

Sending you kind thoughts Oma , to help you get through the day.

Thank you Pistey I think MN must have been under a zombie attack last night!

DutchOma - I remember MIL and a friend whose wife died saying the same. There is all the hustle, bustle, support, compassion after a loved one dies and then suddenly nothing. Not that everyone forgets but the world keeps turning even though yours feels like it has stopped. I can't wait for the woolly hug to get to you so you can wrap yourself in the love with which it is being made.

On a side note, did you and Bob visit the tulip fields in Holland? I have that on my to do list, the photographs I have seen of it are truly amazing.

(((huge hugs))

MyArse, I'm not sure whether we did or not, I think we might have done. Iirc the best way to see the bulb fields is to take a train from Haarlem to The Hague, you go past all of them and are not stuck in the petrol fumes of all the cars that want to do the same. When you go, you must visit the Keukenhof which is the best way to see the glory of the flowers. Do that by public transport as well, perfectly possible and cheaper than taking one of the organised tours that get advertised in Amsterdam. Unless of course you take a dedicated tour from the UK that takes it all in.

Thanks DutchOma! I have put this thread on my watch list so that when I persuade dh to do it we know where to go

when you do go you must try two things - stroopwafels and komejn kase.
both delicious!
(DH lived in Utrecht for a year so we have loads of Dutch friends, including DS3's godfather)

sorry for derail!

Oma
sending you big hugs and strength.
I'll light another candle for Bob in minute

And you need to eat an uitsmijter; this was served at the end of a party (to get rid of the drunk guests, or so the story goes. Uitsmijten means: to throw out) and consists of two slices of bread, some meat or cheese and two fried eggs. Uitsmijter ham, kaas or rosbief (roast beef). A complete meal in itself.

Thanks for the tips! I have a Dutch friend who keeps us stocked with schenkstroop - dh and dcs love it on pancakes

Have you found the website RealDutchFoods? Such a lot of Dutch delicacies there.

Lovely Oma the hugest hugs from me, thinking of you here, sending so much love Xx

Just to let you know - I have had a response from MNHQ about my suggestion to allow photos onto this board - it's positive, but says that they will look into it and see if it can be done - don't know when but at least they're looking at it! :)

DutchOma - so sorry that you are now to be a recipient of one of these blankets, or rather I'm sorry for the reason, not for you receiving one.
I hope that you have plenty of local friends with whom you can still spend time - my Dad was widowed (widowered?) in 2007 but he has managed to maintain a fairly healthy social life, unlike my Grandad who pretty much went into seclusion after my Nanna died. (((hugs))) and for you anyway xx

Thumb

that's really good, hope it will be done soon!

Oma

big hugs, life does go quiet after a funeral, sometimes people shy away or just want to give you time.
but we are here for you, you know we always care.

Thanks lovely Thumb we will be hopeful :)

I'm glad you received my squares.

I'd live to do some more for future projects.

Is there a best place to purchase the types of wool you use? I'd be more than happy to buy a bunch in a rainbow of colours so I can knit for any more projects.

Thank you so much You may like to have a look at our next project for a lovely MNetter called Critter

We would recommend [http://www.wisebadger.com/knitting-yarns.html?cat=167 Wise Badger]] they sell both the Debbie Bliss Rialto and the Jenny Watson

Our core colours are greens, blues, warm purples, cream (specific ones), silvers, sometimes pink and occasionally red (again specific one)

Thank you so much

Arse!

Wise Badger

:)