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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. A Blanket for the very lovely Tunnocks, also known as thatscottishconfection. Crafters and donors, we need your help

394 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 10/01/2017 17:18

Many of you we know have been wonderfully supportive of lovely Tunnocks, now known as thatscottishconfection, since her husband was first diagnosed with cancer three years ago and many will remember the journey they were on. Heartbreakingly we are very sorry to say that just before Christmas he died. Such sad news, we send so much love to her and their little children, they are very close in our hearts and thoughts.

Her thread is here although it is currently in chat so will disappear there is a second here..also in Chat..

In it she made this beautiful post

"It's strange, I suppose, that I've imagined -numerous times - us talking it over, when it's over. Once you can think straight again, and marshall the right words for the right things out of your mouth.

You say: 'I'm so sorry. I never wanted to put you through that. It's the last thing I wanted for you'. Because it's the sort of thing you would say, and pretty much did say, years ago.

And I say: 'It's not your fault. It couldn't be less your fault. And I'm sorry for the times I wasn't more patient. It was so hard.' And I squeeze your hand.

We are walking and talking in a wood, or by a river, or by a river in a wood, because that's where we often would be walking.

And we are holding hands and your hand isn't shaking, and you are walking quickly like you used to, and in a straight line. The wind is messing up my hair and sticking it to my lip balm, and you are wearing that red puffer jacket I always hated, but I don't care about either of these things.

And the low sun is shining, almost white, and sometimes getting in our eyes, and the ground feels crisp with a light frost and, although it is midwinter, it feels like a new beginning.

And we agree how relieved we are that it is all over. And how it feels like a...a great lifting of things.

And you smile at me and say 'Shall we go back to the children?' And so we do, together."

Thanks Thanks

We have offered to make Tunnocks a blanket to show our love and support and to offer what comfort we can, and we are delighted to say she has accepted. Will you help us make this for her and their children?

We need crocheters, knitters and donors (of funds or wool) If you would like to be involved in any way, please post on this thread and PM us with your offers: crafting, donating, need wool, etc, we can help you with all of it.

Our Yarns

  • Drops Merino Extra Fine DK
  • Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK
  • Debbie Bliss Rialto DK
  • Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK 
* Artesano Superwash Merino DK
  • Patons Merino Extrafine DK

Just from the brands listed please because we know they combine for wash and wear. If you still have any of our wools that have been discontinued - Rowan Cashsoft DK, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK or James C. Brett Pure Merino DK in your stash, please do use them.

Our listed yarns are all easily available online - Try Wool Warehouse, Wise Badger, Laughing Hens

Some ideas..
“He loved cycling and the natural world (especially climbing trees!), he loved cooking and growing vegetables and looking after his chickens. He was a mechanical design engineer and was always bringing things home from work to tinker with. He was half Irish and we try to visit County Cork every year. We have a great Egyptian rescue cat called Mickey (ginger) who he chose and who spent the whole last week of his life on his bed (he knew better than the doctors).

Thank you again - I've received such support from people I've never met and it helps more than you can know.”

We also have the family’s initials, if this is something you’d like to help with.

From her words we have come up with this colour palette..

  • Blues
  • Greens
  • Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM7 Taupe
  • Oranges - one of these please, Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK - Pumpkin (373) or Debbie Bliss Rialto DK - Tangerine (56) or Debbie Bliss Rialto DK - Burnt Orange (43)
  • Cream, one of the following - Debbie Bliss Rialto DK 02 ecru or Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM4 cream

Then Silver for embellishments

Simple or complex, made by beginner or expert, we genuinely welcome them all. It really is the love and thought that counts. There is support for buying colours on our website, here. Squares to be six inches, using 4mm needles or hook. Previous blankets can be seen on our website If looking for ideas for a pattern, there are many linked to from our website under Crafting

We also have a Facebook page Woolly Hugs and are on Twitter @Woolly_Hugs

When ready for posting, please PM for info, if you would like to send a card to the family via us, please do. As always, we thank you so much for your support,

Lovely Tunnocks we are thinking of you all, sending love and strength. xxxxx

OP posts:
Thread gallery
58
FiveGoMadInDorset · 14/01/2017 22:09

Its usually about a month after the first request

Wolfiefan · 14/01/2017 22:15

Thanks. I am not able to get out much and I'm fitting the knitting in where possible so I wanted to make sure I didn't miss the date!

starsorwater · 14/01/2017 22:55

Thank you for my lovely wool, just the colour of beech leaves.

AmaDablam · 15/01/2017 09:38

Can I just check is Jenny Watson wm14 grey OK to use as "silver"? It looked like quite a light grey on the website but it's a fair bit darker irl...

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 15/01/2017 23:06

Hello all

Ama. Sorry, I don't know, but K&P will pop in soon I'm sure.

It might pay to say what for, it might be ok for a little bit like bike wheels or something, but not a whole square.

starsofwater what wool & colour is it? It sounds lovely.

Zhx3 · 15/01/2017 23:10

Hi Knotty and Pistey,
I would like to donate wool for Tunnock's blanket. Please could you match me with a crafter?
Many thanks,
Zhx3

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 15/01/2017 23:34

Zhx3. It's best to send a PM. Can you do that?

slithytove · 16/01/2017 00:22

Would love to help. I have followed tunnocks threads and wished there was something I could do.

Can anyone point me towards some easy to follow patterns? I would like to move on from basic k and p but struggle to read some patterns and can't rescale them either.

PicardsCombOver · 16/01/2017 01:00

Hello :) I can do some odd things to wool with a crochet hook and make it square-ish. I've bought wool of the taupe variety from the funky badger website. If someone with actual talent needs taupe Jenny wool please inbox and I'll post it instead of (wasting) using it. Best wishes to everyone battling at this time.

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 16/01/2017 01:42

slithytove. It's not easy to find 6" squares, lots are 9". What sort of thing did you fancy? Just a different way to use knit & purl -

Basket weave?

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basket-weave-dishcloth-13

That is VERY easy to scale & do but gives a lovely texture.)

Cable?

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/2009-afghan-the-october-square

(Not the nicest one, but we can find another pattern if you fancy that style)

Stripes?

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/striped-bib-and-cloth-set---laurel

As you can see, I mostly use Ravelry. There are loads of free patterns and usually several pictures from people who have done it. It's easy enough yo resize if you choose that sort, the ones with pictures it's much harder.

On the Candy's Hugs thread there are lots of links to other pattern places and on the Wooly Hugs page too.

Once you know what sort of thing you want to do we can help you find a good pattern for it.

PopGoesTheFuckingWeasel · 16/01/2017 02:32

Room for a small one?

Are any of the colors from the Candy Hugs yarn suitible?

bookbook · 16/01/2017 07:56

slithytove
the Woolly Hugs website has some great help for knitters HERE
and hopefully you can find a pattern you feel comfortable with , just scroll down and have a look.
if you can knit a simple tension square, and let me know how many stitches you need to use to get to 6" , I can maybe run you up a simple pattern for you.
Pop - this specific Woolly Hugs uses Merino wool - colours and suitable oolours in the OP -

AmaDablam · 16/01/2017 08:32

Chipping Was planning on a square version of this, with the tree in the JW grey

Woolly Hugs. A Blanket for the very lovely Tunnocks, also known as thatscottishconfection. Crafters and donors, we need your help
chur · 16/01/2017 08:36

I am a complete novice but have just ordered some wool and going to give it a crack... think I may be able to do a plain square.

Off to look at some of the links

littlemissneela · 16/01/2017 08:48

I sadly don't have any of the yarns mentioned; I'm more of a stylecraft dk gal, but I would love to crochet a square or two if there is any way of getting some yarn?

KnottyAndPistey · 16/01/2017 09:27

Morning all Brew

Welcome to those joining us here, very glad to have you on board. x

Off to catch up Thanks

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 16/01/2017 09:35

AmaDablam - Jenny Watson wm14 is perfect, thank you Thanks

BigApple11 - Can you do trees? Thanks

Jenijena and Zhx3 - You are both wonderful. Thank you, we are very grateful and will take you both up on this, will PM in a mo with the info and an address. Thanks

Wolfiefan Last posting in a day or so, we will wait a bit as folk still joining us, but yes it is usually around a month. Thanks

Pop We use different yarn for these big Woolly Hug blankets, have a look in the OP, very happy to post you some if you need? Thank you Thanks

littlemissneela Welcome, very happy to send to you, will just need an address. Thank you Thanks

Off to PMs, there is an avalanche in there, may be a while! x

OP posts:
ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 16/01/2017 09:39

POP. Of course there's room 😁 Lots of orange too! No to Candy's Hugs yarn though, it's entirely different yarn/wool.

AMA that's a great pattern. If K&P thinks 'no' to the wool you asked about, could you do a blue/green combo?

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 16/01/2017 09:43

Sorry for the cross post. The iPad needs the tablet equivalent of coffee!

starsorwater · 16/01/2017 10:14

Hi, I bought wool (apple green) and you sent some too, thank you so much. I now have 2 shades of green and have done shamrock, star stitch, Harris tweed (for the Scottish connection!) and have enough left for one more. Would you like a cat? I can cable if you would rather trees.

MadisonAvenue · 16/01/2017 10:36

slithytove I found this Knits page very useful when trying things more ambitious that knit and purl.
It looks a bit basic when you click on it but if you scroll down there are links to various textures that you can try and is very easy to follow. If you work on needing around 31 stitches for a 6" square, depending on your tension, it's easy to adapt the patterns as it says, for instance, cast on in multiples of 3 plus 2 extra stitches. You can see what will fit into a square just be doing a bit of quick maths.

MadisonAvenue · 16/01/2017 10:39

Slithytove I pressed post too soon!
Click on "Patterns" on the header and then "Stitch Patterns" in the dropdown box.

BigApple11 · 16/01/2017 11:20

I will try trees (gulp)

Hello pop lovely to see you here Smile

MadisonAvenue · 16/01/2017 12:09

Thank you to my wonderful donor, the postman has just delivered your order from Wise Badger Smile

Woolly Hugs. A Blanket for the very lovely Tunnocks, also known as thatscottishconfection. Crafters and donors, we need your help
PopGoesTheFuckingWeasel · 16/01/2017 13:13

Knotty yes please! That would be awesome! 😁