Woolly Hugs. A Blanket for gnittinggnome. Donors and crafters, we are asking for your help.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Devastating news we’re afraid. The folk on the February antenatal thread received this message from the DH of the very lovely gnittinggnome.

Our son, W, arrived last Tuesday at 7lbs 8oz. Sadly, however, G suffered complications and was rushed into intensive care following delivery. After a hard fight she passed away peacefully on Sunday, surrounded by family. Throughout her pregnancy she spoke fondly of many of you on this thread, buoyed by your wisdom and strength and humour. If I have the strength I will join myself so that W and I can benefit too.

Words really do fail, we are just so very sorry life has been so cruel. Our thoughts are with gnittinggnome’s DH, son, family and friends at this time. We are so pleased to say that her DH has accepted our offer of a Woolly Hug, and we hope that he and their son will feel our love and support and that the blanket may give whatever comfort it can to them.

Please, can you help us in any way?

We shall need crocheters, knitters and donors. 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.
Please PM me with your offers of help ( RatherBeOnThePiste) THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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 C. 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.

Our palette for gnittinggnome is quite specific, so please do read carefully

• Warm purples
• Mushroom/taupe but only from this list please to make sure they go together…

• Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM7 Taupe
• Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM9 Beige
• Debbie Bliss Rialto 06 Stone
• James C. Brett Pure Merino DK 17 Beige

Ideas and suggestions for squares.

• She loved cats, they have two.
• Geckos from their time living in Singapore, when they used to hang about the house.
• Bats since gnittinggnome was a member of a Gothic Women's Institute’s group.
• Rockets for all the science fiction gnittinggnome read and her favourite shows like Firefly.
• Octopi and parasols for her love of the steampunk sub-genre, especially the series, The Parasol Protectorate.
• We also have initials if that would be something for you, PM us.

Reading her DH’s words give us lots of motifs to think about for sure, but please don't feel daunted by these suggestions, we love plain squares and simple textures too. They look as stunning as the more complex squares and play a vital role in the overall effect. Knotty (KnottyLocks ) will help with any crafting queries. Squares to be 6 inches, using 4mm hook or needles. All crafting abilities genuinely welcome, squares made by beginner or expert are equally welcomed. It really is the love and thought that counts. Please do PM Knotty if you need help.

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.

When finished please sew in those ends but don’t block your work. Then PM me (RatherBeOnThePiste) for details for posting.

As always heartfelt thanks for your support

Thinking of gnittinggnome and all those who love and miss her.

Pistey and Knotty

bear a 50g ball will do 2-3 squares, depending on how loose a hooker/knitter your crafter is.

Lovely Bear

This is a 50g ball. A crafter can get at least two squares from a ball, depending on what they do.

Jenny Watson WM3. Tis a lovely purple.

Thanks, every day is a school day :)

I'll buy my wool and get it sent off ASAP.

Ah. You have Ophelia. She knows better than I do :)

Back to PMs.

Thanks Bear

X

Wool ordered, I got the Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM7 Taupe.

Have pm'd you but mine is ordered & on it's way to its knitter. I ordered Taupe & beige x

Perfect choices, thank you both so much. The lovely crafters are asked to let us know when their donated wool arrives, so we can let you know and post thanks on here, so do keep an eye on the thread all you lovely woolly donor folk :)

Hopefully all PMs are answered. The light is off for now. We are quite blown away by the amazing response. Thank you to everyone.

Oh god, that's horrific. My thoughts are with both of them.

Count me in if you need squares.

RBOTP, I would v much appreciate some donor wool and would really love two colours if possible - but I am happy to cover the cost of one ball of taupe if I could have two sent to me IYSWIM? I love Drops yarn but don't have any DK in my stash (I tend to use aran or chunky for my knit projects because I'm lazy ) and buying just one ball works out horribly expensive.

Helly pistey and knotty, I sent a pm..about a pygmy octopus and possibility of being sent mushroom wool to go with purple I have. I probably confused things by asking technical octopus questions in a pm instead of asking knotty on here.

Much love to gnittingnome's family.

frazzled - yes please we are very much open to folk joining us. Happy to send you donor wool, could you just PM me your address please? Thank you. X

Yegods - I thought I replied, no, at about 3pm ish? They were all being very slow, so maybe they were playing up more than I thought. I posted wool to you this afternoon. I said I thought the sublime was better, that JB is quite pinky. Am happy for you to stuff as long as machine washable. Thank you so much X

That is dreadful news. I will make a couple of squares.

We are also happy to stuff the octopus and attach this end, if you'd prefer, but can you leave a tail of wool to use to sew it up if so?

Just checking, is the Drops extra fine merino in medium purple ok (22) ok please?

welcome - least i can do, esp as i have one of your lovely woolly hugs

hopefully my donations will buy a couple balls of wool and make 4ish squares

wish i could knit/crochet etc, but cant, so this is the best way for me to donate :) x

Thanks Pistey! :)

knotty I am very much a beginner knitter, but have PM'd pistey about knitting 1 or 2 squares. I know there are specific beigey colours to stick to from the Jenny Watson collection (WM7 and WM9), but are there any specific purples I should be looking to use from the JW range? I was looking at WM3 - Emperor and/or WM8 - heather... Will these be ok?

Rox, the Emperor is lovely!

Wewillmendit, that is fine.

Thanks both

I'm in. Heartbroken for Gnittinggnome's DH and baby, and family - how tragic! :(

Will PM you, Pistey.

Oh no, how sad. Money on it's way Tuesday, if that's OK?

Pistey I have pm'ed you lovely xx

This is terribly sad news. I will knit - I have James C Brett PM3, a lovely purple - will that be OK? It is a warmer purple than it looks online. If not I can order a different colour, no problem. Will pm. Jules x

Afternoon and thank you all. Everyone is being so amazing, we truly appreciate everything.

Jules - that purple is lovely. Thank you.

I am just away to PMs, back in a mo.

Hopefully have just replied to everyone :)

Rather fabulously, have heard that wool has already arrived with a crafter, huge thanks to the donor, what a star you are.

GeorgieJo

And two more brilliant donors of funds, they have arrived safely too, we really are so grateful, and will send wool out to crafters on your behalf. Thank you so much..

WhereMyCow

MrsSpencerReid

You are all just brilliant