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

you can tell I've never done this before - I just don't know how to get the size right!
working on the ripple stitch one and it seems 6" wide, but it can stretch. is that ok? or will it cause a problem when washed?

I've only ever used cotton DK before which is way less elastic, so I don't know if I'm getting tension right....help!

There are many different interpretations of 6 inches :) As long as it is more or less 6 inches, that's fine. Mine usually are give or take half an inch although some textures need to be stretched to fit as they bunch up.

Thank you very much to the lovely donor - the wool arrived from The Wool Warehouse this morning. Beautiful colours

I will get hooking today.

Thank you again

HI Knotty/Pistey. Could you PM me where to send my squares - ta
I have three, hope they're ok....

Thanks SoupD

it's 6" when "relaxed".

(as a quilter I find a stretchy 6" unnerving!)

I made a lighthouse to sew on top of patch last night, but I don't know if I should include it as my kids so far guessed it to be a spider, a snowman, a stocking or a candy cane

Candy cane sounds like red and white striped, so with a blue background it has to be a lighthouse!

Posted my squares today. :)

Morning, just catching up. Had a very long day yesterday, and home to find a Red Card of Doom™ So just going to get dressed and go and retrieve woolly treasure from the Posties.

Thank you so much everyone. Back to help in a bit.

Thanks Peace

It's a bit wonky, but I think Becca's children will like it, so I will include it.

Could someone pm me the address to send my square to please! I am getting there! :)

Afternoon

Still catching up :) Soupy is right about the squares, more or less six inches and they vary a lot. If we had to have a choice, we'd rather slightly under than over, but as long as they stretch easily to 6 inches all is well.

Shall PM posting info to the lovelies asking, and good news Animals - back later with some thank yous.

Thank you so much EVERYONE, what an amazing response, and we have more folk to thank this afternoon.

Donors and crafters alike, you are awesome, quite literally, we are filled with awe. What a privilege it is to work alongside you all

We have a lovely donor to thanks, your wool has reached your lovely crafter and she will make something lovely on behalf of you both. x

Marmot75

Thank you

And more woolly treasure has arrived, each so beautiful, I have cooed over this treasure!

ilove In greens and purples, gorgeous granny squares, absolutely fabulous.

Galena Super snowflake designs on apple green and a vibrant purple, and two solid granny designs one in teal, the other purple. Beautiful

HairyPotter A beautiful knitted heart design in apple green, and a gorgeous colourful granny in green, blue and purple. Fabulous

AmaDablam Two beautiful crochet designs - one a sailing ship on blue and green, the other a stunning 3D flower. gorgeous indeed.

Thank you

My teal one is stylecraft and not for this blanket... I was just trying the pattern out!

Zing. I'm astounded you have time to knit! If you want more time to knit you are going to have to put the kids through Training Camp! Even Demon DD and the youngest. Or go away for a few days by yourself, I'm sure DH will be fine.

Sorry Galena - is sorted, and it is lovely! x

You're very welcome, glad they got to you ok

Hi, Just checking in to say thanks for my lovely purple wool that arrived last week! I'ts a really beautiful colour! I've started a granny square with it.

Thank you kind donors

Oh good news, thanks for letting us know.

Is anyone still waiting for donor wool? We know ilove's has gone awol, but anyone else still waiting?

Afternoon

Beautiful squares have been arriving for lovely Becca's Woolly Hug. So fabulous, thank you so much crafters for your thought, love and care

Champtastic In a gorgeous soft pink a beautiful crocheted square, super soft and snugly, just lovely

Unnamed Not sure who to thank for thee beauties, there's a card to Becca's DH and two fabulous crochet squares, one a beautiful sort of duck egg with 3D purple flower, the other has an almost daffodil flower centre, absolutely gorgeous and need claiming!

All cards will be looked after until the end of the crafting phase when we will send them on to Becca's family.

Enormous thanks everyone

So pleased my wool has arrived. Thank you to the crafter for doing something creative with it.

And huge thnaks to the organisers. It's such a wonderful thing to do.

Those unnamed ones are from me! (A purple rose and a forget-me-not)

Is there a post by date yet? And are they going to the usual address?

Knotty/Pistey, could you do with some 6"× 8" mailing bags? I went a little overboard when I placed an online order. Can send some surplus on to you if useful?

Hello, hello :)

Oh we'd LOVE the mailbags, thank you, that would be much marvellous, really would help thank you xxx