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

Wow, some stunning squares. I'm trying to find another easy one to do. The blanket will be a real tribute for DutchOma's DH and it's such an honour to participate.

Thinking of you still, DutchOma.

at Pag I shall stand down the St Bernard, honestly that's just fabulous, marvellissimo!! You're a Hooker now, am so proud!

Beautiful squares everyone, this is going to be such a very special blanket we are all making for our Oma, as you say purple a real tribute.

WhereAreMyShoea That makes two of us :)

Lots of thanks yous coming up a bit later on

And back in the room. :)

HUGE and heartfelt thanks to all today, we really appreciate everything that folk are doing. Starting with the lovely donors, thank you so much for your generosity and kindness, you really are stars

Mouseface

CharlotteCollins

And beautiful woolly treasure has been arriving too, we say love in every stitch, and it is true, stars too. Thank you

HoggyTruffle Two beautiful crocheted squares, one a tulip field pattern in plum and green, the other is called 'On the Huh" :) which apparently is slang for cockeyed - tis not doing it justice! It is in plum and blue. Both fabulous

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes Just very lovely, a green heart crochet design, actually a pic up there ^ on Fri 17-Jan-14 20:12:08, really super

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius Just perfect, a trademark SDTG flower square, in a lovely purple on green, absolutely gorgeous

Fizzy Oma has Fizzy's first ever crocheted square and it is just beautiful, tis a circle to square granny in lovely purples and blue. You can have a Team Hooker badge too! Fabulous

Thank you

Oh yay! They arrived :o

Just caught with this - will sign me and mother up again.

for Oma

Wool arrived, thank you Pistey - just have to decide what to do with it now...

my woolly wool arrived today too, thanks

Oh some hooker converts Bravo, Fizzy and Pag [stars]

Lovely stuff appearing, thank you all so much

Dutchoma - I am so very sorry to hear about Bob. Sorry to send my hugs so late, I've only just seen this thread xx

I would love to send DM a Woolly Hug, will PM you Pistey.

Wow that Celtic cross is amazing!

I had that 'huh' pattern bookmarked on Rav - great minds and all that. I currently have a leaning towards spirally patterns, might do one of those to go with my flowery one…

Morning

Loved that spiral minnie

Thanks Chipping, and Piggy am away to PMs now.

In LYS with hands on woolly wonders I have some James Brett DK with merino but it is 70% acrylic. Suitable? Also Sublime baby cashmere merino silk DK - what do you think Pistey? Shall I move away?.... Lovely colours!!

In LYS with hands on woolly wonders I have some James Brett DK with merino but it is 70% acrylic. Suitable? Also Sublime baby cashmere merino silk DK - what do you think Pistey? Shall I move away?.... Lovely colours!!

Sorry, obviously getting carried away with excitement there! I have moved away but I can return another day.... Thrilled to find an old fashioned haberdashery hidden in the corner of a small dept store. Which also stocks Stylecraft

Ah, found you all again! Thanks Pistey .

I posted off my squares (purple with flower and dark blue with hearts) on Tuesday. Hopefully they'll arrive soon!

I forgot to put a note in, but I expect it'll be the only bubble mailer with squares from Canada :o

I've one tulip square done, very proud of it if I say so myself :D
Will do a lacy cross too and see what else takes my fancy

Yes watching! Step away! Well for this project at least! I bloody love old fashioned haberdashery shops/depts, how fabulous, fabulous too the stylecraft find.

yy Jacks You are the Canadian Branch of the International Blanketeers, fingers crossed they have a quick journey

That really is lovely Pig thank you so much

Woolly treasure has arrived today, huge thanks to the crafters for all your love, thought and energies, we really appreciate everything you do.

HorseDogsNails Two gorgeous crocheted squares, one a granny, one a circle to square in teal and a very deep purpley navy. Fabulous

WildEyedandCrafty Two lovely super snuggly knits in apple green, really super

JeffBloodyJeff In a gorgeous dark pink, a cross and a very clever circular design square in the pink and purple. Beautiful

GoingGoingGoth Three absolutely lovely crocheted squares in green and purple, very Wimbledon, such a lovely mix, gorgeous designs too!

Heartfelt thanks one and all

Wow, I am a branch! How cool is that :o

I am late in finding this, but I would like to do a couple of squares for this blanket as well. I have dug out my DB Cashmerino DK and have a couple of dark blues and purples that fit the bill. Would Apple Green be too light for the background of a square? I have an idea...

Lovely Purple Thank you, apple is fine.

Morning

Ah, bless her, but oh bugger.

But fret not on deadlines, tis aaaaaaaaaaaages away my lovely.

As a little bit of an on-looker (too impractical to knit squares, too broke to donate ATM), but also a friend of DutchOma's from the Christian prayer thread (I'm a Quaker myself) can I just say how lovely it is to see all the finished squares now we can post pictures It's very moving to see x

Thank you Juggling

A lovely parcel of woolly treasure arrived today, huge thanks, just gorgeous

RiaOverTheRainbow Lovely Ria has done one set of initials, knitted in a deep gorgeous green. Just fabulous, and an amazing tulip knit. Super

Thank you.

The deadline for last posting for squares for Oma's blanket is to be Saturday 22nd February

Hopefully that will give everyone including those joining us at this point plenty of crafting time.

Just started on a square and after a few rows decided to measure. It's 14.5 cms wide. Is that ok or should I start again and do a few more stitches? I casted on 35...