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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.

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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

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326
BlackeyedSusan · 27/10/2015 20:14

like wire coathangers and odd socks..

KnottyAndPistey · 28/10/2015 09:40

Morning Wine

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PeaceOfWildThings · 28/10/2015 09:52

I've got a Stylecraft DK 12" (3 x4) blanket on the go. About half way!

PurpleFrog · 28/10/2015 10:41

I have lots of different bits on the go, but nothing is actually finished yet. Sigh! I will have to stop knitting and crocheting and actually sew up and sew in peskies or I won't have anything to send you this weekend.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/10/2015 12:19

urgg. one half of the blanket is sewn. one quarter is sewn but they are not sewn together. the rest is still in squares.

I need to do housework and feed children too. Grin

TopazRocks · 28/10/2015 14:45

Thanks, Severed, for the crochet help the other night. Although not quite ready for edging, i did try it out and it seems to work! I am another with lots of unfinished items and all those 'peskies' still to sew in. Smile It's also a great project for reducing the stash - or or so I want to believe. And tell the people I live with!

PurpleFrog · 28/10/2015 15:10

I'm also using up various odd items in my stashes and I have hunted out a few long-term UFOs which are perfect for this project and the Christmas craft one... assuming I actually manage to finish them of course! Grin

SeveredHeadsDragOnTheFloor · 28/10/2015 15:13

No problem :)

All peskies are dealt with, and it is packed and ready to go. unfortunately I live in a quant little rural village (*) where the local PO shuts early on a
Wednesday.

  • this is not strictly true (or indeed true at all) but, nevertheless, the local PO does indeed observe the ancient tradition of early closing on a Wednesday.
SeveredHeadsDragOnTheFloor · 28/10/2015 15:13

I used up a load of bog standard acrylic making hats for this project. It has made a decent amount of room to buy more yarn....

TopazRocks · 28/10/2015 15:35

Our PO has early closing on Wed too. I think it's the only local business that still does. I'm not ready to post yet though. I've also got a UFO that I began when my children were small. The youngest is now 17!

Well, only you lot will get it but I found a cheap copy of a crochet book the other day (been looking for a career change for ages - now thinking 'hooking' could be it) and in it there si a lovely blanket which I am thinking of doing for a son. But to do it - and use part of my stash - I'll have to buy almost as much again. Oh well.

SeveredHeadsDragOnTheFloor · 28/10/2015 19:13

I believe being a hooker can be a good career choice...

As for the blanket, surely that is still a reduction in your stash and thus the new yarn doesn't count.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/10/2015 21:14

all sewn together now.

also edging begun. thrice round so far with doubles and trebles. It need a big border. I am bored now so may do friparies.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/10/2015 23:01

it needs a wide, wide border as I ran out of wool for squares. and have switched colour. and it will only cover a small child who lies ramrod straight at the moment.

PeaceOfWildThings · 29/10/2015 08:50

Can't wait to see a photo! :-)

KnottyAndPistey · 29/10/2015 09:25

Morning :) Brew

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KnottyAndPistey · 29/10/2015 09:30

Not only will our lovely refugee recipients feel physical warmth from our items, because they are home made, they are so personal, so much effort, compassion and love crafted in, such a lovely gift from one human to another. Very special isn't it?

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KnottyAndPistey · 29/10/2015 09:32

Just gorgeous! This is beautiful warm treasure for our Refugee Project from the very lovely VB. Huge thanks, everything is just fabulous. Thanks

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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KnottyAndPistey · 29/10/2015 09:33

Beautiful pink square for our Refugee project from the very lovely PeaceInWildThings
Thank you! Thanks

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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KnottyAndPistey · 29/10/2015 13:21

So cheery!

Z, C, H and U, thank you for this gorgeous blanket for our Refugee project, you are all stars. Thanks

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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KnottyAndPistey · 29/10/2015 13:21

Thank you lovely R for these gorgeous squares for our Refugee Project. You star! Thanks

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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KnottyAndPistey · 29/10/2015 13:25

Thank you lovely RedShoeBlueShoe for this super hat for our Refugee Project. You star! Thanks

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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KnottyAndPistey · 29/10/2015 13:53

Thank you to theDudesMummy for these fabulous scarves for our Refugee Project. Brilliant. X

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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RatherBeOnThePiste · 29/10/2015 13:55

For our Refugee Project and absolutely fabulous, this hat and glove set come from the very lovely quietbatperson

Thank you so much to her. What a star. Thanks

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
RatherBeOnThePiste · 29/10/2015 13:55

These from a fantastic 7 year old novice knitter and her mum Niddy! For our Refugee project and just fabulous. Thank you so much!! Thanks

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
RatherBeOnThePiste · 29/10/2015 14:27

Huge thanks to the staff at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys for a marvellous collection for our Refugee Project and to K for sending. Fabulous. You stars! Thanks

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