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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
fairgroundsnack · 03/07/2016 22:24

Finished my first square!

Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
MaximilianNero · 04/07/2016 00:29

I've finally made a proper square Smile I'm pleased with it as a first ever square, lots of love went in there, although it's nothing to the other squares on this thread, there's so much talent on here! I followed Bella Coco's corner to corner tutorial, and it was surprisingly easy to do, I recommend it to other beginner's.

Going to start another, it will be plain rows of double or treble so I can practice my basic stitch, then maybe I'll attempt a granny square!

Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
KnottyAndPistey · 04/07/2016 08:18

Beauties!

Thank you so much everyone, apologies for the quiet weekend, was all a bit mad, back to it, two red cards of doom, and a pile of envelopes too.

Catching up Brew.

Thank you everyone. xxxx

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 04/07/2016 08:28

Love, love, love all these new folk inspired to learn, how wonderful! Tattoo - yes please! Thanks

Coming to PM, two ticks

Thanks
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 04/07/2016 13:18

The first squares for Jo are here.

From lipstick hearts and clockwise, thank you KH, EM, KL. Beautiful

Thanks
Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 04/07/2016 13:19

For the blankets for Jo Cox's Children. Beautiful initial squares from the very lovely DutchOma. Thank you. X

Thanks
Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 04/07/2016 13:20

Beautiful squares for our Jo Cox projects arriving...
Top L-R, ET, CD, EP
Middle L-R, AS, JE, UW
Bottom L-R, OL, CP

Thank you Thanks

Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 04/07/2016 13:22

"She met the world with love."

Beautiful squares for our Jo Cox project, from top and L-R

  1. SW, CW
  2. IW, MunchandMissyMouse
  3. DG, IamtheWhoreofBabylon, HoneysuckleJasmine
  4. DH, RH, WoolPixie
  5. SA
Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 04/07/2016 13:23

More beautiful squares for our Jo Cox projects arriving....

Rows 1&2) PM
3) MostlySinging, SS
4&5) ME

Thank you so much everyone, wonderful. xxxx

Thanks
Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
OP posts:
MrsArthurShappey · 04/07/2016 13:30

Wow!

MrsHathaway · 04/07/2016 14:01

All absolutely fabulous. So warming to see everyone's love woven into every stitch Star

jacrispy · 04/07/2016 16:43

I'm an absolute beginner but would love to help. What's the best hook to get and we're can I get wool?

MrsHathaway · 04/07/2016 16:49

You'll need a 4 mm hook - doesn't matter what kind, so long as the size is right. Experienced hookers (fnah) have a preference but it doesn't matter when you start.

The OP has the details of the precise yarn you'll need for this project - it needs to be the right kind and the right colours to fit in properly. Woolly Hugs projects tend to be made in double knitting (DK) yarns as they're easy to use and readily available.

I have a feeling there's a link and a voucher code early on in the thread but I can't find it just now and I don't know if it's current. I've previously bought mine on Amazon, mind you, which couldn't be simpler but is probably 10-20% more expensive.

glorious · 04/07/2016 23:25

Yay we are now unpacked in our new house and I've ordered the wool for this and learnt to make a square (could only do straight things until now!). Will get started as soon as it arrives.

KnottyAndPistey · 05/07/2016 08:30

Morning Brew

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 05/07/2016 08:31

Happy new home glorious and welcome jacrispy Thanks MrsH

Thanks
OP posts:
MayhemandMadness · 05/07/2016 12:49

Have just popped 6 squares into the post, they should hopefully arrive soon.

Pastamancer · 05/07/2016 14:36

I've just started a new square and thought I'd try a waffle one. It started off fine and I measured it as 6" so perfect. I've just done my first waffle row and somehow it has grown and is now 7". Angry I will continue with it as a practice square and will try again later to get a 6" one. It's also occured to me that as I'm using cloud blue, I am making a blue waffle... Shock Grin

blueskyinmarch · 05/07/2016 14:39

Pastmancer. I wanted to try a waffle square too but had no idea how long to make it to start off. How many chains did you do for your first row? How many do you think would be needed for 6 inches?

blueskyinmarch · 05/07/2016 14:39

I mean Pastamancer Silly me.

jacrispy · 05/07/2016 14:39

I brought a hook and some cheap wool today to practice on while I wait for my proper wool to arrive from Amazon. I've been watching you tube tutorials while I wait. I can knit but not very good. If I'm not up to scratch for this project I'll donate to your other ones. Can't wait to get some quite time to start practicing!

Pastamancer · 05/07/2016 14:48

I'm following tutorial on YouTube, she is great at explaining and I have so far made a normal granny square and a little heart following her. You chain multiples of 3 to start with and she recommends measuring that to get your starting chain amount as hook size and tension will affect how many you need to do. The main thing is multiples of 3 or the waffle won't work :)

Woolly Hugs for Jo Cox. Donors and crafters, we need your help.
DixieNormas · 05/07/2016 14:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blueskyinmarch · 05/07/2016 16:09

What is that pattern called DixieNormas? I would like to try that one too.

Pastamancer · 05/07/2016 16:31

Looks like bluesky