We recently learnt the terribly sad news that we lost our own DashingRedHead to leukaemia. She was a MNer for many years and will be sorely missed by her own dear family and friends as well as by many of us here. We send our love and thoughts to her husband, her children and family and will remember Dashing with fondness. Thinking of them all at this challenging time.
Her thread can be found here.
We’ve offered the family a Woolly Hug and we are so pleased that they have accepted. DashingRedHead’s husband loves the idea of a blanket and feels it would be a special and treasured way for him and their children to remember her. We are honoured to be able to help them.
So, we will need crocheters, knitters and donors (of funds or wool) If you would like to be involved in any way, please post on this thread and PM us via KnottyAndPistey with your offers: crafting, donating, need wool, etc and we’ll help you with all of it.
Thank you so much.
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
- Patons Merino Extrafine DK (new this time)
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.
Our listed yarns are all easily available online, try Wool Warehouse, Deramores, Laughing Hens, JKMWools, WiseBadger.
The Colours
DashingRedHead loved autumnal colours so:
- Deep purples
- Greens
- Plums
- Oranges but just from these please… Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK - Pumpkin (373) or Debbie Bliss Rialto DK - Tangerine (56) or Debbie Bliss Rialto DK - Burnt Orange (43)
And this as an accent colour Jenny Watson pure merino DK WM7 ‘taupe’
There is support for buying colours on our website, here.
Suggestions for personalisations and motifs:
From Dashing’s DH:
She loved music, particularly singing. She started a chamber choir and was a soprano, so a treble clef, musical notes, or something else to symbolise singing.
She loved reading, particularly Dickens and Austin but she was very widely read and her taste was very broad. She also adored Oscar Wilde and played Miss Prism in the Importance of Being Earnest in a school production - a handbag motif may be particularly apt.
She was half Irish, half Anglo-Burmese. It would be nice to have symbols to represent them both, so maybe a shamrock, and for Burma something akin to the Green Peafowl
She loved wine, and loved Spain particular. She also loved France.
They honeymooned in Goa and Kerala in India, so any motifs that could represent this.
She identified very strongly as a feminist and an image depicting strong women seems apt.
Favourite flowers were freesias, but it would be apt to include a rose (please, not pink)
The whole family absolutely adore/adored the minions.
Horses.
Something that represents the sea too
We also have their initials, if you would like to help with this, please also PM.
Squares to be six inches, using 4mm needles or hook. Simple or complex; made by beginner or expert; we genuinely welcome them all. It really is the love and thought that counts.
Previous blankets can be seen on our website We also have a Facebook page MNWoollyHugs and are on Twitter @MNWoollyHugs. If you 'like' or 'follow' us, you'll be updated on progress via your feed. If looking for ideas for a pattern, there are many linked to from our website under Crafting
Please don’t block your square, and when finishing, knot securely and use a needle to sew the pesky in.
As always, heartfelt thanks, thinking of Dashing's family