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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 for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.

696 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 21/06/2016 19:23

There cannot be a single soul who has not been shocked and horrified by the devastating attack and murder of MP Jo Cox. Truly awful, at times like this one struggles to find the words to make any sense, there just aren’t any. We feel desperately sorry for Jo’s children, DH, parents, family and friends, and are thinking of all who love and miss her.

In one of the most beautiful and courageous pieces written her husband Brendan has said she would have wished now for their children to be bathed in love, this really resonates with what we hope Woolly Hugs is all about.

Jo represented the good things in the world, all that is the opposite of bitterness and hatred. Let us do something now for her, for her husband and their children, by sending love, compassion, strength and support. We hope it will bring them a little comfort. We are thinking of them. Thanks

We are very fortunate to have one of her good friends on board, we asked if she could help us, and she will, and will be able to pass on the blankets to the children when the time comes, we can’t thank her enough, she says “With your permission, I will pass the message on that they are being made. I know they have taken great comfort from the love everyone's shared in the last few days and this will be equally welcomed. You are brilliant. Thank you xxx.”

So this is our plan, can you help us?

Firstly, we would like to make a blanket for both of Jo’s children, their DS Cuillin aged 5 and DD Lejla aged three, these to be big enough that they can snuggle with their dad and find warmth and comfort. There will be love in every stitch for them.

Secondly we would like to make a blanket for Auction in the run up to Christmas, and have chosen one of Jo’s charities to be our recipient. Brendan said it would have been Jo’s wish that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her, so we have chosen the charity called Hope not Hate. See here... It seems right.

Thirdly, may we encourage folk to contribute to our existing Woolly Hugs’ Refugee Project, all crafting info is here. Jo campaigned tirelessly for refugees, this seems very appropriate. We know we cant help everyone, but one square, one blanket, a pair of gloves, one warm hat, one step at a time, really every little thing will help. Thank you.

Crafting information for the three blankets
All yarn to be Stylecraft Special DK, which is very easily available. Try here. Please make sure your square fits into one of these palettes. It will make it much easier. Thank you.

Vintage: Duck egg, grape, sage, storm, parchment, pale rose, pomegranate, raspberry, cloud blue, sherbert.

Traditional: Parchment, cloud blue, denim, sherbert, aster, petrol, lipstick, claret, burgundy.

  • Squares to be 6 inches, using 4mm hook or needles.
  • All crafting abilities genuinely welcome, simple, complex, squares made by beginner or experienced are equally welcomed. It really is the love and thought that counts. When finished please sew in those ends* but don’t block your work.
  • Then PM for details for posting.

Last posting to be July 27th.

We are on Facebook as Woolly Hugs and Twitter @Woolly_Hugs which are both good ways to keep in touch. Do join us there if you would like to.

"She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now, one that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her.”

As always heartfelt thanks for your support.

'She met the world with love'
Thinking of beautiful Jo and her family, sending so much love Thanks

OP posts:
Thread gallery
71
KnottyAndPistey · 28/06/2016 13:15

For BIWI. :)

Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
OP posts:
HerRoyalFattyness · 28/06/2016 13:50

It's here! The photos do.the do it justice. Such beautiful colours!

runningLou · 28/06/2016 23:25

Not sewn ends in yet but this is what I have so far.
How many squares is everyone doing?

Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
MargaretRiver · 29/06/2016 03:08

Does anyone have any ideas for symbols to add.
White Rose of Yorkshire, of course, but what else could clever crafters appliqué / knit into their squares to personalise them for Jo?

KnottyAndPistey · 29/06/2016 07:40

Morning Brew

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HerRoyalFattyness · 29/06/2016 07:47

Morning. My first square was too big. Will try again tonight.

SandwichYum · 29/06/2016 10:22

2 balls of yarn arrived thank you to the donor, I'll start on some squares.

Energumene · 29/06/2016 12:11

Received my ball of Sherbet yarn this morning - thank you so much to those donating Smile

Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
peaceloveandtwirlywoos · 29/06/2016 13:48

I'm interested in ideas for motifs as well.

MrsHathaway · 29/06/2016 14:45

I couldn't find out very much about Mrs Cox's likes and dislikes when I Googled (which on balance pleases me).

But at the memorial there was a lot of talk about her love of musicals. I've given up on some plans for musical notes and clefs because too bloody difficult but that's an idea someone might find interesting.

I also looked at animals on the grounds that the blankets are for small children. There is a lovely shaggy-maned lion I considered, or perhaps ducks to represent those that pass the houseboat.

The houseboat itself was all too tricky.

KnottyAndPistey · 29/06/2016 15:04

For those asking for inspiration, I would think, roses, hearts, dove, feminist ♀ symbol for hope not hate - if you can do 'words' using purl/plain, then 'unity,' 'love,' 'peace,' (not with any inside knowledge, just from a labour movement perspective)

Red rose for labour, Tower Bridge

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KnottyAndPistey · 29/06/2016 15:05

Thank you to AC for this, but these ideas lifted from Jo's DH's speech..

Quoting husband - Jo was a good forager, mountain climber, cyclist (mention of missing brake pads), runner, avid reader, great exaggerator, log carrier, ball of energy, an awful cook, middle lane driver, mum, 5 ft 1 and 2 on s good day, mixed words up in addition to wanting to care for everybody. Family want to remember his lucky they are to have known her and the love she had and created. ❤️. Also people were wearing white roses - maybe these could be knitted/crocheted as well as the labour red rose?

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PeaceOfWildThings · 29/06/2016 16:50

I've got something in my eye!

blueskyinmarch · 29/06/2016 18:53

I have literally just finished this flower motif. I know it isn't red or a rose but it is certainly a labour of love. I have gone from beginner to this in less than a week. Thank you to Jo for allowing me to discover myself and find peace through crocheting these squares.

Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
MrsHathaway · 29/06/2016 19:00

Well done bluesky!! Star

MiniLop · 29/06/2016 19:11

bluesky that looks fab!

peaceloveandtwirlywoos · 29/06/2016 21:52

Lovely ideas for motifs, thank you. Onto my second square tonight

KnottyAndPistey · 30/06/2016 08:27

Beautiful Blue Morning everyone Brew

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PeaceOfWildThings · 30/06/2016 08:43

For a white rose, should we use white or could we use parchment to stick to Vintage/ Traditional colour schemes (for the children's blankets)?

weegiemum · 30/06/2016 20:44

Having temporarily given up learning to crochet (I might just have chucked yarn + hook across the room at one point) I have gone back to knitting and have 4 squares to send. Where do I send them?

HerRoyalFattyness · 30/06/2016 23:57

Not a great picture, but here's my first square.

Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
PeaceOfWildThings · 01/07/2016 06:51

That's great HerRoyalFattyness. Looks very snuggly too.

Mirandawest · 01/07/2016 11:23

My wool just arrived - thank you to my donor Smile

Mirandawest · 01/07/2016 11:24

And here is a picture

Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
MaximilianNero · 01/07/2016 16:12

I've been practicing for nearly a week, and nowhere near your stage yet bluesky, that's a really lovely square Smile

I really enjoy it when it's going well, it's very relaxing, but I'm going wrong more than I'm going right at the moment, so plenty of practice in order! I tried to start a granny square, it turned into...not sure what, but it was very wrong Grin

Yarn colours are gorgeous