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

Pistey

thanks, looking forward to wool!

Just sorted it Zing - a few bits, hopefully it will work for what you want to make, thank you x

Hi Rather,

I posted on the thread for Beccajo's blanket. I'd love to crochet a couple of squares. Would it be possible to send me some wool at all? Shall I PM you my address?

Cheers x

Oops I meant to send that as a PM! Let me know x

It absolutely is possible, thanks lovely, yes please - can you PM your address?

I've PM-ed you RatherBeOnThePiste. I might also have a blue ball of yarn from a previous woolly hug (will check that it's the correct brand first).

RatheBeOnThePiste yes, it's quite bright, but a gorgeous colour. Do you want me to send you a little trimming of it? I can pop some in an envelope and post today if that would help :)

And thanks, I shall get started on the square.

The Sublime pomeroy is top left in first photo and bottom middle in the second photo.

That would be lovely Martha, but no huge rush, maybe pop it in with your square? Would like to see it!

Sublime pomeroy looks fab, like a fuchsia?

Purple - have replied, thanks lovely

Just popping by to let you know my wool arrived at the weekend. Thanks to the donor, whoever you are! I'll get hooking in the next day or so.

Can I just check, we can do any pattern as long as it's a 6inch square? Does it have to be a full block or is a lacy type pattern ok? Was trying to find something last night but just wanted to make sure what I was doing was ok.

Thanks rather have paypal'd. Good luck to all the knitters/crocheters.

Quick note to let you know that my lovely bag of woolly colours has arrived safely, off to try and make something beautiful.

martha

those colours are gorgeous. use them all!

also what wool is bright blue, 3rd from left, top row? such beautiful shade

Zing that's the Sublime in Betty, but it looks nothing like that in real life it's still beautiful, but much greener!

could someone tell me if rowan cashsoft jewel is pink or purple? I'm looking at the same item from two different sellers but one photo shows it as almost bubblegum pink, the other as a mid purple .

so which is it, please?

I love that colour Martha

tempted to NC to SublimeBetty

zing I have just got a book out of the library called "The encyclopedia of knitting and crochet for blocks blankets and throws" by Luise Roberts that has a (small) section on adapting cross stitch charts for both knitting and crochet. It's not something I'm particularly planning on attempting and as YeGods said, would be more inclined to hand embroider onto a plain dc or tr square. I've also found chain stitch works quite well on crochet and it's a good one for doing flowers and leaves if you're planning a garden theme.

Morning :)

Zing from memory, I'd say more pink, deeper than bubblegum pink, closer to fuchsia. It is a lovely colour, but think it's one of those colours where one says pink, the other purple. I've got a hazy memory of describing someone's square s pink, and them saying purple, think it may have been PurpleFrog

Re bright blues - I've just been using Jenny Watson WM17 cobalt, was lovely.

Off to PMs, back later, thanks everyone

Morning all

Just catching up. Grabbing a coffee then I'll be back.

More lovely donors to thank, just marvellous, we really appreciate you joining with us, such a fabulous thing you do.

FelixFelix
HumptyDumptyBumpty

You are stars. THANK YOU

I have been uncharacteristically efficient and have posted my squares this morning!

for Knotty and Pistey.

for Becca's family and friends.

Having had a look at the Sublime Betty any Penelope, they both look pretty bright so might 'pop' a bit on the blanket.

Pomperoy, blackcurrant, black cherry are lovely.

Oh, well done, Spiral

Naturegirl, the pattern is entirely up to you although if doing a lacy pattern, it needs to be not too holey, if you see what I mean. Thanks.