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

497 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 17/10/2017 17:05

Surely the best corner of the Mumsnet, all are welcome here and if seen this for the first time, join us, you'll be glad you did. 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.

A bit of background
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

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

We have several previous threads now, have a look at the Woolly Hugs topic.

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.

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 dates are October 28th and then January 28th. 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.

We start this new thread having sent out 46 Candy's Hugs to wonderful women, extraordinary, thank you.

Thank you so much xx

Thanks
Zombie and Woolly Hugs. ALL very welcome to join us, come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs.
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41
Sairelou · 17/01/2018 20:04

Hello everyone
I got a bit distracted by another little crochet project, but today I finished the square that I posted above (finally!) Thank you to all that helped me get it right. I think I'll do a few simple granny squares next after that one Grin

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. ALL very welcome to join us, come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs.
Stitchit · 17/01/2018 21:27

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jux · 18/01/2018 11:06

Wow, Sairelou, that's lovely! Well done. I like your colour scheme.

Jux · 18/01/2018 11:11

I'd like to share some good news with my WH friends here. DD has just received achievable offers from her two preferred Universities (Exeter and Warwick). Yay!

MadisonAvenue · 18/01/2018 11:25

That's really excellent news Jux Big sighs of relief in your house I bet!

It honestly only feels like yesterday since our son was waiting for offers - and he's just started his final semester!

MadisonAvenue · 18/01/2018 11:25

Sairelou that is really beautiful!

Sairelou · 18/01/2018 14:07

Aw shucks Blush thank you!
I guess my perseverance paid off on that one!

Stitchit · 18/01/2018 15:16

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bookbook · 18/01/2018 17:03

Just popped in to read the posts - that is lovely Sairelou !
Jux - wonderful news -proud Mum eh? :) so one fairly near, one a fair distance away?
Just distracted with the snugs project and the new special blankets, but will be back to Candys in the fullness of time .
I have managed to squeeze a fair bit some yarn into my luggage, along with the hand luggage - I had to forsake a couple of books ,but I have enough to hopefully keep me going whilst I am away

WitchDancer · 18/01/2018 21:02

Brilliant news Sairelou, well done her!

Anyone want a dodgy body? I've overdone things so am maxed out on painkillers. Not a good thing for crochet as I can't concentrate 😥

Stitchit · 19/01/2018 10:39

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WitchDancer · 19/01/2018 16:36

It's a lot better, thank you. I'm still walking like I've a poker up my jumper though. Exhaustion is kicking in big style but I'm stuck at the office because the garage is having problems with my car 😢

KnottyAndPistey · 19/01/2018 18:02

Am just catching up with everyone, but

Chernobyl 2018 is here!

Or C2018 Grin

All help very gratefully received, thank you so so much...

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TwitterQueen1 · 19/01/2018 19:09

OK, I'm in. Am going to send DD's boyfriend up into the loft tomorrow to find knitting needles that have not been used for decades... I knitted when I was a teenager but I'm a lot older now...

I am the proud recipient of a WH and now that I'm on permanent sick leave I think perhaps my time could be well spent in knitting the odd square or two. I love, love, love my WH but I sincerely hope none of you will ever get one.

Right, I'm off to the beginner's guide.

oh Jux my DD3 got offers from Exeter and Warwick last year. Now at Exeter. Both fantastic universities. She's doing Ancient History.
Warwick is flat. Exeter is very hilly. Other helpful advice is available.

WitchDancer · 19/01/2018 19:45

Welcome to WH Twitter. It's like the hotel California you know - you can never leave..... 😁

Stitchit · 19/01/2018 20:01

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KnottyAndPistey · 20/01/2018 09:48

TwitterQueen!! Lovely to see you Thanks

Sairelou - that is a thing of beauty!! Wow

Jux - GREAT news for your DD, it is a stressful time, my DD is at Edinburgh, has friends at both Exeter and Warwick, all very happy. But I do remember this stage very well, my DD was worried that no one would want her! She had settled her heart on Edinburgh, mostly for the rowing and they are notoriously late at handing out offers, it was all super stressful. So relax now - for a bit!

Madison I think ours must be the same age, lots of DD's friends are leaving this year, really feels like 5 mins we were at this offers stage. DD has signed up for 5 years, bless her, don't think she'll ever leave education!

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Jux · 23/01/2018 22:57

K&P, we live only about 20 miles from Exeter, but that where dd wants to go. Today she had an even more achievable offer from Bristol too! If she goes to Exeter, she'll still spend the first year in Halls and then see. She could bring her washing home every weekend! How er, delightful!

I've found an amazing pic for everyone: www.hifmradio.com/trending/crochet/ World's biggest crochet blanket, if you google that exact phrase there's tons of them!

I'm in for Chernob 2018.
And have many squares for Refugees, am working on peskies on them.

Oh, has anyone seen this?

s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/thetwistedcrocheter/FingerSloth-TheTwistedCrocheter.pdf Soooo cute!

KnottyAndPistey · 24/01/2018 09:35

DD had an offer from Bristol too, she's doing physics, well she is doing rowing with physics Hmm which is why The Burg won Grin

That sloth is tooo cute!

As an aside, do you say slowwwwwth or sloth with the o as in orange?
Knotty and I had a huge debate in which I am clearly right Grin

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KnottyAndPistey · 24/01/2018 09:36

Tis the first anniversary of Zombie's death in just under a week, cannot believe it has been a whole year and yet it feels forever :(

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bookbook · 24/01/2018 09:49

saying hello from sunny parts
a year? Shock
Jux - my DD was a long way away when she was at Uni - but every trip home she brought an enormous bag of washing ( and mending .....) on the train! Hope she gets where she wants to go

Jux · 24/01/2018 14:38

Thanks, book she's working hard.

A whole year! Wow. Look at all you've achieved in that year. She'd be soooooo happy. Here's to the Lovely Zombie Gin (and plenty of it).

I tend to say sloth as in orange, and slooowth when I am talking about the 7 deadly sins! But if you do something different I shall adopt yours with immediate effect

Oh, and physics was the Holy of Holies in my childhood home; I shall bow down before your dd! I do find it easier these days than I did at school, not because it's got easier - far from it - but because I've had a million more years to get comfy with some of the concepts. I hope she's enjoying it when she takes time off the Rowing which is clearly far more important!

WitchDancer · 24/01/2018 22:07

A year already? It feels like only yesterday.

MadisonAvenue · 25/01/2018 15:59

A year already? Sad

I say sloth with the orange o. Either way, they're so so SO cute!

Yes, they must be around the same age K or P. Our son is 21 in two weeks (Eeek! I really really need to go present shopping!). He's doing history at Wolverhampton, local to us because of girlfriend pressure when he was applying. His girlfriend through sixth form didn't want him to go to university (she decided against it and later dropped out of school a month before their A level exams) so to appease her he just applied to local ones. She didn't want him living in halls either but he ignored that demand...and then they split up four months after he started.

Jux our son comes home every Friday as he's less than 10 miles away. He kept his part time job so comes home to do that and works Friday evening and all day Saturday and then goes back to his accommodation. Apart from his work uniforms though he does his own washing.
When he said that he was going to live in halls it seemed silly, a real waste of money, but it's done him the world of good. He's met his girlfriend and a fabulous group of friends by doing that.

WitchDancer · 25/01/2018 16:19

Living in halls is a completely different experience from travelling in every day Madison, in a good way. You must be by me somewhere as I'm just off junction 10!