Woolly Hugs. Snugs for Looked After Children and Young People

[KnottyAndPistey]

We are delighted to be introducing a new project we are calling Snugs.

We are aiming to make blankets for children ( 0-16 years) who are being looked after within the Children's Family Trust.The Children's Family Trust work with these children aiming to give them stability and security through to adulthood, helping them achieve their full potential, with the ideal being fostered within a family for life. We would like to make these children something permanent, that they can take with them wherever they are.

Initially we will be working with the group based in the 'South Central' area, so Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire, Surrey and Dorset.

We would love for you to help us. We have funds to help if you need yarn, many thanks to the super generous donation from Ruth in memory of her beautiful "Little Mum' Joan.

There will be extra love in the Snugs from them both.

Crafting Info

• Yarn is Stylecraft Special DK just this please, inc for any embellishments.
• Squares to be 12 inch ideally, or 6 inch if that is too much.
• Knit and crochet equally welcome.
• Beginner or more experienced crafters also equally welcomed.
• Please use a 4mm hook or needles.
• No blocking please, and please ensure you are knotting off very thoroughly when colour changing or finishing, leave a 6cm end and use a needle to sew it in.
• We are asking folk to avoid using a magic ring (crochet) to start as find that these don't seem to always stand up to the pressures of wash and wear.
• Please read the list of colours in our palette carefully, the list is below.
• Squares to be single colour, multi colour, textured, whatever you like, they will be wonderful, thank you.
• If you'd like to make a whole blanket, please use these colours too, makes thing easier at the giving stage! Whole blankets to be 48 by 60 inches, we would like them all to be single bed size no matter what age the child.

The colours are a twist on a rainbow theme...

Aspen

Aster

Bluebell

Cloud Blue

Cypress

Duck egg

Lapis

Lavender

Lincoln

Lipstick

Lobelia

Magenta

Meadow

Pistachio

Plum

Pomegranate

Saffron

Sage

Sherbert

Spice

Storm Blue

Tomato

Violet

Please message us if you need the postal address, but it will be the South Coast one

The last posting date for this first round will be March 3rd.

Thank you so much, these blankets will be very special indeed for these children and young people.

carry your wool up the back....

I’m doing this as the centre of a blanket. I’m up to the dark green octagon (which is violet in mine), and I reckon it’s going to come out at 24” or so.

My wool arrived yesterday, thank you!
So far I've done a 12" granny in lipstick and now I'm starting a cloud blue 12" using some kind of cross over stitch.

Oh, and Spin that's a beautiful pattern!

carry your wool up the back....

+1, for heaven's sake: if it's every other row it won't get in the way or even show, probably.

Was NOT in the mood for crochet last night (would have been an angry, cramped, tight, curly mess) but will drink lots of tea and proceed later.

Thank you Spin and MrsH - never thought about it . Was sort of doing it on automatic pilot last night!

Hope you're okay today MrsH

Thanks, lovely Huggers

Medical. Chronic. NHS computer systems the current annoyance: preventing us from proceeding. Doctor using the phrase "not fit for purpose" but unable to bypass it. So we wait.

I understand just how you feel MrsH. The NHS is so incredibly frustrating at times, I wouldn't like to even try to guess how many tears of frustration I've cried over the last few months. Doctors and all HCPs are marvellous in our experience but it's getting past all of the admin crap first.
I owe the poor lady who's been dealing with us in the complaints dept at the local hospital trust a bunch of flowers as she's spent call after call listening, with so much patience and care, to me whinge and sob

evening!
oh MrsH ((hugs)) hope it gets sorted .(and Madison too)
Spin - that is just a gorgeous pattern - how is velcro baby and going back to work

Stitch - it is just about the easiest pattern I do after a simple granny HERE

I’d love to do this but I’m awful - can’t seem to do squares, they all end up going triangle shaped :(

A friend crochets and said it’s to do with my turning?

Have you looked at the Bella Coco videos Lollipop ? they are an excellent tutorial . It is the one I learnt with, good clear instructions, and you can stop and go back if needed. :)

Hi, I'm interested in helping out. Have I understood correctly, I just need to knit (can't crochet) various 6" or 12" squares of the correct colours, then send them away? (Sewing into a blanket if I have the time.)
It's been a long time (many years) since I did any 'proper' knitting but I'm sure I can manage going back to doing some squares. Not sure if I know what 'no blocking' means though.

I could do with some yarn, have needles somewhere! (But can buy some needles no problem if I can't find them), is there still some money in the pot to get me some yarn? (There's not even a shop in our town that sells it so I guess I'd have to order some online if I need to) Just let me know if you can send me some yarn and I can PM you an address to send it to. Will also need the address to send the finished squares/blanket to.

Thanks.

OhBegger -
you have it in one - you send off the completed squares back to WH headquarters, and they then get them made into blankets ( Unless you do enough to make a whole one , which are 48" x 60" )
No blocking means don't try to wash/damp/press the squares .
Just message K&P to ask for some yarn

x post!

At last: attached.

Blocking is using water/steam (etc) and pins/sticks/boards to set your finished piece into shape. It's easier to put blankets together when this has not been done as there is more give in each square. Construction Crew are always grateful for plainish squares as it makes setting out easier (my personal favourite knit to work with would be a rib/cable type) and they set off the elaborate squares beautifully. They like "slightly too small" better than "slightly too big" as it's easier to s t r e t c h a square than bunch one up, but you can usually position a big next to a small to cancel each other out.

Thank you stitchit, will get onto that. Didn't realise washing, pinning out and starching had a name!

Thanks everyone, starting to look forward to getting back into knitting. Reminiscing about getting my Brownies knitting badge many, many years ago and knitting a couple of baby jumpers for pfb nearly 18 years ago. (Still have one, can't get rid!) Will have something else to do instead of spending all my time on MN.!

Morning loves

The messages we have had about this project have been so intensely emotional, from stories of the child who put food in his pockets so that he would have something that was his, to the newborn in foster care on New Years' Eve, from the Americans lining up to help and from those who have fostered. So glad we are doing this. It doesn't matter where these children are does it? they are all 'our children'

sob

Costacoffeeplease - You are truly amazing, thank you

bookbook - beautiful square, and Spin - I need to try that too, as I cut and change like book! Love that pattern Spin

Madison - great news the wool has arrived, you are on fire woman! First wrote that as wol

MrsH - hope today is more kind on you, how are you? I agree the NHS can be incredibly frustrating, so bloomin glad we have it, but def v frustrating in parts too. Hugs and for you too Madison xxxx

Lollipop - are we talking a granny square? We can sort this out - look at all these lovelies around you, we will have you square in no time! I agree on Bella Coco

OhBeggerItsMorning - this today!! You have a message from us, we have needles too if that helps? Glad to have you with us xxx

Hope LittleStitch settles down soon Stitch and this stage passes

Heartfelt thanks to everyone xxxxx