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

[KnottyAndPistey]

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.

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

What amazing response, folk really are so kind

We already have lovely donors to thank, either your wool has arrived with your crafter, or funds with us. Either way we really are so grateful. Honestly your donations mean so much to us, we always want to be inclusive, for everyone to join in if they would like to, and some folk just wouldn't be able to afford to. Your kind donations make it possible. Thank you

Woolfey
Lilymaid
elportodelgato
SH
savemefromrickets
Auntevil

You really are stars, thank you

Have just got back from the Post Office, have sent 19 woolly parcels out this afternoon to our fabulous crafters on your behalf, they will make something very special from you both. Such brilliant team work

Lovely crafters - if you receive wool in the next day or so (posted 2nd) in an orange plastic envelope from us, it has been paid for by these lovelies, please do come and announce its safe arrival, so we don't need to worry!

If at any point you find you cannot use the donor wool, please send it back, just message us and we will redistribute it for you, we understand things change.

Thank you

I am going to donate on Monday if that's ok? Hopefully it will still be useful

Felix, I've only just PM'd my address so I would be (very gratefully) on the receiving end of your donation

How terribly sad. Count me in for a square too.

Thinking of Becca's family.

Felix, we still have folks signing up to make and will need yarn to hook the blanket together so Monday is fine. Thank you

Ok that's great! The last bit about yarn being sent out panicked me a bit

I am double checking colours before ordering.

Is Rowan Cashsoft DK Jewel [548] all right?

What about Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK Betty [410], Penelope [374] or Black Cherry [364]?

Can you tell I am a bit clueless when it comes to colours?

What sad news.

I will hook some squares if you have some wool? As usual I am broke

I'll PM you now x

I'm not crafty but would love to donate. Is it too late? I knew Becca from another forum and the news before Christmas was just so shocking. I will send a PM.

Morning

Lots of PMs - thank you, just off there now,

Not too late for donations though, we will have folk joining us over the next week or so, and even after that we will need yarn to hook the blanket together, so yes please!

Thanks everyone

alteredimages -

Rowan Cashsoft DK Jewel [548] is lovely and a real blast from the past, we were so sad when Rowan discontinued their cashsoft line.

With the others, will have to go and look, back later, thank you

Hopefully all PMs replied to now, thank you everyone

alteredimages

The black cherry is gorgeous - have seen that in the wool, so to speak, would look lovely with jewel, the other two I haven't seen, and it's difficult to tell, see what Knots thinks on Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK Betty [410] and Penelope [374]

Best crack on here Back later

Afternoon

Evening

We have another lovely donor to thank this evening, honestly you donors are marvellous, on Monday we will be posting more woolly wool to crafters who will make for both of you. Just marvellous team work.

mildmay

You are a star. Thank you. Night x

Oh, some lovely purple yarn has just arrived so I can finish the snowflake square I've started and maybe do another plain purple. Thank you

Hi everyone,

I'm new to Woolly Hugs, what an amazing concept.

Knotty, if you need any more squares I would be very happy to crochet a couple.

Let me know if you are in need of more squares,

Yarn in lots of lovely colours has just arrived, many thanks to the donors x

Received my yarn this morning thanks

Thanks Pistey and all the lovely donors, woolly wool has arrived this morning

Thank you pistey and donors - wool safely here as well

thanks for the wool!

I'm so terribly sad for beccajo's husband, children and family & friends

not read through - is there a date by which you need squares sent in yet?
I would love to crochet a square but don't have any required wool.
Pistey
maybe would you be able to bring some when picking up other blankets?
I'd be happy to do use up odd lengths for a square or 2 or just make some flowers to sew on if that's ok?

just in case people are interested there are some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK ( green & blue) and Rowan Cashsoft DK yarns ( Spruce and Jewel are gorgeous!) available on Ebay.

Morning all

Such good news that woolly wool is already arriving with crafters, such amazing teamwork, thanks again to the donors, and now thanks to the crafters who will make something very beautiful from you both.

WhereIsMyCoffee We'd love to have you with us, folk will be joining us for a good while yet, and all are very welcome indeed. Thank you.

Zing Happy to give you some donated yarn, thank you for joining us here.

No deadline yet, as we just want to make sure all who would like to be part of this have a chance to join in, but assume 4 or so weeks.

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK was an all round favourite of the Woolly Hugs crew, so sad when she discontinued it, as was the Rowan cashsoft, tis always lovely to see it around.

Thank you EVERYONE

Away to PMs, and some thanks coming up shortly, really folk are stars xx

John Lewis still have Cashmerino. That's where I got mine.