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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.
OP posts:
Thread gallery
41
bookbook · 26/10/2017 10:53

ah, I'm one up on you Madison - this is my second one ( well, crocheted anyway!)

NormansNipple · 26/10/2017 12:04

Hi Madison book and diamante! I'm not sure how many blankets I'll manage for Chernobyl this year. I was off work on long term sick last year so it kept me busy! I'll aim for at least 2 though. I remember someone was very productive. Was it MhW? She made so many and they were all beautiful.

I'd like to try this for Chernobyl. www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/weekender-blanket

I like these hat patterns, I've done them both. I think the popcorn one needs a few extra rows in it though. It doesn't pull down very far, no way would it keep your ears warm.

www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/puff-stitch-hat-3
www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-hadley-slouch

I need some advice about a Christmas sale project. I'm making a cowl for a little girl, aged 2-5ish. It has an optional fringe and I'm not sure whether to add it on or not. Is it practical/safe for a small childs cowl?

NormansNipple · 26/10/2017 12:12

By popcorn, I mean the puff stitch one.

book I had a great holiday thanks! I took my crochet with me. I sat by the pool in the Lanzarote sunshine and learned how to do overlay crochet, invisible needle joins and mosaic crochet. I felt very accomplished Grin The overlay things I made are also for the Christmas craft sale. I always put my crochet away before the sangria came out though, so no drunken items Halo

bookbook · 26/10/2017 14:15

That sounds just wonderful Norm -

I would leave the fringe off tbh ,.
You are still trying to do two blankets ? Shock - I will just do the best I can , and hope its enough.
The hat pattern I did was this one - dead easy, done in a spiral, so no turns, etc worked up quickly. It was just big enough using a 50gm ball of
aran weight wool .
Everyday Hat

bookbook · 26/10/2017 23:04

well, finally finished my next 12" in Violet and Kelly Green.
I wonder why it is, that the simpler patterns seem to take longer?

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. ALL very welcome to join us, come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs.
WitchDancer · 27/10/2017 09:45

Morning. Not a lot good about it - my Aunt passed away last night. I've lost my cro-jo too

bookbook · 27/10/2017 11:27

oh Witch - no words, but you have my thoughts Flowers

MadisonAvenue · 27/10/2017 12:03

So sorry Witch, my thoughts are with you Flowers

book I wonder that too, maybe it's because they're repetitive?

Hat #1 is finished and turned out well. I've just been out to buy some chunky Stylecraft so that I can do some more.

This is the pattern I used, found it on Hobbycraft but it's in US terms, although it's basically just all htr. Not sure if the link will work as I had to log into my Hobbycraft account to download it though.
www.hobbycraft.co.uk/downloads.ashx?Token=38bb93ef-2673-427c-b8a7-e4aebb701773

Spindelina · 27/10/2017 15:50

Sorry to hear that, Witch. Flowers

SpiralArchitect · 27/10/2017 19:40

Oh Witch - so sorry to hear about your aunt Flowers

MrsHathaway · 27/10/2017 19:57

Oh Witch I'm sorry - what an awful shock, so fast.

diamantegal · 27/10/2017 21:03

Witch Flowers

NormansNipple · 27/10/2017 21:13

So sorry Witch Flowers

WitchDancer · 28/10/2017 09:41

Thank you all for your kind words. I'm feeling a lot more together this morning. It really shook me to the core, which I'm guessing is grief from my FIL finally coming out - I think at the time I was focused on family and making arrangements that I didn't get the chance before now, plus we had time to get used to the idea.

I've started on CTK squares last night so my crojo is creeping back too 😁

bookbook · 28/10/2017 09:58

no doubting -it rocks the ground under your feet when you lose your parents and family. It takes time to re adjust . Take care.

WitchDancer · 28/10/2017 10:01

You're not wrong Book! One day at a time

MadisonAvenue · 31/10/2017 10:22

Witch how are you doing this week? Flowers

KnottyAndPistey · 31/10/2017 10:28

Oh so sorry witch, def one day at a time, huge hugs xxxx

OP posts:
WitchDancer · 31/10/2017 22:32

Evening all. I'm not bad thank you - had a hectic evening with the Cubs (seasonally themed activities that were obviously not relevant to the date, honest vicar!). One of my friends caught me off guard by asking how she was today. I had a momentary wobbly bottom lip but rallied beautifully. One day at a time 😏

NormansNipple · 01/11/2017 21:00

Don't be afraid to cry if you need to Witch Flowers Sounds like you're doing just fine though which is nice to know Smile

NormansNipple · 01/11/2017 21:06

This is unrelated to everything but I wanted to show you. My friend made a felted QC for me! She's very talented, I'm trying to steer her into crochet so she can help the Woolly cause Grin

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. ALL very welcome to join us, come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs.
Zombie and Woolly Hugs. ALL very welcome to join us, come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs.
WitchDancer · 01/11/2017 22:58

That's really good Norman! She's very talented.

bookbook · 02/11/2017 10:00

Good to hear you are doing okay Witch - its the unexpected sympathy which catches you out.
Norm - that is great ! I have just had a go at felting a knitted bag . It worked brilliantly on one of the yarns , not so on the other - so my stripey bag is rather erm ...... wonky to say the least. It was an experiment, so will be useful to hold wool Grin
Bit busy at the mo- actually constructing a kit , so no squares being produced

Okkitokkiunga · 08/11/2017 20:59

Witch, I'm so sorry to hear you've lost your Aunt so soon after your FiL. My thoughts are with you Flowers

Norman - QC is fabulous.

I have found an alternative use for DC's music stand and no longer have book slipping off my lap Grin

Zombie and Woolly Hugs. ALL very welcome to join us, come and find out about her legacy of Candy’s Hugs.
WitchDancer · 08/11/2017 22:01

Thanks Okkito, it has been a hard few months, that's for sure.

I love that Jan Eaton book, particularly the Willow squares. What a great use for the music stand!