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
toriap2 · 06/09/2015 08:20

Crochet hats coming up if thats ok?

KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 08:22

Munxx, Catherine Hirst on YouTube does very clear tutorials for knit and crochet.
Stylecraft special Dk is a fab yarn for this project. Wool Warehouse and Deramores stock it online.

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 08:23

Passthepombear, granny squares are fabulous, thanks.

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 08:24

RockingHorse, PM us and we'll talk you through donating . Huge thanks.

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 08:25

Toriap, yes please to crochet hats! Smile

OP posts:
lellibobs · 06/09/2015 08:25

Count me in on this for some 12 inch squares in stylecraft. Starting today with the brightest colours I have!

KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 08:25

Wool warehouse - if you add Yarndale into the code you still get free postage, used it yesterday.

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 08:26

Morning Pistey Grin

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 08:48

Morning Knots Brew Grin

OP posts:
slithytove · 06/09/2015 09:04

The woolly, if munx doesn't take you up on your kind offer, could I please?

slithytove · 06/09/2015 09:11

Never mind have just bought some from the wool warehouse! And some lovely raspberry Stylecraft.

This is the first woolly hug I'll be contributing on. It's nice to do something.

Mhw02 · 06/09/2015 09:12

I have a few blankets ready to send next weekend; happy for one, some or all to be used for this, as needed.

Might try some hats seeing as the deadline is a wee while away, though I've never made hats before!

Can we send knitted toys as well? Am just asking as I noticed some patterns on the knit for peace website. Realise these are not as important as blankets and hats and things for warmth, but just thought I'd ask.

Slammerkins · 06/09/2015 09:15

Squares underway here Smile

TheFairyCaravan · 06/09/2015 09:18

I'll do something. It might be squares, but they might grow into a blanket. Are darker colours better for practical reasons?

PassthePombear · 06/09/2015 09:41

Started my squares, taking yarn away with me on holiday tomorrow so should get a nice stack ready to send.

I really love this idea so much. Feels good to be able to contribute.

niddy · 06/09/2015 10:20

Can't remember how to knit! Going to reminder session from crafty friend! 7 year old daughter on board too!
Will pass on the word and pm for address. Delighted to help and to be a part of some positive action.
Off to dig out dusty knitting needles Smile

KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 10:59

Mhw, for now I think we'll concentrate on blankets, hats, etc as they are the most urgent.
We'll have a think re toys for a later date maybe.

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 11:01

Fairy, most of the stuff we are using is bright and dark so anything like that would be smashing, thanks.

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 11:02

Thank you all for your support.
An amazing response already SmileFlowers

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 11:25

All help is brilliant, every penny, every moment of time given, every square, everything. Bloody marvellous, thank you Thanks

And we have two lovely donors to thank, honestly this means so much, all can join in now and its's not just a matter of being able to afford to.

Thanks Giraffes Star
Thanks kr1stina Star

Such kind souls, thank you Thanks Thanks

OP posts:
slithytove · 06/09/2015 11:38

Do you post pics of completed hugs?

fivepies · 06/09/2015 12:08

Count me in. I'll try to get a whole blanket done, but am about to move house (date not decided yet!). Worst case I'll get several squares to you.

KnottyAndPistey · 06/09/2015 13:40

We do, Slithy.

OP posts:
MissisBee · 06/09/2015 15:49

I'm joining in too. Going to attempt some hats, if that fails it'll be squares.

theDudesmummy · 06/09/2015 16:17

I think I would be better with scarves rather than squares, whch i may not be able to get even in size (very bad knitter), are scarves ok (for children or adults?)