Please or to access all these features

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.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.

994 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 05/09/2015 14:24

As for so many others, we have been moved to tears by the heartbreaking plight of refugees, both in Europe and further afield, and the inhumanity which seems to surround them too often. We have donated, signed petitions on change.org and written to our MPs, and understand the feeling of shouting in the wind, we desperately want to do more.

There is something practical we can do together, and it really will help, but fabulous Mumsnetters, we are going to need your support.

We can get woolly warmth to families in refugee camps in Kurdistan, thanks to the amazing charity Knit for Peace. There are 1.8 million refugees trapped there, most have fled civil wars and ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Winter is coming, it will be even more desperate and absolutely freezing. We are also developing links to get resources to children and families elsewhere, and on their arrival in the UK. We just want to help keep folk warm. We know we can’t help everyone, but we can some.

We really need your help, here’s how…

  • We need 12 inch, or six inch squares. Knit or crochet both equally welcome.
  • Yarn to be used - any good quality acrylic DK, for example Stylecraft special DK
  • Any colour, any style, it is all good.
  • Squares equally welcome if made by beginner or expert. Truly.
  • No one think their's wouldn’t be good enough. They will be.
  • We'd love to receive whole blankets, but absolutely understand time constraints.
  • We’d also love to receive hats and gloves/mittens for any age, baby sized through to adult, the same for jumpers. But appreciate that is a very big ask.
  • If you’d like to donate yarn or funds, let us know - we’d absolutely LOVE to hear from you, we need you too. This will be a real team effort
  • If anyone would like to join in crafting but can’t afford to, please PM us, we can help.

One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. Together we can make a difference.

Thanks

Sadly we cannot accept items other than home made woolly ones at the moment, if this changes we will come back.

If anyone arrives in this thread and holds similar views to Cameron, no need to post, just move along. This is a positive, humanitarian thread taking positive, humanitarian action.

Do join us on our Facebook page Woolly Hugs and Twitter @Woolly_Hugs - both good ways to keep in touch.

If you'd rather email us than PM we are [email protected]

Thank you doesn’t come close, bless you. Thanks

OP posts:
Thread gallery
326
KnottyAndPistey · 23/09/2015 08:56

More thank just OK, that's fabulous dazzlingdeborahrose

Do also signpost folk to our FB group, especially when folk aren't on Mumsnet as it's a good way to keep in touch we are here...

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 23/09/2015 08:58

And squares are so perfect, we really do appreciate that a whole blanket is an enormous job, by sending squares it is easier to help, and they make the most beautiful blankets too.

Thank you Thanks

OP posts:
IamAgamemnon · 23/09/2015 23:55

Hi Knotty have finished my first square and wondered if you could PM where to send it to?
I'm going to have a go at doing some more to send along with this one. I'm hoping they won't be too amateurish for you to use to make into blanketsBlush

dazzlingdeborahrose · 24/09/2015 08:12

Sorry, I need to ask a stupid question. I've started a square and cast on 33 stitches. How many rows should I knit?

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 24/09/2015 09:03

dazzling just keep going until it measurses six inches :)

knotty are these being sent in batches? If so, we have some bits already finished that I could send soon, or is it better to wait and send everything together by 31st October?

KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 09:52

Morning :)

Pistey here this time, thank you all so much, just an amazing response Star

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 09:53

I shall away to PMs in a mo, dazzling she's absolutely right, just keep knitting, and keep measuring, stop when you get there!

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 09:57

Lesley - we'd actually prefer them in batches thank you, we have some volunteers to help attach these blankets, and the first four 'kits of squares' are out with these crafters, we are aiming for 36 by 48 inches, so it is probably easier for us to keep chipping away.

We have had such an amazing response, that we are thinking WE will need to do this in batches - especially the things going to Kurdistan. Am hopefully taking our first collection next week to Knit for Peace.

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 10:00

We have realised though that this will be an ongoing project, the problems in Syria aren't going to be solved any time soon, and even if they were, no idea how a country and people recover Sad

So ongoing - the first deadline will be October 31st, but then Knots and I will work out the next one.

Thank you so much everyone! Now to PMs. Thanks

OP posts:
WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 24/09/2015 10:31

OK, thank you knotty :) we should have some stuff ready to post next week. I might hang onto squares for now as me and my sister are hoping we might be able to get enough together to make a blanket ourselves. I will see how realistic that is when we discuss our progress at the weekend Grin

KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 10:39

oh fab! Thank you Thanks

OP posts:
dazzlingdeborahrose · 24/09/2015 11:24

Just keep knitting - love it. Thanks very much

I appear to have assembled a small regiment of knitters. I've given them a deadline of 6th October so that I can send a batch to you with hopefully enough time to be assembled. I'm sure they would be happy to contribute to further deadlines. Just say when.

I didn't realise that I know so many lovely people..........

KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 13:00

Love that you have a regiment Grin

Bloody brilliant!!

Do let them know about our Facebook page, its an easy way to keep in touch, esp if not on Mumsnet. We are Woolly Hugs, our pic is of a ripple blanket in greens at the mo

Thanks
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 13:40

Beautiful!! Thank you so much SM for this treasure to go towards joint blankets for our Refugee Project. You Star

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 13:40

and lovely WoollyBacks for squares including this beauty Star

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 13:41

Three fantastic woolly hats for our Refugee project, inc this lovely, beautifully knitted by the very lovely JC. Just gorgeous, heartfelt thanks. xx

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 13:42

Gorgeous squares inc this one, arriving for our Refugee project from the very lovely CN. Beautiful, thank you so much Star

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 13:42

Star for JC - sorry! Star

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 13:43

Beautiful and cheery! Gorgeous squares for our Refugee project and from the very lovely JE. Huge thanks, these are super! Star

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/09/2015 13:44

And out of pics again!

OP posts:
Justgetknitting · 24/09/2015 17:48

So happy to have found this :) now I ask ready to kick myself up the bum and get things moving on the knitting front!

theDudesmummy · 25/09/2015 08:39

I have done two colourful scarves now, one large adult one and one child one. I am working on more. Shall I send the completed ones to you now? Please PM me the postal address, Thanks.

KnottyAndPistey · 25/09/2015 15:06

Thank you both - message sent Dudes Thanks

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 26/09/2015 10:43

Morning :) Brew

OP posts:
IamTheWhoreofBabylon · 27/09/2015 21:39

Do you want more?
I can't make more for the original deadline as I am making presents but could manage more for an extended deadline