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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.

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

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Thread gallery
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twofingerstoGideon · 08/09/2015 16:59

I'm in. Will do some hats and blanket squares.

KnottyAndPistey · 08/09/2015 18:06

There ARE a German group - we went through a phase of having puzzled German comments, as they kept finding us by mistake!

Hope this works, we are here...

Gideon Knotty and I love your name, we always have Grin

We know for sure that our woolly endeavours will help folk in great need, and every piece will help, thank you everyone for every stitch! Thanks

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KnottyAndPistey · 08/09/2015 18:07

therealsquireofwideacre - have messaged you x

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BlackeyedSusan · 08/09/2015 18:40

erm, you did say any standard?

RockingStones · 08/09/2015 19:48

Definitely doing for this project, though not sure how much I'll manage. It's fair cheered me up too after all those pages of negative threads lately.

Does anyone have a 15% off code that works for Love Knitting website? I need a few items from them so thought I'd get some Stylecraft DK while I am at it. Probably do have a code somewhere but can't find my most recent magazine!

If doing a whole blanket in 12" squares (assuming I can manage all that - no guarantees!), how many squares would I need?

And a last point - if knitting baby items, it might be best for cultural reasons to avoid whites. White clothes can be associated with mourning in some Muslim families so it's best avoided. Apart from the problems of keeping clean white colours too, obviously.

hazeyjane · 08/09/2015 19:52

Did a hat last night, will try to do a few more, and some squares.

This is a lovely little glowy thread in amongst some threads with some fairly foul posts.

Flowers
redshoeblueshoe · 08/09/2015 20:36

yes it is Hazey

Brew
KnottyAndPistey · 08/09/2015 21:06
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KnottyAndPistey · 08/09/2015 21:07

But that might just be hormones. TbhBlush

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KnottyAndPistey · 08/09/2015 21:12

Rocking, if doing 12" we suggest at least a 3 x 4 blanket.

Good point about using white - we normally suggest avoiding for practical reasons in these environments, symbolism is obviously of importance too.

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Alambil · 09/09/2015 01:20

I can do some baby hats / squares :) I have good quality DK acrylic, but not Stylecraft .... does that matter?

KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 07:45

Not at all Alambil - any good quality DK acrylic is fab, thank you Thanks

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KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 08:51

Trying to build up a collection of easy hat and mitten/glove patterns, have already got a few, all linked from our website here Any more recommendations would be fabulous.

Thank you Thanks

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jetSTAR · 09/09/2015 12:57

I have wanted to help wooly hugs before and learned to crcohet earlier this year so I'm off to check what sort of wool I have upstairs. Will do squares and maybe a scarf xxx

MamaLazarou · 09/09/2015 13:56

Hi, is there any preference for crochet hook size? I have loads of odds and ends of yarn to use up and would love to get involved.

KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 15:53

Welcome on board both of you, fabulous to have you here Thanks

If making squares for us with acrylic DK - go for a 4mm.

Thank you!

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KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 16:06

The first treasure for our Refugee Project is here, this set of ten woolly hats, from newborn to adult has arrived from the very lovely LF. Thank you doesn't even come close, you are a star xxxx

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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Kr1stina · 09/09/2015 16:12

These are beautiful . The recipients will see they have been made with love as well as DK.

MollyLair · 09/09/2015 16:18

I have cast on and done two rows. For me, this is a triumph.

I love them hats.

Error404usernamenotfound · 09/09/2015 16:38

Those hats are brilliant! I've just started my second square. Hoping to do at least half a blanket's worth, and possibly a couple of hats and scarves if I can.

SwedishEdith · 09/09/2015 17:59

Someone's done all of those hats since Saturday? Shock Panics. They're lovely!

hazeyjane · 09/09/2015 18:27

Those hats are lovely!

Is it ok if mine are crocheted in chunky and look a little more 'Benny from Crossroads'??

SpaghettiMeatballs · 09/09/2015 18:41

My square making SC has just arrived!

Munxx · 09/09/2015 19:38

Total newbie sorry. Needles on way thanks to kind MNetter, wool here thanks to kind Mum!

How many stitches should I cast on? 33 was it?

Mhw02 · 09/09/2015 19:55

Some Hat Patterns

I've made the top one - it's nice!