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

Another characterful square!

I did crochet (badly) but I did it.

Some of these squares are amazing. So impressed, it's inspired me to practice more.

Maladicta well done!

One square done, I'll take a photo later. Now onto the next one.

Has anyone else been crocheting for 12 hours straight?

I've ordered wool & some knitting needles because I taught myself crochet so I can definitely learn to knit too... You'll be getting some crocheted squares from me...

Right, here's my first practice attempt before I risk any of the Real Stuff. Its tension is all wrong and it's not in the right colours, but does this look about right?

That looks better than a lot of my early attempts, flutter! As someone said earlier, WH can work miracles on wonky squares.

whispers Think we've managed to use the word 'wonky' in nearly every post since OP banned it I feel like I'm in the naughty gang at school

I love the word wonky.
To me there's nothing negative about it - it describes something that may be quirky, it might not be exactly to plan, but it works. 👍🏻

flutter :)
I have knitted 2 squares , and needing to adjust the sizing a tweak - so mine are maybe not wonky but just slightly generous in width ( a bit like me) - So now down to 30 stitches , from 32 on square number 3
Pop - 12 hours straight? - no erm breaks ?

Yup! In between my "diagonals" I'm rushing to get any prior commitments finished before my yarn comes. I really want to give this my all.

And number 3.

Pop I'm seriously impressed at your dedication.

Glen the project is so, so close to my heart.

Was unsure whether to post this, as I didn't want to bring down the tone when I've been acting five hyper all day.

When I first learned to crochet, I started a blanket for a dear, dear friend. He passed from cancer before I could finish it.

Determined to do him proud by doing as much as I can.

Have only managed two squares so far as I've been trying something new. I hope these fit the bill

1. turquoise and fuchsia
2. lavender, Violet and sherbet.

If these suit I'll work up some different squares in the same colourways.

Alice love the colors!

Pop I feel the same. I have been so touched by woolly hugs and especially this one for Zombie. Really resonated as I lost my DF and DMIL to cancer. It is upsetting as you desperately want to do something to help, but in the end there is little that makes a difference.

This however is a way of making that difference, and it has meant so much to me and I guess a lot of other folks on here. This is how we show our love....

Dragon I hear you. So, so relieved the colors are bright ones, as I've been imagining making someone smile with bright colors.

Does this count as "diagonal"?

I have been inspired to get out my needles (I need a refresher for crochet granny squares as I can't remember a thing). anyway, it's the wrong yarn & wrong needles - will be correcting that asap - but look I knitted a characterful (wonky/mistake riddled) square

Oh I love bright colours too, as you would tell if you saw some of the hints I'd made lately

Sadly I'm just working through some stuff in my stash or I'd go full on rainbow for this

Oops *hints = things

Oraaaaange!!!! I have to admit, the main advantage to refreshing this thread every five minutes being on this thread is that someone posts something orange on every page!

Vitty I'm in envy of anyone who can knit. I think it looks great!

would look better in orange

I bloody love orange, and I bloody love the word wonky BUT not when we are talking about squares, you buggers!

You lot are so talented, I can offer words of encouragement and admire from a safe distance.

I would love to crochet some Candy's Hugs squares.
I picked up my hook again in the Autumn after 30 years, having only made baby clothes. RL is challenging at the moment and I thought it might be relaxing to crochet again. I'm not sure what has happened to me but I am obsessed!
It was my lovely sister who taught me to crochet; I lost her to cancer some years ago, so along with following Zombie's journey for some years I am inspired to join you crazy people!
I've ordered my wool; just let me know where to send them please!