Zombie and Woolly Hugs. ALL very welcome to join us, come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs.

[KnottyAndPistey]

We knew her time left with us was short, but the news of Zombie’s death on January 30th was still a sad shock, we send so much love to her family and her many, many friends who love and will miss her greatly, we hold our happy memories of her very dear. Bless her.

Just before Christmas, Zombie donated funds to Woolly Hugs and together we hatched a plan to develop an ongoing project with her, which she loved, 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.

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. Her legacy of Candy's Hugs will be one of love and strength, of friendship, learning and developing crafting skills, of creativity, 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

Raising a glass or two to the fabulous Zombie, we go on together

Anyone seeing this project for the first time, wondering about joining in, make this the day you do! This project is ongoing, and a friendlier more supportive bunch of folk you couldn’t wish to meet. 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.

Our previous threads are the first one here and the second one here..

[[https://www.facebook.com/pg/Woolly-Hugs-349028448480855/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1339798112737212
We are keeping a photo album on our Facebook page.]] All welcome to join us over there too.

Zombie was a bright and beautiful woman so we chose a palette to reflect this which we call Vibrant Riot; it is inspired too by a blanket that was made for her as she went through treatment. She had it with her at the end, we were so glad to know it still gave her love, big woolly hugs and comfort.

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 all on this thread 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 next collection date is March 11th, then April 22nd. 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. All welcome over there.

Thank you so much xx

I'm almost finished my first square, had to do a few trial ones first. (Honestly they were granny octagons) I learnt to crochet on squares, but haven't done any for years. They aren't flash patterns, but I'm happy.

Chipping you have made my day! Nobody has ever, ever called me 'orderly' before.

And Raptor I'm pleased it went well!

Nothing much done today but hoping to get a couple of squares done tomorrow whilst pretending to watch rugby.

ghosty sorry you hadn't realised

You lot are so bloody talented

Ghosty she passed on Jan 30th I believe, but she did leave behind a wonderful legacy that will help and unite total strangers (like me) for a long time to come. Zombie has done something beautiful that she will be remembered for forever

I bought the bloody squares book didn't I?? What have you lovely people done to me
Thank you so much for the link Malcky

Oooh I have a nickname!

PS I bought the squares book too! Luckily it came when DH wasn't here - he'd have looked at it and give an exaggerated sigh, as I already had a huge delivery of yarn this week!

Me to. DH spotted it and raised an eyebrow. I pointed out I promised no yarn this month, I didn't mention books 😀

Finally posted my squares yesterday, sorry for the delay. Now working on the next batch.

I'm using boysenberry Picard (with empire, lime, and saffron).

It's a really good book, you won't be disappointed

Pfft. A good book HELPS USE UP STASH so is basically the opposite of buying yarn.

Ahem.

MrsH yes, of course! Why didn't I think of that?! I shall file it away for future use. It's basically a cost SAVING exercise!

Malc that square is so good! I cannot for the life of me do full squares like that because I can't count and I drop stitches My square choices have to be a lot more forgiving because there's always at least one five error in it

I haven't knitted or crocheted for 35 years. But this has inspired me to get involved.

Where is the best place to buy yarn?

I bought my yarn from Love knitting www.loveknitting.com/stylecraft-special-dk its pretty cheap and I think if you put the code CASTON when you go to your trolley you will get a further discount (although you may have to be an existing customer I am not sure). My yarn arrived within a couple of days (the wait was agony!) and it came in lovely little organza bags that I am using to store my yarns in.

So glad you are feeling inspired. I have loved this thread so much, it has given me a real sense of belonging and purpose. Something I have often struggled with. I cannot stress enough how Zombies legacy has made a difference to so many people and that doesn't take away from K&Ps and their helpers kindness and phenomenal amount of work they put in to making others feel loved.

The true spirit of mumsnet goes on!

Raptor, thank you! Funnily enough, I felt the same way about yours!

LEM I agree entirely. The few threads I'm on are so friendly, I feel like I'm making 'friends' if you know what I mean! It's lovely. And also agree re K&P - I am in awe!

Here's my first two attempts. Though just read I should knit first two rows and two stitches at the edges to stop it rolling up. They are also slightly large but made with love for Zombie.
Will attempt to learn to crochet later. Will try that flower video.

After much perseverance I've completed my first granny square. It's for Chernobyl but all of the chatter is on here
It's not brilliant but I can work on that on future squares.

Madison, that's great.

Here is my first effort at bobble stitch. I am disproportionately proud of it. There was much frogging and swearing. 🐸

I have ordered some yarn and my mom is coming to stay this week so I'm hoping she'll give me a little tutorial about casting on etc

Just popping my head around the corner to join in the thread.

Nearly finished my second ever 12" square and I think I am the only person who actually enjoys sewing in the ends (but then, I am a sewist really, not a knit-witch)

I am only using just the one stitch, and playing with riotous colour, but for big square number three, I might just branch out and try some PURL. Wish me luck

Quick question:

Are WH only wanting squares or can we also make embellishments such as flowers?

I know what you mean LEM, these threads are lovely and it is so inspiring to read and see everyone working together on this. Strange how a certain paper isn't picking up on these threads!!!

Norks I'm the same (really a sew-er who likes doing the ends). It's just lovely to have it all finished and nice.

I like doing the edges when I paint walls, too.

Look, I knitted a slightly wonky heart.