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Woolly hugs

Woolly Hugs is a charity established by a group of Mumsnet users. They knit / crochet handmade blankets and other items for families experiencing difficult times.

Woolly Hugs. For our own Beccajo. Lovely donors and crafters, please, your help is needed.

336 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 27/01/2015 14:17

Desperately sad news we’re afraid. In the run up to Christmas, the folk on the current Tamoxigang thread received a message from the DH (on MN as firethornuk) of the very lovely beccajo.

Not long after her last post on this thread she went into hospital, she was very unwell, but she was improving under the care of the drs and nurses. She received her next 2 doses of chemo in hospital which didn't really agree with her. So she was due to have a brand new drug tomorrow. She was doing really well and we had some hope that her new chemo would work for her.

Sadly, last Friday she developed a terrible headache and a scan revealed 2 brain tumours, one of which had bled heavily. She deteriorated very quickly. But she was comfortable, and passed away peacefully with her family with her.

There aren’t really any words are there? We are just so very sorry life has been so cruel. Our thoughts are with beccajo's DH, their little children, 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 children will feel our love and support and that the blanket may give whatever comfort it can to them. Beccajo was a very busy MN poster, and the site will miss her kindness and support for others.

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. If you need yarn and are a hooker, do let us know, as we have part balls that will be perfect for crochet.

The Yarn we are Using….

  • Artesano Superwash Merino DK
  • Debbie Bliss Rialto DK
  • Drops Merino Extra Fine DK
  • 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. If you still have any of our wools that have been discontinued - Rowan cashsoft DK, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK or James C. Brett Pure Merino DK in your stash, please do use them.

The colours…

  • Warm purples
  • Pinks
  • Blues
  • Greens

Her DH has thought of some ideas to reflect Becca’s loves

  • Snowboarding, snowflakes
  • Sailing and the sea.
  • Roses and gardens, they had planned a rose border for their garden, which her DH is hoping to make this summer.
  • Her favourite colour was purple, she loved pinks too.
  • We do have the family initials if this is something someone would like to do, please PM.

Thanks Thanks

All crafting abilities genuinely welcome, squares made by beginner or expert are equally welcomed. It really is the love and thought that counts.

Lots of ideas for sure, but please don't feel daunted, 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.

Help with Crafting
Knotty (KnottyLocks* ) will help with any crafting/colour queries, do PM her or post on the thread.

  • Squares to be 6 inches, using 4mm hook or needles.
  • We recommend double knotting yarn to ensure the square is extra sturdy, and make sure you get a needle to sew the pesky ends in, rather than cutting to the knot which makes the square fragile.
  • Please avoid blocking your squares, makes then harder to use and anyway the other squares WILL pull them into shape!!
  • Our website has lots of practical info, including recommended online retailers of our yarn.
  • If you are new to us, maybe have a look at our website, where there are albums of previous blankets.

We are on Facebook and Twitter at MNWoollyHugs/@MNWoollyHugs which are both good ways to keep in touch.Do join us there.

This means such a lot to Becca's DH, and will be so lovely for him and their children to have. Together we will make something very special for them.

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

Heartfelt thanks Thanks

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 15/03/2015 10:06

thinking of Becca's children today. Sad

RatherBeOnThePiste · 15/03/2015 12:25

Another one thinking of beautiful Becca and her family. Love to them all xxx

Thanks
Swannykazoo · 16/03/2015 08:53

I'd fallen off the thread so I'm climbing back up using my crochet hooks as ice axes.....

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 16/03/2015 09:33

puggle
Grin

PurpleFrog · 16/03/2015 14:48

My squares are in the post...

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 16/03/2015 15:57

i have no idea where mine are. sent them last Tuesday, recorded. i don't understand why they haven't arrived.
I'm worried. maybe i put on wrong address or something?Confused

RatherBeOnThePiste · 16/03/2015 20:42

Arf at Puggle :)

FelixFelix · 16/03/2015 20:44

Fell off the thread too. Just checking in!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 16/03/2015 21:21

Evening all. Wine

Beautiful woolly treasure has been arriving, thank you lovely crafters, such generosity of love, compassion, time and care, what stars you are, thank you Thanks

It is always an extra special project when we have family members working with us to make the Woolly Hug, and we do here for Becca, her lovely DH, sister in law, and her sister and their 94 year old Grandma too, have all contributed by knitting and hooking, together we are going to make something very beautiful here, thank you so much.

Thanks Emma, James, Bex and Grandma In a vibrant pink, two fabulous double crochet squares, and a a super snuggly garter knit. They couldn't be more perfect, [stars]

Thanks WhenDoISleep In a soft pink a beautiful vertical striped square, gorgeous Star

Thanks ED Beautiful squares in purple, pink, cream and green, gorgeous flowers and hearts, beautiful crochet Star

Thank you so much everyone, really marvellous, thinking of beautiful Becca and her family Thanks

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 17/03/2015 16:19

ok. the squares might be lostSad

but I got something instead.
I have a Star. to use from now on
Star

[ star ]

because Woolly Huggers deserve to have a Star
Thanks

OhOneOhTwoOhThree · 17/03/2015 20:42

I sent my squares today. Sorry for taking so long.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 18/03/2015 07:26

Oi! No apologies needed lovely! Thank you so much Thanks

We are loving the star, we first asked back in 2011, the original thread must have been in chat as it has gone, but here... Really interesting to see the discussion from back then!

Ever since we have used [ star ]

But now we will use Star :)

Thanks MNHQ Thanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 18/03/2015 07:34

Beautiful woolly treasure has arrived, lost in transit no more, thank goodness, and how beautiful it is Thanks

Thanks Zing One beautiful 3D sea foam ripple stripe in blues and cream, and a fabulous lighthouse square. Absolutely gorgeous Star

Thank you! Thanks

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 18/03/2015 07:55

I am so relieved Pistey, they mean a lot to me. thank you Thanks

RiaOverTheRainbow · 18/03/2015 16:07

Just want to check you got my squares? They should have come with the little hug a few days ago, just wondering if I left them out of the parcel.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/03/2015 12:58

Afternoon Brew

Ria Apologies, yes, they are here, sorry, I thought I had, just on PMs, back in a mo Thanks

RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/03/2015 13:04

Beautiful woolly treasure has been arriving, thank you lovely crafters, you really are fabulous Thanks

Thanks RiaOverTheRainbow Such a beautiful knit in purple with snowflakes, tis absolutely stunning and two fabulous crochet squares, one a 3d flower, the other a circle to square, in greens, pinks and purples. Star

Thanks PurpleFrog Beautiful crochet - a super star fish on a ripple in blues, a super 3D flower, and gorgeous solid granny and circle to square, all gorgeous Star

Tis rather funny after al this time to have a Star but in a good way. Thanks both, just brilliant Thanks

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

Swannykazoo · 25/03/2015 13:36

So many of these squares sound absolutely beautiful. I love the fact that all these talented crochet/knitters are making something so meaningful too.
Pistey are you the chief stitcher togetherer? (I hate that job!)

RatherBeOnThePiste · 25/03/2015 15:35

Afternoon all Brew

Knots and I share that role puggle, and we use a double crochet join, so happily no stitching as such, it is rather lovely seeing it all come together, although very emotional too.

Thanks
RatherBeOnThePiste · 01/04/2015 10:59

Morning Brew

KnottyAndPistey · 02/04/2015 14:48

Afternoon :)

In this mode now Brew

More beautiful woolly treasure has been arriving, just fabulous and the most enormous thanks Thanks

Thanks OhOneOhTwoOhThree In a lovely pink, beautiful knits as always, just fab, two super hearts, gorgeous and a snuggly textured square, not sure what it is called, but love it! Star

Thanks JudgeJudyKicksAss Beautiful squares, gorgeous knits, lovely heart design in purple and green and a super snuggly textured rib type knit in green too, all fabulous Star

Thanks PiggyPlumPie Really fabulous. a gorgeous granny in purple, pink and green, gorgeous Star

Thanks ER And I don't mean HRH! Tis a woolly ER, beautiful knits in green and blue. Beautiful Star

Thank you everyone, woolly treasure indeed Thanks

OP posts:
RatherBeOnThePiste · 07/04/2015 15:51

Afternoon :) Brew

Swannykazoo · 26/04/2015 18:36

Hello everyone. I'd lost the thread. I just wondered (new to woolly hugs and all that) does a picture of the finished blanket get posted here at all?

KnottyAndPistey · 26/04/2015 20:08

Yes, absolutely it will, with a link to our website for a full photo album, see here for previous blankets.....

Still a way off, still a couple ahead of it, but we are making such good progress.

Thanks
OP posts:
Swannykazoo · 26/04/2015 21:08

Fab thank you x