Woolly Hugs. Supporting the Chernobyl Children's Project. Can anyone help us?

[KnottyAndPistey]

There will need to be a quick turnaround on this but we know hope we can do it!

We have been approached and asked if we can make Little Hugs for a group of teenagers coming over to Leeds for a recuperative holiday in the summer with the fabulous charity the Chernobyl Children's Project.

Each year these marvellous folk bring children over from Belarus who live in the most contaminated area near the Chernobyl reactor. It is in the summer, when the dust causes radiation levels to rise, that it becomes even more important for as many children as possible to leave their contaminated homeland for a few weeks of fresh air and clean food. The rates of childhood cancer are at 75%, the most common cancers being thyroid and leukaemia. Coming to the UK for a four week break increases their immunity against the awful disease by up to 3 years when they return home.

This year the group in Leeds (organised by an amazing Mumsnetter) are bringing twelve children who have had cancer and are now in remission. Sadly though there is a high chance of these children falling ill again. This summer there are four boys and eight girls coming, aged between 11 and 14. They all suffer living in such difficult conditions and with very little. How perfect it would be to make them each a Little Hug.

Here's how to help with this project.....

• We would like 12” squares in bright and cheery Stylecraft Special DK colours, but please AVOID bright green, bright pink, browns, greys, citron, fiesta and jaffa. This will help squares fit together more easily. Make for a boy, girl or in a non specific colour theme. We will be happy to accept 6” squares if making a 12” one feels too much.

• Crochet or knitted, 4mm hook or needles. No blocking and please sew in pesky ends.

• We can supply all yarn for this. Let us know if we can send to you.

• Our last posting is Saturday 14th June, so we have a fighting chance of getting the blankets ready to go to the children on their arrival in the UK.

• If anyone would like to donated funds to support this, we would be so grateful. Our paypal is [email protected], cheques and cash are very welcome too, just PM for the address to send.

We know together we can do this in time! On behalf of these children, a huge THANK YOU.

Pistey and Knotty X

My wool has arrived, v speedy delivery from Wol Warehouse! I got one ball each of sunshine, lipstick, meadow and turquoise. Lovely. I think I'll do multicoloured stripes

Arf at wol. Wool

Wol Warehouse

Count me in. I'm a novice hooker but would love to contribute some granny squares.

Fayrazzled if you drop a PM to Pistey (Ratherbeonthepiste) then she will be able to let you know the details/arrange wool if you need it. She's great like that

My wool arrived today. A lovely teal and warm orangey rust colour.
I've done a 12" granny square and have just started to knit a stripey square.
Does anyone have any easy but interesting squares to recommend?

Circle to square
Ripple

You could try a search of 12" crochet squares on ravelry/pinterest.

Do you need anymore- I have remembered where my style craft stash is so can set to work. I have mainly blues and purplies with a couple of pinks, will they be OK?

Aww thanks Space, but am feeling very disorganised at the mo!

Apologies, should have said earlier, but was arfing at wol warehouse, was out this am when Posty came, so red card of doom, three parcels waiting. And I'm even more sorry as it will be Monday before I can retrieve them. But if you were expecting something to arrive, it nearly has. Thank you

Pantshavenames Yes! We do need more! Yes please!! Just check it isn't 'bright pink' as per OP.

Pistey. It must be o'clock.

I'm not terribly clever but can knock out some grannies if that would help?
I only access mn on my phone so can I be cheeky and ask you to PM me first (can reply but don't know how to initiate a conversation). Can pop them in the post Tuesday.

Oh- I have a stash of style craft, so don't need wool. Will just double check the colours before starting.

Evening all :)

Have posted stuff to those waiting from me.

Welcome ,new woolly lovelies

Finished one.
Will start another tomorrow.

I snuck a teeny bit of pound shop glitter yarn in. Not enough to cause problems. It does look pretty though.

My wool came, I have House of Cards box set winking at me from the mantelpiece, and my freezer contains frozen yoghurt. If I can just find my fan (Sweaty Hand Eliminator), I'm ready to go!

Are mitered squares acceptable?

Thanks so much Knotty, package arrived today

My wool is sitting in the post office
Can't wait to get started!

Belle, as long as the panels are 12" sqs how you make them is up to you

Am lazing in the sun at Centre Parcs with my crochet whilst DH and MIL entertain DCs.

Blissful.

Pasta I'm . I have to find my garden from under its ton of weeds/grass before I can sit in it!

Yay

Am halfway through a striped GS square in my luffly cream/violet/meadow combo (thank you, it's gorgeous). When I've finished that (tonight or tomorrow) I'll do a mitred one. I might also try some GS diagonals without mitering.

My battered old fan is my hero in the heat. Stops my knitting from squeaking

Are these all ok? Do not want to post if not :) the darker colour on the smiley square is teal but photo taken at night I think.

Am I allowed to ask to see others squares? Do not want to cause chaos if not! I just think it's lovely to see what everyone else is up to.

Thanks for posting yours Talia, I was going to ask the same about mine. (Safety in numbers!)

I think yours look great.

I'm going to try to carry on until the deadline if these pass muster.

Afternoon :)

Those are all beautiful! Crack on! :) Thank you

We have squares arriving, will post a picture of them altogether on our Facebook page - do join us if not already there - MNWoollyHugs. Huge thanks to the crafters, they are all just fabulous.

YeGodsAndLittleFishes
Karen Wood
Rubycon

Just marvellous, thank you!