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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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BlackeyedSusan · 26/11/2015 07:45

morning.

will be back later to settle in with cake coffee (shall use the microwave) and crochet hooks.

PeaceOfWildThings · 26/11/2015 09:00

I've been ordering more (chunky, acrylic) yarn and am busy sorting out half started projects in a desparate attempt to make room for it. Blush (I've gone overboard on ordering merino sock yarn this year, but it takes so flipping long to make a pair of socks!) Don't have anything more ready to send for tomorrow, but ideas in the pipeline. Have wrapped up that fabric to post to Zing's friend. (Will get it posted soon, promise!)

KnottyAndPistey · 26/11/2015 09:37

Have a yearning for cake it will be said!

Half started projects - we understand! I have to finish my son's blanket that he wants for Christmas, have done the same as I did for my daughter, 48 nine inch squares. She wanted hers all bright and bold, this is in Stylecraft Special DK, so think pomegranate, violet, meadow, saffron etc, think she had 16 colours, but my son's is more tonal, so storm blue, sage, petrol, he has 7 colours. And I MUST finish, would feel truly awful if I didn't. Got 4 more squares then joining and edging.

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KnottyAndPistey · 26/11/2015 16:14

For our Refugee Project, thank you to everyone who sent in all these squares, and a huge thank you to the very lovely BH for joining and edging it so beautifully. Brilliant, stars around! xxxx

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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KnottyAndPistey · 26/11/2015 16:14

This fabulous adult sized jumper is a beauty! Tis for our Refugee Project from the very lovely PurpleFrog. What a star. Bless you, thank you! Xxx

Thanks
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KnottyAndPistey · 26/11/2015 16:15

For our Refugee Project, thank you so much for these squares, all just fabulous. I put this one together, twas a pleasure to do so. xxx

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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KnottyAndPistey · 26/11/2015 16:15

Fourteen fabulous hats! All for our Refugee Project from the very lovely BD. What a star you are THANK YOU! X

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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KnottyAndPistey · 26/11/2015 16:17

These two beauties are for our Refugee Project. Thank you to all for the squares and to lovely SP for putting them together. Marvellous. X

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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KnottyAndPistey · 26/11/2015 16:18

Huge collection going tomorrow, just adding these last things, then packing up. Thanks

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ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 26/11/2015 20:04

Thanks Peace she'll be happy!

BlackeyedSusan · 26/11/2015 20:07

still making squares. good therapy. I have needed a lo tof that recently.

do you think you qualify for the most photograhed wrist in history yet?

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 26/11/2015 20:09

BLACK15% code at Wisebadger should get you a 15 percent discount until Saturday I think.
Got an email from them, massive DK yarns sale, could be up to 52 % off RRP. Worth looking

KnottyAndPistey · 27/11/2015 07:26

Will do x

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KnottyAndPistey · 27/11/2015 07:28

Today's delivery...

51 Adult hats.
91 Child/baby hats.
49 Scarves.
51 blankets (of which 17 are made using fabulous separate squares sent in)
1 Adult jumper.
9 Baby cardis.
5 Baby jumpers
4 Child cardis.
5 Child jumpers.
1 shawl.
4 pairs Baby mittens.
10 pairs Child gloves.
9 pairs Adult gloves.
2 pairs Baby shoes.

All for our Refugee Project and all going this morning.

Extraordinary. Treasure indeed. Huge, heartfelt thanks from us.

Thanks Star

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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KnottyAndPistey · 27/11/2015 07:33

Those will all be going to Kurdistan very soon. So much love to those who will receive them xxxx

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PeaceOfWildThings · 27/11/2015 07:37

This is amazing!

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 27/11/2015 07:38

That's just wonderful, truly amazing! Star

BlackeyedSusan · 27/11/2015 07:45

wow so many things. anyone else looking for their blanket

BlackeyedSusan · 27/11/2015 07:47

never mind the 17 made with squares the 34 made by individuals is amazing.

KnottyAndPistey · 27/11/2015 07:53

tis def in there Susan! Was saying good bye and good luck to them all, looked at them all.

Yes, 17, and the minimum size for a joint blanket has been 36 inches by 48 inches which is either 48 six inch squares or 12 twelve inch squares. More recently we've had more of the six inch squares. Either way that is a lot of squares, lots of folk joining in. Marvellous stuff.

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BlackeyedSusan · 27/11/2015 10:56

great. I hope that you manage all those bags, they look heavy. waves goodbye to blanket glad it is on the next stage of the journey.

MrsHathaway · 27/11/2015 11:25

A friend is out there are the moment and sent back this picture of the piles of abandoned life vests. For scale, the piles are around 15-20 feet high.

So many cold, wet, frightened people. I don't normally like acrylic but wool and cotton would be hopeless in those conditions.

Star Brew and Cake to everyone contributing to this project. Woolly Hugs is truly awesome.

Extra Cake and Wine for Knotty and Pistey as ever.

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
BlackeyedSusan · 27/11/2015 11:51

ooh I can see it on the picture of the bags in the boot.... excellent.

KnottyAndPistey · 27/11/2015 15:11

Oh blimey, there are no words really are there?

That picture is overwhelming isn't it? So pleased we can do this together xx

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KnottyAndPistey · 27/11/2015 15:12

MrsH your parcel has just arrived, thank you so much, am just sorting Thanks

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