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

Thanks plum

You're all bloody amazing. Thank you xxx

Hello, I'm new and I'd like to help. I'm a hooker

However, I'm just about to go on hols and, much as I'd like to spend the next two evenings researching yarn colours, I really should be packing. So, if I might have some yarn that would be splendid. I'll PM Pistey.

. It's your fault that my wave blanket is going to take until DS is 18!

Thank you tarlia for linking to this.

I'm happy to knit a square. Im very much a beginner though and not sure I'm capable of anything more than a plain one, with some texture. Would that be ok? I'll see if I can get the yarn locally, should be able to.

I'm a bit worried I haven't picked the right colours. I just made a list of colours to avoid. Is this bright enough? If not I can get some more wool on Tuesday and try again.

It's wisteria, emperor and white.

Right, I've been having a go at bobbling but it has gone a bit wonky as you can see. My bobbles aren't offset and the first row is now so taut - suspect I've been adding some stitches along the way. What do you experienced hookers think I've done wrong?

Will return to my trusty grannies and have another go tomorrow when I have more patience.

I think it looks great, ten. I get a bit of curling on the first line, so tend to make it loose. I tend to need to make every 2nd or 3rd line of bobbles firm and taut. Looks as if you might have added an extra couple of stitches after the first row of bobbles.

Wouldnt worry about the bobbles being in rows. If you want to make them offset, you just make an extra 2/3 stitches before the first bobble, ever other row.

The one I'm doing has a couple of bonus bobbles and the offsetting is a bit drunken overcome with enthusiasm but I like spotting things like that in handmade work, it makes me smile.

^That's to stand in until an expert turns up.

Have you counted your stitches?

Your starting chain could be too tight? I always have to use a bigger hook.

Thanks YeGods, bonus bobbles sound right up my street! Will give it another go tomorrow evening sans wine.

Will try using a bigger hook to start as well Anya, thank you. I'm a bit of a Slack Alice when it comes to knitting and crocheting after the initial line!

Morning everyone :)

Pasta - tis perfect! Thank you

Loving the bobbles - they'll be fab-u-lous!!

Soupqueen - sounds perfect

Hopefully we will hear of wool arriving today, huge thanks to the donors once more, and we have another lovely to thank

listsandbudgets

Thank you everyone, such an amazing response. Proper magic

Oh good. I was a bit unsure.

I shall make some more.

I will do some for you, but you will have to send me some yarn.

Hi, I can knit a square for you - have just ordered some yarn - whats the deadline to send to you? (slow-coach knitting here!)

Thanks v much Pistey woolly wool arrived this morning, I shall get cracking!

Evening, lovelies

Los, PM Pistey and we'll hook you up with some wool ... [shameless wordplay]

apperley, thank you

Lovely purple & white woolly wool arrived today. Thank you Pistey!

Am I still in time to join in with some knitting? I don't have any Stylecraft, do you have any oddments of various colours or should I get shopping?

Wool arrived today will get hooking as soon as I've finished Cathpip's

Pink, PM me your address- will get some to you . Will be enough for a stripey type panel

How many 12" panels will make up a whole blanket?

Waves to Juan soup and pink

16-20 ...aiming high

:)

I make single bed size oblong ones using 3 x 5.

Just got woolly wool. Lovely colours. Pattern already dug out, only some knitting pins to find.