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]

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

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.

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

Hi book I love those colours! Well done on the construction project I might have a look at Deramores. I've just done an order on wool warehouse, and I sit here surrounded by organza bags full of wool so I probably shouldn't! I've never ordered from them before. I was under the impression they only did Deramores yarn so I never looked. The Patchwork Heart person seems to use their stuff a lot.

I have a lot going on too. People know I crochet now and I have requests for all sorts! I had to make a Mickey Mouse cushion last month. That was fun... It's definitely not my forte, but the recipient was very pleased with it and that's the main thing

Norm - discount finishes today if you must order more wool . They take a tweak longer to come than Wool Warehouse ( from Hermes) but only a couple of days

Oh book what have you done! You are such an enabler...

- I am dreadful I had to stop myself buying some colour swirls - I have sooooo much wool already!

I am now the proud owner of 489 Derapoints

I've ordered some Deramor studio DK. It looks nice worked up, like it has a nice sheen. I thought I'd give it a go for a lost souls shawl my friend wants. I tried to order the mystery yarn pack but they weren't eligible for the offer so I left it - probably for the best. I've spent quite enough on yarn this weekend!

I spent quite a lot too :) - theoretically enough for the winter ! But we shall soon find out. I have picked up loads in charity shops too - some lovely stuff for the refugee appeal. I always feel a bit sad to see whole bags of wool bought with a pattern , and not used , apart from a ball of wool missing its band

I came across a decent place for ordering Stylecraft, it's £1.69 a ball and delivery under £25 is £1.99, free if it's over. Delivery was quick too.
www.philpotts.com/stylecraft-1242-c.asp

book love the colours in those squares. How's school going for your grandson?

I've finally just parceled up my Summer of Woolly Love squares. I've had some crappy weird virus since the middle of last week but I think I'm finally mustering up the energy to get back on my feet today so hopefully will take the dog for a short walk and make it over to the post office at some point too.

Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For anyone who would like to come and help with our latest Mumsnet Woolly Hug project, please join us, it's for lovely Trazzletoes whose beautiful son J died from neuroblastoma

It is over here....

Thank you so much

Knotty!, quick question - can you use squares made of Zombie Wool+Candy Wool+Chernobyl Wool? I have a load from over the summer where I was just Using up what wool I'd got. If they're of no use to you, I'll happily give them to a charity shop, so not a problem either way.

And if you can use them, where should I send them and what should I mark them for?

Perfect for our Refugee project Jux thank you!

Teddington address, do you have?

Our Refugee project...

I thought it would be refugee.
Yes, I have the address - got both in fact.
Right a few envelopes will be winging their way to Teddington - I used to live near there, grew up quite close. Feel a little nostalgic!

Oh, if you're ever back, come for a cuppa! x

book my first parcel came today and I have to go to the wool shop tomorrow to pick up an extra ball. I ran out of the yarn I was using to make myself a poncho, and it's not available online. I will only buy ONE ball. Just one.

Madison I hope you're recovering nicely now you obviously weren't well so I'll forgive you for going into cahoots with book and being a yarn pusher on this occasion I just saw your squares on FB - they are wonderful!

I have never been to Teddington In fact, I thought I was sending parcels to the North East until my DSis put me straight. She works in logistics and knows all the postcodes for the whole UK.

evening
well, thats very useful website Madison - have bookmarked it DGS is doing very well, thank you . And as par for everyone starting school, has caught a bug , but he's fine, and loving it so far :). I saw your lovely squares- hoping you have kicked the virus , but take recuperation seriously.
Norm - well, I have had an email to say my wool is on the way, but as I had so much anyway , I have just been keeping going. Doing butterflies to attach to plain squares atm.
I may just need to pop and get some merino though, for an MN blanket. I have some, but not of one of the colours I want to use.
I even got given a bag of spare wool today, just from a friend of a friend. as she 'knew I would beable to use it' !
Jux - all well with you I hope?

Hello everyone. Just saying hello as I've lots of messages to catch up on. I've been in Zimbabwe for the last few weeks - my Dad was diagnosed with cancer about three months ago. DB and I were going out to visit but we got 'the phonecall' so we dropped everything and managed to spend a day with him before he left us. My Mum has decided to come back to UK so we've spent the last month packing her up and selling everything. She'll be arriving in the next couple of weeks hopefully.

Anyway, I've got my hook out and have loads of wool to go through that I ordered before I left - can't remember what any of it is.

Right off to catch up with everyone's glorious creations.

Okki and WitchDancer

(I'm a bit behind on all the threads: trying to get PILs moved to a flat, FIL v unwell)

Oh gosh Okki - thats awful news to have to deal with
and Spiral too :(
to both

I cracked and ordered some more wool. I needed it - some merino for the auction blanket for the candlelighters , so of course I have also ordered some Stylecraft Candy Swirl and Merry go Round , just to make up the carriage , honest

Okki, Spiral, so sorry. It's all a bit strange when a parent dies and you do normal things but the world is not quite right. 🌹

Hi book, you're so baaaaaad! I am still in control and have not succumbed to new wool except for the stuff I got a couple of weeks ago and that basket I've filled at Deramore's but not taken to checkout doesn't count

nor does the basket waiting for my attention as a result of wandering into Philpotts, Madison I'm looking at you!, oh no, none of it counts

Knotty, I will ctainly drop in for a cuppa if I ever get to that part of the world again! Thank you

Thanks Jux & bookbook

PILs just can't cope with their house any more, and FIL just stays in bed most of the time. DH & I went over today and he got up to see us, but he can barely walk and hardly eats. I last saw him about six weeks ago and he's gone downhill massively since then.

It has made us start retirement planning already because we now realise that downsizing needs to be done asap after the DC leave home in order to enjoy it, rather than leaving it too late and being unable to manage.

Hugs Okki, it's a hard place to be. I'm thankful you got there in time x