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

Glad mine arrived safely. Not very adventurous but I thought I'd better start simple and work up to something more exciting! Much love to DutchOma and her family x

Good to see they reached you safely. The bobbly one was puff stitch, and the first time I'd tried it. Doesn't it make the wool so snuggly?
These colours sound lovely, it'll be beautiful x

No further news re. photos, so have started a thread in Site Stuff here, if you could all bundle along and add your pleadings please?
:)

yey! mine arrived.
sorry the cross one is a little odd-shaped, I did it freehand

Ahoy hoy Knotty and Pistey - are you still there?

I had a catastrophe with my moss stitch square .

I was 3/4 of the way through it when I got distracted by something engrossing on tv and I started a row with knit, when it should have been purl. So it went out of kilter (classic moss stitch nightmare) and because the tv programme was so engrossing I didn't notice for a few rows, by which time my moss stitch had morphed into rib stitch .

As I am a total novice knitter, I had no idea how to unpick those few rows of rib (all to do with having the stitches wrong way round on your needle). So I unravelled the lot and went to bed with a heavy heart .

But I hate to fail! So today I have knitted a whole square in safe and simple stocking stitch. I have managed to achieve this by ignoring my children and feeding them scraps!

If I post it first class first thing tomorrow morning, will you please accept it for dutchoma's blanket? Oh please, I am pleading with VERY big sad eyes. I really wanted to contribute to this particular blanket.

Mintyy

bless you!
I can see your big doe eyes and fluttering eyelashes - it has to work on Pistey & Knotty!

fx!

Zing, how many names you got?!

Lovely Mintyy, I once tried knitting whilst watching Spooks. It didn't end well for it, or for them come to think about it. I do empathise

:)

Your beautiful square will go into Oma's blanket. I promise. Thank you so much and fret not. Put away your big sad eyes. All is well. X

Phew! what a relief. Will you re-pm me your address, or where do I go to find it? Thank you petal.

Just sent you a PM Mintyy

LOOK!! PHOTO CAPABILITY!!

Thanks MNHQ and Techs xx

Pistey

I often NC but always keep Zing.
I'm 20weeks pg now and baby's supposed to be the size of a large mango - hence new name

(just wait till I'm the size of a watermelon! )

And good news for Mintyy's square in! yay!

So sorry I couldn't get out last week with a manky knee, but I have posted first class today, so you should get it tomorrow. Do so hope I am not too late.

xxx

This had dropped off my "Threads I'm On".

Purple/plum square posted on Saturday - it is hopefully with you now. However, I have my suspicions that our local sorting office is used for Postman Pat

Evening all :)

Manky knee sounds narrrrsty. Not too late, don't worry. X

Was out today and missed the postie. I have a red card, so if you had hoped to see arrivals today, that's where they are. I will go and collect first thing tomorrow.

Woolly treasure has been arriving, just collected some from the sorting office and more has just arrived. Huge thanks to the crafters for all they do. Just fabulous

Trumpton Two beautiful knits in navy, one a lovely mitred corner, the other lovely design that looks like a wall :) Super

Bluetinkerbelll Three absolutely gorgeous purple knits, one a Star of David, a super snuggly garter and a rib. All just fabulous, and no apols needed, but thanks for choc :) X

PurpleFrog Beautiful! Three crochet squares, one a ball of wool and knitting needles, one with a windmill, plus a gorgeous flower design. In apple, navy, pink, teal and burgundy. Fabulous

Needasilverlining No apologies! These are just lovely. In plum, a lovely rib texture and a super circular crochet design. Gorgeous

We will look after all cards until we post, which will hopefully be soon. just need to make sure we have them all, thank you to everyone.

Thinking of lovely Oma and Bob X

Fantastic! I'm really glad you realised it was a ball of wool and knitting needles! I almost put in a note to let you know what it was meant to be...

Morning :)

Morning Pistey . Just to say, I seem to cast off tighter than I cast on and so my square is not quite technically square but I'm sure you clever crafters can stretch it in to submission.

Thanks lovely Mintyy It will behave, it won't have a chance not to :)

Mintyy - next time, try casting off with a knitting needle in the next size up (if you have one). That will give it a bit more stretch.

Thanks purple! I love a good knitting tip. I've been enjoying the tiny bit of knitting I've started to do lately.

Mine will be on its way tomorrow when I can find the second square, I've no idea where I put it

Wot no photos yet? [disappointed]

Not here yet lovely Thumb but I saw lovely Mhw's blanket in progress on the Little Hug thread, that was fab

Just home to find gorgeous woolly treasure, huzzah that my lovely neighbour was in today, or there would have been a red card of doom!

Don't say it enough. but it really is such a privilege to see all the squares coming together, really is something very special indeed. Thanks to the fabulous crafters for all you do, just amazing.

Primrose123 Beautiful crochet in a deep vibrant pink, flower, granny and granny stripe with navy, and a lovely navy knit too. All so very lovely.

Mintyy Absolutely gorgeous! A beautiful square in navy stocking stitch, just perfect

fan These arrived yesterday, apologies for the delay X Two beautiful crochet squares,, one in a deep vibrant pink with windmill appliqué, the other a super stripe with flower centre. Gorgeous!

TheWoollyBacksWife In a gorgeous purple, a beautiful knit with three crosses. Absolutely lovely, and thank you for your kind offer, I will remember X

Allalonenow Thank you lovely, these are all beautiful :) Absolutely gorgeous knits, lovely moss stitch in plum, rice stitch in mulberry and stripes in plum and deep pink. Really super

Heartfelt thanks one and all, you are all stars