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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.

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. OVER HERE!! Come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs, newcomers and old hands, all very welcome

988 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 20/04/2017 09:13

Welcome to the most beautiful corner of Mumsnet, here the love and support is boundless, these are the folk you need to be around, come and join us, you'll not regret it :) Our inspiration comes from the wonderful Zombie, a true legend who continues to inspire us.

We knew her time left with us was short, but the news of Zombie’s death on January 30th was still a 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

So many blankets with beautiful women going through treatment now because of your love and support. Thank you doesn't even come close. xx

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

Anyone seeing this project for the first time, wondering about joining in, maybe a bit unsure, 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. Thanks

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 to give hugs and comfort 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

Star Gin ThanksStar Gin ThanksStar Gin ThanksStar Gin ThanksStar Gin Thanks

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. OVER HERE!! Come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs, newcomers and old hands, all very welcome
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VintageTeacup · 17/08/2017 20:34

This is the blanket I made being tested

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. OVER HERE!! Come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs, newcomers and old hands, all very welcome
bookbook · 17/08/2017 21:39

Vintage - wow , thats great!

MadisonAvenue · 18/08/2017 06:37

That's fantastic Vintage!

VintageTeacup · 18/08/2017 11:07

Thank youSmile, it looks a bit rough on the back because I just could not grasp joining with crochet and had to sew it. I have however managed to get the hang of crochet enough to do the border.

MadisonAvenue · 26/08/2017 22:21

It really does look warm and cosy Vintage

I've got quite a stack of squares piled up and ready to send when it's time. My husband and sons are away in Edinburgh, camping, until Tuesday and I intended to do nothing but crochet and I did a fair bit yesterday (Friday) but the dog decided he wanted to go on two really really long walks today, there was ironing and I had shopping to do too and football to watch...so at 10.20pm I'm just picking up my hook!

Hope everyone is well!

WitchDancer · 04/09/2017 08:58

Morning all.

It's very quiet in here, is everybody hiding?

SevenTillFour · 04/09/2017 09:58

Morning Witch!
Just scrabbling out from beneath a small molehill of woolly squares, and hoping everyone's doing well.

MadisonAvenue · 04/09/2017 10:09

Good morning Witch and Seven, I've had to dig myself out from under a pile of squares too!

Did everyone have a good Summer?

bookbook · 04/09/2017 10:53

morning too!
I've not been as busy on the crotchet , but just getting ready to send stuff off now that K&P are back. I did a refugee blanket construction, have done a little hug, and some squares :)
Back to normal service now .
These are some of the squares I have done -

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. OVER HERE!! Come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs, newcomers and old hands, all very welcome
KnottyAndPistey · 04/09/2017 11:01

Morning!

OP posts:
Jux · 04/09/2017 11:43

Morning everyone!

What a lovely blanket, Vintage!
book beautiful squares; you really do have such a good eye!

I have had a delivery of stylecraft candy colours, and now they're here I'm really unsure of them, and yet I based my choices on colours I had seen here and on WH as ones which look really lovely together. If anyone is willing to help I'd be forever grateful! I don't know what to put together colour-wise as in rl they seem so different.

bookbook · 04/09/2017 11:52

Jux - what colours do you have? Sometimes is the ratio of which colour to which, and the pattern- some colours stand out so much, I use them more as a highlight IYSWIM , but I am a traditional soul :)

Jux · 04/09/2017 11:53

Knotty, welcome back! Hope your hol was good, and you are tanned and glorious and relaxed.

MadisonAvenue · 04/09/2017 12:06

Welcome back K&P

Beautiful squares book

Interested to know which colours you have Jux

WitchDancer · 04/09/2017 15:09

Good to see the familiar faces. Waves to Madison, Seven, Book, Jux and Knotty

I can safely say the past 6 weeks have been some of the worst Ines in my life - my FIL was diagnosed with terminal cancer with a life expectancy of 4-6 weeks. The light in that darkness was the Woolly Hug sent to him, which he found great comfort in. Since he passed away the boys have been snuggling down under it. Thank you all xxx

I've been doing Christmas presents while I can but feel the need to do some more squares for Woolly Hugs now

bookbook · 04/09/2017 15:50

Witch - that sounds so hard. ((hugs)) -

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. OVER HERE!! Come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs, newcomers and old hands, all very welcome
WitchDancer · 04/09/2017 18:32

Oh I remember knitting a bear in wool like that Book. I have enough to do another but I don't think that will happen! He is a very cute hedgehog though 😁

bookbook · 04/09/2017 18:58

at least he is recognisable Witch - I have to stuff him yet Grin

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 04/09/2017 19:16

Witch I'm so sorry for your loss Flowers I'm sorry you've had a tough summer, but I'm glad the Woolly Hug brought some comfort.

Book those squares are lovely, and the hedgehog! really cute Smile

Welcome back K&P I hope you had a fab break Smile

I'm really regretting not sewing in the peskies as I go ATM. I have a stack of squares that need doing before I can post them along with a couple of little hugs and some refugee hats.
The unicorn that I'm doing for my little friend's birthday is completed up to it's waist so right now it looks like a very jaunty pair of tights Wink

Jux · 04/09/2017 22:21

Witch I'm so sorry Flowers it's such a shock, and happens so fast (my mum died 3.5 weeks after diagnosis; we were just emerging from that shock when my brother died, I don't know how I would have coped without the lovely people over on Bereavements).

colours from LoveKnitting:
Grass green
Plum
Meadow
Lavender
Spice
Kelly green
Violet
Shrimp

They're all a lot brighter in rl than on my screen! I think that's what's throwing me.

bookbook · 04/09/2017 22:44

Right Jux - i have got those colours out of my bag :)
my tuppence for what it's worth
3 colours together
Lavender/Violet / Kelly Green ( though either of the other greens work too)
Plum/Shrimp/Meadow
2 colours together
Kelly Green/Spice
Grass Green /Violet
Plum/Spice
Lavender/Shrimp
Lavender/Violet
Plum/Meadow
But in truth, I think you just need to take a punt!

Jux · 05/09/2017 13:23

Flowers book, thank you, you're so patient! You're right about the punt but I think I'll start with some of your suggested combinations first!

I'll get going now - I have been making a blanket for dd from the 100 Afghans to Knit and Crochet using a multicoloured wool; I know the square pattern by heart. I've been curious about what it might look like done with Candy's Colours so now's my chance!

MadisonAvenue · 05/09/2017 13:41

Oh no Witch I'm so sorry. What an awful Summer you've had. So pleased that the blanket helped though, and is continuing to do so Flowers

Jux Lavender, violet and meadow are a lovely combination too, just to add to book's ideas. Really though, just pick some out and go for it!

NormansNipple · 05/09/2017 18:28

Hi everyone!

Witch so sorry to hear your news Flowers

book lovely squares as usual and the hedgehog is super cute! When you say Christmas appeal do you mean the craft sale?

Raptor I'm having pesky regrets too Sad

Jux no advice as I struggle with colour combinations too. I play it safe usually, when I am adventurous they sometimes look a bit odd. I console myself that they will be mixed with lots of other colours in the finished blanket.

Welcome back K&P hope you had a lovely relaxing break.

I haven't done as much as I hoped, I have a little hug to send, a few squares and some items for the craft sale.

Which address are we supposed to send Candy squares to? I've got both but can't remember what goes where!

bookbook · 05/09/2017 18:51

well, tbh Norm - I made it with the idea of sending it into the Christmas Hug appeal. But ...... I have just read it through again, and ideally the soft toys need to be 20-30 cm. My attempt falls a little short - at about 12-14 cm Blush . I may send it and let them decide :)