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

Morning!
diamante - that looks great. And yes it is holey, and has slightly woggly edges. MrsH linked to a tutorial to make a nice tidy border, which I now use
C2C border
That Sirdar colour Wheel looks gorgeous -( there is a ball sitting here waiting for DD , who ordered a ball of Follow The Rainbow")
I bought some wool in the sale in a cotton/silk mix to make one - I've nearly finished, with enough wool left to make one more I think (This will be my second- I knitted the first in a Bamboo thread I had in my wool stash - it went on fb , and I put a pic on the Little Hug thread)

The Jan Eaton book arrived today...... Twitchy crochet fingers...... Unfortunately have to get the diy/gardening jobs done first..... Beautiful sunny weekend here.

Happy belated Birthday to Zombie!

book thank you, it was a lovely wedding. Very relaxed and really nice company. Lovely venue too, it was a small wedding - less than 40 there up until the evening do and I think that helped with giving it such a relaxed, chilled out feel. Flippin' long day though, we left home around 9.30am and got back 14 hours later. That's a long time to be wearing heels when you're used to flat boots and Converse

Also hoping everything is okay with Chipping

Now to decide what pattern to do today!

Playing with wool is more fun than digging out bindweed. Just sayin'.

Or washing the car and then doing DS's school project that he was meant to have done over the Easter holidays.

Fortunately I have now done both these things and DS is in the bath, which means I can use the excuse of supervising him while I drink wine and Mumsnet. Nearly as much fun as wool!

Evening!
well, I have been digging out bindweed today- allotments wait for no man!
but when I got home, I put my shoulder to the metaphoric grindstone ( well, hook/wand) and I have just finished my Little Hug . It was supposed to be 24" , but it is nearer 23 " , so still Little....
Can now get on with squares, with no guilt involved !

Madison - glad to hear it went well, after the misgivings! The small, informal ones are the best in my mind ( I went to a nice friends 2nd marriage , and they had afternoon tea after the ceremony. It was fab, and we took home spare cupcakes - what not to like? :) )

book That Little Hug is gorgeous!

I just tidied up my stash, because I caused a yarn-valanche yesterday when I inadvertently nudged one of the bags with my foot. It is all nicely contained in a giant plastic tub now...

book that really is lovely!

Oh dear Spiral

I'm planning a trip to buy wool at the weekend so may be needing a giant plastic tub myself!

I love the idea of a stash big enough to need a plastic tub to contain it. Got holiday booked off for this Saturday for a week so may be taking a few trips to my nearest wool shop. I SHALL NOT spend too much, I SHALL NOT spend too much, I SHALL NOT spend too much xx

Book that is gorgeous.

I did go to the wool shop on Saturday, and I did ask DH how much I could spend.....he says 'just get whatever you fancy, it's a good cause!' This is why I love him so much!

I did get a pattern and the wool for something for me too though. I've spent since before Christmas knitting and crotcheting for other causes so I thought it was about time!

Evening!
Spiral - my wool/wip bag is always doing a mini avalanche. I just get in within acceptable bounds ( and its quite big - and its only the one I keep by the chair! ) when somehow I buy more....
Crafty
Thanks for the Little Hug. It does feel soft - its cotton and silk and so nice to touch -its why I bought the wool tbh
Witch - nice to have a DH who agrees wool is important! and to do something for yourself too :)
I got trapped in a square today. I wanted to try the Grass/Turquoise love , so got the pattern ready for a 6". I then realised I have very little turquoise left. A shuffle of colours produced Grass and Empire as the alternative. Got started on the square this morning, but was out most of the day. I started it off again, and it grew and grew - miles too big, so kept going to 12" . I do rather like the combination using this pattern :)

Book the Grass really stands out against the Empire and it really works well. It most certainly is very vibrant! x

That is well lush Book

Great colours, Book.

V exciting there are so many blankets already.

Lovely book, those colours really compliment each other so well. Each makes the other stand out.

This is last night's contribution

book fabulous little hug and I love the colours in your square.

Madison that's beautiful - very colourful! Is that the pattern in American terms?

My DSis came round last night. There was takeaway and a tiny bit of After she had gone I managed to produce this. Well just the square really as I already had the daffodil. Due to earlier festivities I didn't sew it exactly in the middle...whoops.

It is Norman, it's the Dedri Uys Lydia square (thanks Mhw). I thought I'd start with an easy one. The blog, which Ravelry took me to, explains it very clearly in pictures though which I found really helped.

Really love the daffodil btw!

Evening!
no work done at all - had DGS (-'nuff said :))
I have found it reasonably easy to follow the US terms, now I have done a few. It's the way they are written I find most confusing. They seem to finish and end rows in odd places. I have to read it a few times to really work it out.
I have just read the post about the Little Hug on fb , and I am so pleased ( if thats the right word ) that I am doing these. It really feels as if it makes a difference . It has just made me more convinced to carry on making them , in between the squares.

I forgot to say - love those squares Madision and Norm - brain is frazzled .....

Loving all the photos

I had a large wool delivery today (just as well they arrive while DH is at work). Mainly Vibrant Riot colours but a few others fell into my basket

I've bought some of this glorious stuff (see attached pic) not entirely sure what I will do with it yet, maybe a little hug (although it has white in it, so I think that maybe against the rules) or I might attempt a cuddly toy....... time will tell.

RaptorIna I may be wrong but I can't see anything that says that white can't be used www.woollyhugs.org/2017/02/05/our-little-hug-project/
I think I'll start on a Little Hug next, the post on Facebook has spurred me on.

You'll sleep well tonight book

Madison I bookmarked the Sophie's garden for when I'm feeling brave!

book that post was so touching. Lots of love to that family.

Raptor I did a white border on one of my little hugs. I hope it's allowed! That wool is so lovely. I like pinks and greens together