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

Jux - sorry btw - I think the Deramores offer has finished - so check if you decide to go to checkout.
Spiral - I think we need to unburden , it helps to share. I went through this with DM and DFIL quite a few years ago now . Its a horrible time, when the ground under your feet shifts. Good plan to think of the years ahead.
to you, Okki and Witch

book - it is awful. I didn't have all this with my parents because they both died relatively young. DH & I are all but jumping every time the phone rings these days in case it's that call

In woolly news, DD has learnt to hook (while waiting for her GCSE results) and has made a nice pile of squares to be divided between Candy's Hugs, Kinship Hugs and the Butterfly blankets, and I've done another Angel Hug which I will send off once I've blocked it

Spiral - you have my sympathy . I still remember laying in bed, and having the phone by the bedside. You don't sleep, expecting the call.
Do you need to block Angel Hugs? I know you don't with Little Hugs, but maybe it's different.

Let's just say I need to block this one...

It has very bendy sides

Spiral and Okki so sorry to hear your sad news. for both of you.

Spiral great news that your DD has learned to crochet! There are so many creative things to do with it that appeal to younger people. I have finally accepted that I am not a younger person any more

book I am still waiting for my Deramores order. I came home from the wool shop with 8 balls not 1. The lovely lady who runs it must be happy when she sees me come in.

In other news, someone on the Woolly Hugs FB page thinks I am a man

Norm - I saw ! I suppose they couldn't know :)
My Deramores hasn't arrived yet either - I got the email on Monday morning to say it had been sent. The Wool Warehouse one may well come tomorrow!

She seems very happy that a man is helping the Woolly cause

I only got my email yesterday. My WW one has arrived. I'm going to disappear under a pile of wool! I have a week off work, back on Wednesday, it's too wet to do anything outdoors so I'm going to have lots of crochet time.

She is such a sweetheart that one, didn't like to say Norm was no bloke!

Where is this chat going on? I can't find any mention of you, Norman on the fb page? Where do I go?

Hang about.....

Here, hopefully!

Thanks, Knotty. Aw, so nice of her!

Lovely blanket, Norm. Is there a pattern (not that I think for a moment I will be able to do that)?

We are on the point of driving to Warwick Uni with dd, for an open day. It looks like a wonderful place, am thinking I might not come back!

Oh lovely, weirdly we know 4 girls, all separately who have started there this year taking maths, have a lovely time. My DD is at Edinburgh quite literally having the time of her life!

ooh . My DSis lives near there Jux - its a lovely place- enjoy it :)

Ooh, Jux, DH did his PhD there and DSis was an undergrad at the same time. Brings back memories of many weekends spent visiting!

I've got a few Candies to send off, but trying to do some butterfly squares and Trazzles as well, so expect a very large woolly parcel at some point.

And I'm finally on the border of my Attic 24 blanket, and about to start a big rainbow C2C for DSis who has a baby due at Christmas. I may be drowning under WW bags and struggling to hide them from DH!

Jux - DH & I went to Warwick; I'm sure your DD will love it, though I expect it's really changed since we were there eleventy billion years ago!

DH and I are another Warwick couple. Met in the physics lecture theatre, dontcha know. Great place.

Jux it's the cupcake stripe blanket from Attic24.

attic24.typepad.com/weblog/cupcake-stripe-blanket.html

It's really not hard to do, you just have to remember to skip the last stitch on your first treble row. The edging is easy too, and if you get stuck on the pattern, her blog is very clear and helpful. So long as you can handle many hours of trebling you can do it!

I can also confirm Warwick is a lovely place. I didn't attend the university, but I went to an event there and it is very nice. It's so exciting all this looking at universities! My cousin is doing it at the moment too

diamante good luck with finishing your Attic24 blanket they are lovely and cosy. I made the hydrangea one for myself. Oh and a sunny log cabin. I just love them!

I am so excited! I think I have just found my Christmas present, well this years, next years etcetc.

I have the chance of a solid oak, full size working Welsh spinning wheel, a proper one like the Welsh ladies had. With a fleece and combs and accessories, it is approx 30 years old. £200. From MIL. I have admired it for years, but it was always promised to SIL1, but they are no contact now. I am also NC with her but DH sees her weekly.

Also a question for Spin. She has a lace making pillow, with pin and bobbins that she is selling too - any ideas what I should offer her cash wise - next years birthday present sorted then.

Ooo exciting! Pertinent questions for the pillow are how big? Round? And what's it stuffed with? For the bobbins, it's about what they are made from (what wood) and what they are spangled with (mine are all cheapy beads and buttons but you can make them things of true beauty and value). The bobbins would be easier to sell than the pillow (smaller, easier to post, and most people who want one already have a pillow), so they'd probably be more valuable.

Wow, claire, a proper spinning wheel! How very exciting! Are you going to apin straw into gold, do you think? Perhaps a little old man will come along and demand your first child - but never fear! The WHers are here behind you and you will beat him easily, and the handsome prince shall be yours! Oh, sorry, you have him already . OK Troops, stand down.

Warwick is fab. The course dd's interested in looks amazing and really fun. Fingers crossed for A levels. I am very envious of all of you who know the place well. I went to Uni in my 30s and had a piano and 2 cats so had to live in the flat I was already in, thus confined to London. Loved it anyway, had a great time.

oh, claire - that sounds fabulous! I have a friend/acquaintance who spins wool from her own sheep , she does amazing shawls from the wool .
Norm - my Deramores , and Wool Warehouse orders both arrived yesterday !- I am a happy bunny :) - have got going on squares for Trazzles.
I don't quite know which to do next - have to finish off a little hug ( nearly done) have a couple of butterfly squares to finish, then Trazzles and candlelighters. Kinships and Candys taking a back seat atm ...