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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.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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.
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MalcolmTuckersOmniShambles · 31/01/2017 13:25

Hello everyone. I have been inspired by all of your beautiful photos and by the amazing Zombie herself to finally take the plunge and say I'm in! I've been humming and hahing because I have 5DC, 2 of which are under 2, so I don't have a huge amount of spare time. However, as long as it's okay for me to take ages some time, I would love to put my very basic knitting skills to good use.

Now I need to work out how to PM...!

MalcolmTuckersOmniShambles · 31/01/2017 13:35

Okay, I have sent KnottyAndPistey a PM (I think!). Hope it works!

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 31/01/2017 15:28

I've spent the day practising and have successfully completed two 6 inch squares Grin (I'm quite impressed that they're actually the right size - I've been farting around with crochet for a little while and have only recently got consistent with my sizing).

They're not in the correct colours but I shall put them to one side for the refugee project (and keep going) whilst I wait for my Candy's Hugs colours (put an order in yesterday) to arrive.

PicardsCombOver · 31/01/2017 18:05

Hello Malcolm waves you may join me in the eejits beginners corner Grin no gin but copious amounts of coffee and cake.

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 31/01/2017 18:09

Malcolm. That's great 😊 Zombie would be well impressed. I'm well impressed! You can just send what you can, when you can. It's an ongoing project, so no pressure.

Raptorina. If you ordered from the Wool Warehouse you'll probably get it tomorrow.

The 11 year old wants to learn to crochet little traitor for the school's refugee project, so it looks like I'm going to have to learn after all. I'll need to get another hook - any recommendations?

PicardsCombOver · 31/01/2017 18:11

chipping I have spares in perdy colours, what size are you after?

MalcolmTuckersOmniShambles · 31/01/2017 18:50

Hello Picard! Glad I'm not the only one who's a beginner! My Mum taught me around 30 years ago and I must admit, I haven't really knitted since. Going to start off with a plain old garter stitch, I think.

.

TheWoollybacksWife · 31/01/2017 19:10

Malcolm I think I may be in the north of the same county as you if you want some moral support.

PicardsCombOver · 31/01/2017 19:16

It's battenburg Malcolm Tescos finest Grin
My mum taught me how to do single stitch when I was 7, 21 years ago :o I managed to mangle together a blanket from doing a continuous circle. What was your first project? Smile

MalcolmTuckersOmniShambles · 31/01/2017 20:06

Woolly yes please! I need all I can get! Thank you.

Picard the first 'big' thing I remember doing was a jumper for my newborn cousin, when I was about 10. It was white, with pale green stripes and I loved it. I didn't want to give it away, but I did! Can't remember how to do stripes now, but hopefully I'll re-learn!

TheWoollybacksWife · 31/01/2017 20:11

Right I'll PM you.

AHobbyaweek · 31/01/2017 21:20

Finished a 12" one today. Right it was supposed to be six inch but when I measure it was 7 Blushso just had to continue!

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. Our second thread! Come and find out about Candy's Hugs, all very welcome.
MrsHathaway · 31/01/2017 21:29

That's the spirit, Hobby!

You've saved one of the Construction Crew two feet of joining work there, too Wine

RedGrapeCornSnake · 31/01/2017 21:47

Alrighty, I've read these threads, admired all of you who knit, crochet and put together beautiful blankets for countless people who need them.
I can crochet granny squares - or at least I could do a year or so ago. It's time to get my hook out, relearn and start making some squares.
My car has just fallen to bits, I'm awaiting garage diagnosis (their first £600 fix didn't work) so I need to hang on until payday before I can get wool but I'll relearn with the random wool I've got before then

PolterGoose · 31/01/2017 21:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fairyfellowsmasterstroke · 31/01/2017 21:59

RedGrape - Welcome. If you need wool and money is a bit tight PM K+P, they will gladly send you some yarn. There are many MNers who aren't able to crochet/knit but are happy to make donations of yarn for those of us who can.

Hobby - what a beautiful square, When I see the completed blankets I think they look so much nicer with the occasional 12" square thrown in.

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 31/01/2017 23:31

Picard are you sure they're spare? If they really are then size 4 would be perfect if you have them. Given they're all junior school I'm thinking they're going to be quite, umm, flexible about sizes etc. poor hookers However, as size 4 is the most popular, please don't worry if you don't have spares, we can go & get some, it would just be good to know what crocheters think are good or are to be avoided!

PicardsCombOver · 01/02/2017 06:47

Chipping I have size 4 xD PM me an address so i can post them x

RedGrapeCornSnake · 01/02/2017 09:46

I've Pm'd
Checked my wool from last time I was crocheting and I have the right type of wool but none of the right colours annoyingly.
Off to you tube to relearn the art of the granny square

KnottyAndPistey · 01/02/2017 09:55

Morning loves :)

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 01/02/2017 09:56

Just in PMs now, but popping in to say...

After the March 11th collection date, the next one to aim for is Saturday 22nd April. Thank you xxxx

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KnottyAndPistey · 01/02/2017 10:48

More stunning squares arriving, enormous thanks to...

Thanks SpiralArchitect Star
Thanks JF Star
Thanks AC Star
Thanks S Star
Thanks TalkingSheds Star
Thanks Laniakea Star
Thanks TattooEnvy Star
Thanks Spindellina Star
Thanks AM Star
Thanks MummyMoffat Star
Thanks SP Star
Thanks Sittingunderafrostysky Star
Thanks saltedcaramel Star
Thanks Mummylin Star
Thanks Mummylin Star

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KnottyAndPistey · 01/02/2017 10:56

Posted too soon!!!

More lovely crafters to thank too.....

Thanks MadisonAvenue Star
Thanks Lucienandjean Star
Thanks B Star
Thanks JD Star
Thanks SDTG Star
Thanks Fairyfellowsmasterstroke Star
Thanks SiriusB Star
Thanks WhoKnows Star
Thanks LM Star
Thanks Kelper Star
Thanks CaptainBraandPants Star
Thanks jetSTAR Star
Thanks Arui Star
Thanks CAJ Star
Thanks AmaDablam Star
Thanks Coffeeandcrochet Star
Thanks MrsHathaway Star
Thanks TheoriginalLEM Star
Thanks NorksareMessy Star
Thanks DaciousMe Star

You are all just wonderful, thank you xxxx

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 01/02/2017 11:02

Hopefully as at this point in time, right now :) ...

Candy's Hugs photo album is up to date!

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Iwantacampervan · 01/02/2017 11:19

The squares all look so colourful and bright - much better than looking out of my window as it's grey, wet and miserable today.