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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.

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Zombie and Woolly Hugs. Our second thread! Come and find out about Candy's Hugs, all very welcome.

977 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 15/01/2017 09:33

Welcome to our second thread, may it be as vibrantly riotous as the first!

Anyone reading this thinking Shall I? Can I? Yes you can! :) We would love to have you on board, from someone who is keen to learn crochet or knitting to the more experienced, ALL are welcome here. And a lack of funds is no barrier, we have wonderful donors who want to take part and need a crafter, so we can send you yarn, needles and hooks if necessary. It is all about being inclusive and team work.

So let's crack on!

This then a C&P of the crafting info from thread one.

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. wine wine 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, let's do it! 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! smile

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

Thanks
Zombie and Woolly Hugs. Our second thread! Come and find out about Candy's Hugs, all very welcome.
OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Marcipex · 30/01/2017 22:28

Very sad news.

Fairyfellowsmasterstroke · 30/01/2017 22:28

Get your hooks, needles and yarn out ladies.

This amazing lady will leave a wonderful legacy of crafters united in a common cause.

Every square will be crafted with love xx

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. Our second thread! Come and find out about Candy's Hugs, all very welcome.
kelper · 30/01/2017 22:30

Planning more squares for the eternally beautiful Zombie Gin

Marcipex · 30/01/2017 22:30

When the DragonsCame if you can't fix it, let me know, I will do it and then send it in with mine.

Marcipex · 30/01/2017 22:31

I'm planning more squares for lovely Zombie.

TheoriginalLEM · 30/01/2017 22:35

sitting hooking a square for the Chernobyl project, Zombie's legacy will go far and wide, and long.

Incredible, selfless woman.

Gin
FrenchDucksSayCoinCoin · 30/01/2017 22:36

I'm so sorry to hear this Flowers Rest in Peace Zombie.

Beautiful blankets in the name and memory of a beautiful woman. Seems very fitting.

Knittedfrog · 30/01/2017 22:41

I'm teaching myself, starting from tomorrow, in Zombies honour. Not sure how I'll get on and it may be a while before my first square is ready but I won't be beaten!

Knittedfrog · 30/01/2017 22:44

Just clocked my user name. I've never knitted a stitch in my life let alone a frog! Confused I'll stick with plain squares to start with!

Fairyfellowsmasterstroke · 30/01/2017 22:45

knitted - that's the exact legacy Zombie would be proud of.

Grab your yarn and stay on this thread - we will help whenever possible.

Fairyfellowsmasterstroke · 30/01/2017 22:51

Knitted - I'd hate to "out" a fellow MNer but, is this you???

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. Our second thread! Come and find out about Candy's Hugs, all very welcome.
PurpleDaisies · 30/01/2017 22:52

Oh I wish my knitting was good enough to make that frog fairy.

MrsHathaway · 30/01/2017 23:10

Speaking of frogs, I twice frogged a new pattern tonight before giving up and pulling the whole thing apart. Bloody counting again.

Then went back to an old familiar pattern ... which promptly went wrong because I didn't mark it with my tension adjustments, so back we go again.

There has been language tonight, but also diligence and effort and resilience.

CHippinginloveswoollyhugs · 31/01/2017 06:58
Brew

That's a gorgeous frog, I love its expression!

My (Chinese) goddaughter gave me a cuddly toy Rooster yesterday, for Chinese New Year, I'm calling him Zombie - how could I not with his gorgeous Red Comb and arriving the day our Zombie decide to go & join in the party waiting for her! 🐔💃🏻🥃

KnottyAndPistey · 31/01/2017 09:26

However much we knew Candy's time left with us was going to be so short, the news last night still came as a shock in a way, we are feeling really stunned. The world is a poorer place. We send so much love and huge hugs to her family, and to all who love and will miss her. xxx

So glad we could establish Candy's Hugs with her and thanks to you wonderful people achieve her ambition of seeing it all well underway before her death. That meant the absolute world to her. We have a lot to do now, we all have a big responsibility to keep this going. xxx

Her legacy of Candy's Hugs will be one of love and strength, of coming together to show compassion, support and give and receive comfort. Such a beautiful inspirational woman.

How lucky we were to know her. X

OP posts:
MrsHathaway · 31/01/2017 09:50

One more Star in the sky.

Gin
Medjuel · 31/01/2017 10:15

Hello

I would like to contribute some crocheted squares - can someone please PM me the address to send them to?

Thanks

PopGoesTheFuckingWeasel · 31/01/2017 10:19

I don't believe what I'm reading...😐😐

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 31/01/2017 10:33

POP. (((Hug))). I know. I avoided the threads until late last night because I simply couldn't bear to read the expected update. I braved up to it around 11 or midnight and then all hope of the miracle that part of your brain still insists on buying into, was gone. I cried, a lot, I know it's not what Zombie wanted, but I also know, that she knew, that I'm as soft as shite so no telling me to smile & party was ever going to fly! Grin.

My little ZombieRooster insists on saying 'hello' to you!

Neome · 31/01/2017 10:36

I would love to knit/crochet some squares in memory of the Zombie and with love for someone living with cancer.

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 31/01/2017 10:36

Hi POP. The photo isn't doing me justice, my comb is really RED! I hope you like my 12" square. Love ZombieRooster

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. Our second thread! Come and find out about Candy's Hugs, all very welcome.
PopGoesTheFuckingWeasel · 31/01/2017 10:52

Chipping I'm smiling now! Raising a glass of eine in her honor. She helped me SO much when I was going through radiotherapy. Sorry...I know this thread is about the blankets, but had to say that. 💖

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 31/01/2017 11:07

KnottyAndPistey

I hope by now you know how completely in awe I am of how much time, effort & love you put into WoollyHugs, I honestly have no idea how you do it all, it wouldn't exist without you 💐

It has grown so, so, much since that first blanket for Cheese&Gherkins when she lost BabyS (I'm sure that was the first one, correct me if I'm wrong). None of us anticipated it growing like this!

However, I just want to say an additional & special 'thank you' for Candy's Hugs. Knowing that Zombie was part of the decision making, that she knew she had inspired so many people to pick up their hooks & needles, or to learn to knit or crochet. That she knew she had brought friends, old & new, together & that she was a part of it, makes it so special. You've given us a lovely way to stay connected to her & to each other & to pass some of the essence of Zombie on to others through the blankets.

Thank you my lovelies
Xx

ChippingInlovesWoollyHugs · 31/01/2017 11:14

I'm trying to do what Zombie requested & celebrate her life.

You probably can't see what it says on ZombieRooster - so here's a close up! Fitting I thought!

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. Our second thread! Come and find out about Candy's Hugs, all very welcome.
PopGoesTheFuckingWeasel · 31/01/2017 11:24

*Chipping that's mint! Had to download the photo and enlarge it about 7 times...Grin