Zombie and Woolly Hugs. Come and find out about Candy's Hugs, we need your help.

[KnottyAndPistey]

Our lovely Zombie (who has said she doesn’t mind being outed as Candy) has long been a supporter of Woolly Hugs, bless her for it! Recently she made a very kind donation to us, and we would love to start an Ongoing project to honour this remarkable woman, who we have both had the privilege of meeting, dancing and drinking with. She is utterly fab-u-lous. :)

After a chat with Zombie we have made a plan which she loves. We would like to make comforting cosy blankets with love in every stitch for women going through treatment for breast and other cancers, and at times these may form part of palliative care. They will be called Candy’s Hugs.

Zombie is a bright and beautiful woman so we have chosen a palette to reflect this which we call Vibrant Riot; it is inspired too by a blanket that was made for her to give big hugs as she goes through treatments.

Will you join with us? If you would like to be involved in any way, we’d love to have you on board. Please post on this thread and PM with your offers: crafting, donating, need wool, etc, we can help you with all of it.

The yarn is Stylecraft Special DK. Just this please for consistency, and in these colours...

Vibrant Riot Palette
Boysenberry
Claret
Empire
Fuchsia
Grass
Kelly green
Lavender
Lime
Lipstick
Magenta
Meadow
Petrol
Plum
Pomegranate
Saffron
Sherbet
Shrimp
Spice
Turquoise
Tomato
Violet

Squares to be 12 inch or 6 inch, crochet or knitted equally welcome, please use 4mm hook or needles. No blocking necessary and please sew in ends, and make sure any colour changes are firmly knotted.

All crafting abilities genuinely welcome, squares made by beginner or expert will be equally cherished. Simple, complex, single colour, mixed colour. It really is the love and thought that counts.

If you would like to learn how to knit or crochet in 2017, crack on! We have help for the complete beginner here…. And are on hand to help talk you through as well. YouTube has lots of tutorials, you WILL find one that suits! :)

If you feel ambitious and would like to make a whole blanket, then that is wonderful, we are aiming for blankets approx 48 inches by 60 inches, certainly no smaller.

Candy’s Hugs will be an ongoing project, our first posting date is to be January 28th. Do message for posting info when ready.

We are on Facebook - Woolly Hugs and Twitter too @Woolly_Hugs both are good ways to keep in touch.

Thank you so much xx

My wool arrived this morning from wool Wearhouse this morning (unfortunately, dh now knows the extent of my wool addiction).

I made my first square, learning how to make stripes. I've only been knitting since august so quite pleased with it. It's nowhere near as good as some of the ones on here though. You are a very talented bunch.

That's beautiful Glen

That's really lovely glen, it's so neat

book, I'm doing a trial square to see if I can do something useful in bobbin lace. When it comes to slow, you ain't got nothin' on me

Glen fab!

Madison I have family in Stafford too. Totally "out" on here anyway- many people know who I am in rl- so I think it's ok to say that.

I know what may be useful to someone...I have the full "Art of Crochet" magazine collection if anyone would like a lend? (or is that a borrow? Damn you Carling!)

Glen that is properly well done :)
Spindelina - I had a friend, sadly dead now, who did the most amazing bobbin lace , but talk about slow. Seeing all the little bobbins on her cushion, just to make a collar was awe inspiring. I wish you well !

Hi. I would love to help crochet squares

Ordered yarn from Woolwarehouse on Thursday afternoon and parcel arrived first thing this morning (use code SC23 to get 10% discount during January). It knits & crochets really nicely - 3 squares so far. Found this on Pinterest which gives simple patterns for 50 different knitted squares if anyone looking for ideas to get started.
uk.pinterest.com/pin/73324300163116525/

Lovely idea, I'd be really keen to crochet some squares if someone could send a little wool (I'm not earning at the moment). Will PM.

I bought some yarn today at a local wool shop, some awesomely clashing colours ;) Also a random shade of gold for DS who wants a bag made 🙄
Going to have a whirl tomorrow at some plain squares :)

It sounds a bit random, but should we start a separate thread with links to patterns, stocklists, etc?

I'd like to attempt to crochet a square, I certainly can't knit. My DM has tried several times to teach me but I drop stitches everywhere, hoping crochet may be a little easier. I can get to a Hobby craft on Monday if they will stock the necessary?
If it turns out I'm terrible at that too, I'm happy to donate yarn instead.

For those who are struggling as beginners...

I crochet in a cack-handed way. I'm registered blind, and find it easier to feel what I'm doing instead of seeing. Instead of pulling the hook through the loop, I pull the loops over the hook with my fingers. So, for example, to finish a dc, I'd pull the "back" two loops over the front one and over the head of the hook.

Would this be an easier way? Could someone who crochets normally PLEASE give it a go to compare? It doesn't make any difference to the quality of my work (one of the few things I KNOW I'm good at). Would it be easier for those who struggle with the whole "draw up a loop" thing?

Pop - I've had two spells of being able to crochet in my life, when I was a girl I learnt to do it as you describe. I then stopped for thirty years and had to learn again from scratch, I don't do it that way now. I've no idea if my current technique is standard as I never see anyone else crochet (I re-learned from books not Youtube) but nearly all the movement is from the non-hook hand. The single thing that makes the biggest difference to me is looping the wool round my little finger and over my middle finger to tension it correctly which would help whatever your technique.

Pop - I tried your way just now on that half made square and found it quite hard but that's just because I'm not used to it. I think it probably is a good way for someone just starting out.

Whokn0ws I hear you- I learned using American terms (having been over here in England for 20years) and I learned right handed, despite being a leftie!

Is the Little Hugs project still ongoing btw?

I'm very right handed, but it's definitely the left hand doing most of the work for me, I hold the hook pretty still and just turn it back and forth to catch and pull the wool. The wool and the worked item are moved around the hook by my left hand.

Heman

I coould see that Pug already help with photo, hurrah!

One neat trick is to do the foundation chain with a 5mm hook, then SWITCH TO a 4mm hook.
Also make sure that the loop is formed correctly, on the shank, not in the throat.

6 squares done! Pics for inspiration

Firefly how adorable are those colors?

I have just ordered yarn,so I'm in! I have never been involved before, but this thread is truly inspiring. I'm a beginner knitter, so still quite slow, but hopefully can produce something useful!

Thank you Zing! I'll get a 4.5 and a 5mm hook and have a go. The tip about having the loop on the shank is very helpful too.

I know, Pop. I am loving working with them. Think they need an orange as well, but don't want to over stretch myself

Firefly those colours are gorgeous!

Pop I'm just outside of the hell hole that is Cannock

jellycat have fun with this!