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

[KnottyAndPistey]

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.

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.

BorntoFolk Hard to say what's needed most, obviously anything is an incredible help, and just brilliant. Which doesn't help you at all, what about knitting a big scarf?

Susan You are doing so well!

Fairy We are carrying on, next deadline to focus on is November 14th, thank you so much xxx

Born... May I suggest sizes/colours suitable for men? There are more men there. Men die of hyperthermia too (I think I read though, last lear a lot of women and children died, which is a reason for there being more men. :()

I have some things wrapped ready tonpost. Hoping to get the parcel to the PO today or Monday.

Thank you so much xxx

REFUGEE PROJECT UPDATE

We can’t see any end to the desperate plight of these poor folk at the moment, so are are keen to keep pushing on. We are saying after October 31st, the next deadline is to be November 14th, we do like a focus date, obvs the earlier we can make and send the sooner the folk who need it most will receive our woolly warmth.

The people actually physically transporting to Kurdistan, a Dutch charity, are just going to keep going, so with your fantastic support, we will too. The most enormous, heartfelt thanks. xx

Hello all

These update and pics are wonderful, you've done so much since I sent in my little parcel.
I can't yet get back to my knitting needles as they're buried under piles of boxes from my house move. But am cheering you all on, you are all awesome people.

Good luck to everyone at the Dutch charity too.

Thanks lovely Arty

I think the Dutch charity are amazing too, honesty, what they have had to do, they've had to work out exactly how to get their convoys through, and absolutely ensure that everything is delivered safely, nothing held up at borders or held to ransom. And they succeed every time. Such amazing folk in this world. Bloody stars

Beautiful woolly warmth for our Refugee Project arriving from lovely Daffs and her friend. Just gorgeous. Thank you so much.

for our Refugee project and from the very lovely PM. The most enormous thanks, so gorgeous.

Beautiful beret style hats for our Refugee Project, these made so beautifully by the very lovely JC, thank you - you star!!

Just fabulous, snuggly scarves for our Refugee Project from the very lovely CJ a- perfect. Thank you too for the donation of funds. Just brilliant. You star.

Fantastic!

Thank you so much for this gorgeous square for our Refugee project. MayhemandMadness you are a star!!

Lovely A! Thank you so much for these fabulous squares for our Refugee project. You star

Still aiming for the 31st with the hope that I will at least hit the 14th I do have some purple wool though doing not a lot at all. (the green went well with the blue, the purple went well with the blue. the green and purple did not go well together.. oops.

I have made progress, just that it does not seem like it as a lot of the progress was pesky ends and fiddly bits. after this fiddly square it will be plain squares. I want to finish the gaps in the pattern..and then see if there is time for an extra row. it is a small 7 year old size at present.ds has been measuring it by lying on the squares.

I need to go and tackle some of the hall/kitchen and then do some more later.

question

does double crocheting the squares with a ridge make it slightly bigger or pull it in tighter?

Hello lovely

It makes it a tiny bit smaller, you only go through the top two stitches on each square, so it is minimal.

Good luck with the hall/kitchen!

Oh, these are gorgeous. I'd love the pattern for that pink and grey beret.

I have sent a pm to you KandP but, in case you miss it, can you please send me your address again?

humph. it is not exactly large as it is .

ah well. I am a bit stuck. running short of wool sand trying to crochet the last four squares in the right colours ot fit and not doing too well with choosing which ones to use. the accidental choices seem to work better than the planned ones. annoyingly.

I ran out of oomph for the kitchen, refugees gain. it has been a long, long half term. now something really quick for tea!

done a couple more squares and a little bit more on the square of doom... the never again and why the hell did I think this was a good idea square.

one more square to finish a row. hoping to make another rows worth too.

Morning :)

Quietbat - they are perfect, warm and cosy and made with love, they are beautiful. Thank you

Just away to PMs

Have posted asking for the beret pattern, fingers crossed xx

I was thinking of things for men too. I've got some navy blue wool mix left over from making a jumper for ExP which would make some nice warm manly hats!

Sounds fabulous, thank you xxxx

Just PM'd you ladies.

I am just marking my place so I can find the thread again!

Lovely work from everybody.

if you are carrying on after the deadline, then I can keep going with something new.

tip: do not lean on the square you have pinned out for blocking unless one wants to perform home acupuncture...

9 squares blocked. and dried. the sun may have come out when we were out. .

Evening