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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

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Thread gallery
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SoupDragon · 27/01/2015 18:25
Sad
FelixFelix · 27/01/2015 18:27

Million I'm sure it will be great Smile

Jacksmania · 27/01/2015 18:38

I'm in for at least one flower square, more if I can manage. I have yarn in all the right colours.
Such terribly sad news :(

KnottyLocks · 27/01/2015 18:50

For all those worrying if their squares wont be good enough, the Woolly HUgs mantra is :

Simple squares are good; simple squares are essential.

A lovely blend of simple and more complex really works - they show each other off beautifully Smile

ScienceRocks · 27/01/2015 18:51

I'll contribute one or two simple squares. So sad.

alteredimages · 27/01/2015 19:00

Thanks Rather, but the post here is rather unreliable. We have relatives arriving on Feb 13th, so I will have them bring out some yarn. Will post later to make sure I am buying the right stuff.

Swannykazoo · 27/01/2015 19:02

Hi - another Jan 14 post-natal clubber. I'd really like to contribute. It'll be crochet - I have a wave stitch somewhere that's v easy so I could do that in shades of blue to be sea-y if that's ok.

AnotherStitchInTime · 27/01/2015 19:27

I was on the antenatal thread too and would like to donate, can somebody pm me please?

hellsbells76 · 27/01/2015 19:38

I would like to contribute a few knitted squares if someone could donate me some yarn? I didn't 'know' Becca on here but I lost a lifelong friend to a bastard brain tumour exactly a year ago and feel the need to channel my sadness into something positive...new to all this but a reasonably competent knitter and would love to get involved.

HorsesDogsNails · 27/01/2015 19:54

I've posted on the fb post but count me in for a hooky square.

Such sad news.....

KnottyAndPistey · 27/01/2015 19:58

Thank you , lovely people.

Please pm if you want to be involved in anyway. Helps us enormously with the organising Thanks

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 27/01/2015 19:59

Big hugs for you, Hellsbells xxx

OP posts:
watchingout · 27/01/2015 20:37

I've found my login Blush
I will do a couple of squares, I have yarn. Thoughts are with Beccajo's family. Very sad

NiamhNext · 27/01/2015 20:47

Flowers Much love and condolences to her family and her friends.
Heart rending. So, so sorry for all the difficulties you've been through associated with the illness, too. So sorry for your loss.

MeganChips · 27/01/2015 20:58

I can't knit or crochet to save my life but SDD is really good and we'd love to help. Would that be ok?

I knew Becca from another forum and she was lovely. It's so sad.

OhOneOhTwoOhThree · 27/01/2015 21:02

pistey have PM'd. How very, very sad.

MeganChips · 27/01/2015 21:06

Missed the PM part, I've PM'd too.

MarthaCostello · 27/01/2015 21:44

Another Tamoxiganger signing in :( I will PM you, but will make some squares. I have the rest of the green from last time and I will order some more wool in suitable colours.

TobyLerone · 27/01/2015 22:48

Gah. I've PMed the KnottyandPistey account. Have I done it wrong again? Blush

JulesJules · 27/01/2015 23:08

Just seen this, how desperately sad
I will knit x

WildEyedAndCrafty · 27/01/2015 23:24

So terribly sad. I have some Cashsoft in Jewel(548) a sort of purply pink if that is any good? If not, have some blue/green. Will PM you Pistey.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/01/2015 23:30

Evening everyone, what an amazing response, huge thanks to everyone Thanks

Just making a Brew then will be back to PMs. xx

RatherBeOnThePiste · 27/01/2015 23:31

Toby - all is well, thank you x

ilove · 27/01/2015 23:35

I will help if you send some wool please, thankyou

KnottyAndPistey · 28/01/2015 00:21

The most enormous thank to everyone, what an amazing response, we are quite blown away. THANK YOU Thanks

Hopefully all PMs have been answered, but do message us if we can help further.

Do join us on Facebook if not already, it's a good way to keep in touch, we are MNWoollyHugs

And thank you, the 'kindness of strangers' as Becca's DH put it, it really is a touching and heart warming thing.

Night x

Thanks
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