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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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giraffesCantDoThat · 09/09/2015 20:31

Already donated to this project. A great idea.

chelseabuns2013 · 09/09/2015 20:37

I'm in! Am I'm going to try and get my students, brownies and girl guides in too please more details cause I'm very disorganised and need clear instruction!

KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 21:12

Molly - you go! Bless you, thank you xx

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KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 21:13

Error404usernamenotfound - that's just brilliant, thank you Thanks

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KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 21:13

Not all those hats were made by one person, was her mum and some friends too, but how fabulous. x

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KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 21:15

Munxx - for a six inch square, cast on 33, knit about ten rows and measure it to see how wide it is, then you will know if you are good to carry on, or to rethink your start number.

Just keep knitting, measuring as you go and stop at 6 inches.

Thank you so much Thanks

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KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 21:16

Mhw - fab for the patterns, will add those tomorrow to the website, its a good central place and it is already being well used. Thank you Thanks

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KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 21:16

Giraffes - you are as lovely as ever, thank you so much for your donation, it's going to help folk keep warm, bless your heart Thanks

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KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 21:21

Chelsea

You may find it laid out more clearly on our website - check out www.woollyhugs.com

We want squares - might be really good for the Brownies and Guides. In any acrylic DK. Six inch or 12 inch, although 6 inch may feel more achievable for them. Recommend stylecraft special DK Enter Yarndale into the code and postage will be free.

We welcome hats, gloves, scarves etc too in any yarn, but these are far more of a challenge.

Do share our Facebook page with them/their parents, its a good way for them to follow the project.

Have a look at the website, come back if you have any more questions. Thank you so much

Thanks
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KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 21:21

Adorable little hat for a newborn from the very lovely JE

You are a star, thank you so much Thanks

Woolly Hugs. Supporting refugees, lovely crafters and donors, fabulous Mumsnetters we need your help.
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MamaLazarou · 09/09/2015 21:25

Working on my first square now! It feels good to be doing something kind and helpful. Thanks for the opportunity.

KnottyAndPistey · 09/09/2015 21:36

Yes, it really does. Just had contact from a group in New Zealand wanting to help, this is some big team effort, proud to be working alongside such awesome folk. THANK YOU EVERYONE xxxxxxx

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Alambil · 09/09/2015 22:45

here's a few tutorials I have used in the past:

MrsKCastle · 09/09/2015 22:45

Knotty, I have an almost-finished baby's cardigan but it's cotton rather than acrylic. It's this. Would that be of any use? If not, I will do some squares and hopefully a hat or two.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 10/09/2015 00:50

I'm already in via fb but posting here just to keep up with the woolly treasure (and I am ordering the wool today for my lovely crafter).

redshoeblueshoe · 10/09/2015 07:19

Good morning Brew
what lovely hats.

iwantgin · 10/09/2015 07:59

There are a few fp pages called Woolly Hugs.

Can someone confirm I am looking at the correct one please?

Umm profile picture is a square of knitting ?

Top post on the page is thanking Billie Fletcher for blanket collection for Ghana ?

Thanks

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 10/09/2015 08:03

Yes, that's the one Iwantgin
here for anyone else looking for it

KnottyAndPistey · 10/09/2015 08:03

That's the one gin

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KnottyAndPistey · 10/09/2015 08:05

That's the one Smile

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KnottyAndPistey · 10/09/2015 08:09

Yes please MrsK please send.

Thank you for those links Alambil that's exactly what we need. Bless you.

Morning red morning thumb

Just off to catch up with PMs.

Brew
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KnottyAndPistey · 10/09/2015 08:10

Morning Knots :)

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iwantgin · 10/09/2015 09:36

Thanks.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 10/09/2015 14:53

Wool ordered for my lovely crafter - hopefully will be with you by the weekend, thank you! ThanksStar

KnottyAndPistey · 10/09/2015 17:06

That's fabulous Thumb, thank you Thanks

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