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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.

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.

526 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 06/02/2016 09:44

When we started this project last September we had no idea how enormous it would become and honestly have been blown away by the response. We should have known, folk never fail to amaze. We can't find the words to express how grateful and thankful we are that so many have risen to the challenge. We know we can't help everyone, but will help as many as we can, and each warm item goes to an individual with love and support from us. Just looking at numbers of items we have already sent to refugees in Kurdistan and Lesvos...

Blankets made by individuals - 127
Blankets made using separate 12 or 6 inch squares sent in - 34
Hats - 805
Cardis/ jumpers etc - 90
Footwear - 15
Scarves - 145
Gloves/wrist warmers - 53

What an extraordinary response Thanks

It is the together bit, that's our strength, we are so grateful to everyone for every single stitch.

With your love and support we need to carry on. Every day more desperate folk are struggling in appalling conditions, there is no end in sight. In this next phase we will continue to send to refugees in Kurdistan and Lesvos and will also be supporting Syrian families arriving here, initially through contacts on the South coast.

Can you help us fabulous mumsnetters?

Because it still stands, we have C&P the OP for all crafting info from our first thread, which is here....

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.

Star Star Thanks Thanks

OP posts:
Thread gallery
225
KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:42

Garter is all knit yy, think both are sturdy, but the texture of garter is snuggly, impressed that as a novice you can purl!

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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:42

Super cosy treasure for our Refugee Project from the lovely Mhw02. Beautiful. Thank you! X

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:44

The most enormous thank you to all who sent in these separate squares for our Refugee Project and lovely JJB for constructing so beautifully. You and it are all fabulous! xxx

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:45

CAJ , thank you! Fantastic hats and squares for our Refugee Project, just brilliant. You star xx

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:46

Huge thanks to all the lovely folk at the Medway Women's Wellbeing group for this fabulous joint blanket for our Refugee Project. It's fantastic. You stars. X

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:46

For our Refugee Project, thank you so much lovely WP! Xxx

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:46

Thank you AmaDablam. Gorgeous quares for our Refugee Project and padded envelopes too. Fabulous, you star! X

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:47

All from the very lovely G for our Refugee Project, the most enormous thanks, just fabulous. xxx

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:47

Many thanks to all who sent in these separate squares for our Refugee Project and to lovely VK for constructing so beautifully. Just gorgeous, bless you all. xxxx

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:48

reasure ahoy! All these hats, neck warmers too, from the very lovely WP for our Refugee Project. Thank you so much! X

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:48

Thank you FK, this beautiful hat is for our Refugee Project, you star xxx

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:49

EG, thank you! Woolly treasure for our Refugee Project, bless you xxxx

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:49

Beautiful hats for our Refugee Project, thank you ME, you star. X

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:50

Such a fantastic collection of hats for our Refugee Project. Thank you so much BT, and for the postal bags too. What a star! xxxx

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 15/03/2016 09:51

Thank you to Daciousme for this beautiful Refugee Project blanket. Gorgeous. You star. Xxx

Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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Drinksforeveryone · 15/03/2016 10:07

Thanks - kk it is :)

Yes, I can do knit and purl - but that's pretty much it.

Have been attempting more complicated things but need to get these perfected first.

Some lovely items above!

OneWaySystemBlues · 15/03/2016 12:56

Where do we send stuff to when it's time? I know the next deadline is 11th April.

Drinksforeveryone · 16/03/2016 08:33

I did 3 squares yesterday.

Spent most of the day knitting. Ha ha

It is addictive!

Tootssweet · 16/03/2016 08:41

Wow - well done to everyone such beautiful pieces!

I have only just seen this but want to help. Are there patterns anywhere as I am a somewhat basic knitter? (but too old these days to call myself a beginner!)

I will try & rope my dm in too as we both want to help but feel quite helpless as to what we can offer.

KnottyAndPistey · 16/03/2016 09:33

Morning all Brew

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KnottyAndPistey · 16/03/2016 09:38

Oneway - will message you, thank you ThanksThanks

Tootssweet Please do, we know we can't help everyone, but every time an item goes, it is one more person helped with woolly warmth and the knowledge that someone loved and cared enough to make and send. ThanksThanks

Re patterns, a simple garter stitch square is gorgeous, bit also have a look here.... More ideas. Thank you and WELCOME ThanksThanks

Drinks We've gotcha! Grin ThanksThanks

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BlackeyedSusan · 16/03/2016 10:45

you were warned drinks...

have six squares of new blanket. I need to start the new one before I can let go of the old one. when I can tidy up enough to lay out the old one then I will put it together. and do that last square. this will have to wait until my sinusses do not scream their annnoyance with me bending down. on the plus side Ihave done a lot of crocheting while poorly.

KnottyAndPistey · 16/03/2016 19:28

91 scarves/shawls,
27 baby/child cardis and jumpers,
106 child hats,
39 adult hats,
5 pairs baby/child gloves,
5 pairs baby bootees,
12 blankets of which 6 were made using separate squares sent by folk.

The next delivery for our Refugee project is on the way. Star Thanks x

Knit for Peace are now sending to refugees in Greece as well as Kurdistan and into Syria. Every item goes with our love. Thank you everyone. With your support we keep going. xxxx

Thanks
Woolly Hugs. Our Project to help refugees continues. One square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. All support welcome.
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KnottyAndPistey · 16/03/2016 19:29

was nearly 37kg in total!

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Drinksforeveryone · 16/03/2016 19:49

Wow! IMpressive!