Woolly Hugs. A Blanket for SanJunipero and her son, in memory of her wife and his mum. Join us to make something very beautiful for them. All help warmly received.

[KnottyAndPistey]

Just devastating. SanJunipero’s beautiful wife died in January this year. Life has been so cruel to her and this wonderful young family. There are no words really, we send so much love to her and their baby son. Many of you helped support SanJunipero through her wife’s final days, that thread was in Chat so has gone, but folk were so amazing, thank you.

We are so glad SanJunipero accepted our offer of a Woolly Hug. We want to make it a real tribute and celebration, full of memories for their young son of his wonderful mum, and to let them both know how much love surrounds them. Will you join us?

We shall need crocheters, knitters and donors. If you would like to donate wool or funds, we can match you up. If you would like to join in but need donated wool, we can help there too. Please message with your offer of help.

Lovely SanJunipero has chosen the colours her wife loved, so do read carefully please, it’s very much the pastel/ice cream type shades

The Colours

• Cream - but please one of these - Debbie Bliss Rialto DK 02 ecru, or Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM4 cream (+ James C. Brett Pure Merino DK no 7 if you have any left)
• Yellow - just this one please - Drops extra fine merino DK 24
• Duck egg - one of these please - Drops extra-fine merino DK 15, Debbie Bliss Rialto DK ‘aqua’, or ‘duck egg’
• Pale/soft blues/teals
• Pale/soft/dusky pinks
• Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK - Pistachio, WM1
• Stone - either Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM9 Beige or Debbie Bliss Rialto 06 Stone (+James C. Brett Pure Merino DK 17 Beige if you still have any)
• Lavender - eg Jenny Watson WM15 then for embellishes and accents, but not whole squares…
• Red - Drops Merino Extra Fine 11 Red, or Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM6 ‘Ruby’ please)
• Black *Taupe - Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM7 Taupe

The yarn we will be using
Debbie Bliss Rialto DK
Drops Merino Extra Fine DK
Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK
Katia Merino 100% DK
King Cole Luxury Merino DK
Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK
Patons Merino Extrafine DK

Just from the brands listed please because we know they combine for wash and wear. If you still have any of our wools that have been discontinued - Artesano Superwash Merino DK, Rowan Cashsoft DK, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK or James C. Brett Pure Merino DK in your stash, please do use them.

We have lots of ideas and memories as suggestions, please have a look, everything we can create in this blanket will be wonderful for their son, and SanJunipero too
If anyone could knit/crochet a snowdrop or a little bird that would be lovely - snowdrops are the symbol of the hospice where she died and I keep seeing them around and thinking of her. And birds because she loved to hear the birds sing from her bed when she was ill - she loved robins, but any little birds made her so happy.

She loved ABBA, reading, writing

She loved Harry Potter and made SanJunipero promise to read the books to their son when he is bigger, she said.. “Maybe we’ll snuggle up in our blanket to read them.”

She loved all animals (cats, hedgehogs and Guinea pigs in particular - we have a little black and white cat called Beatrice),

She loved tea, cake, sewing, white roses (her wedding flowers were a bouquet of white roses), daffodils, bluebells, the sea, nature (spring was her favourite time of year).

The initials we would like please - R, C, I and if anyone can get all three on one square that would be amazing.

Can anyone make a chick? She called their son her fluffy little chick because he was born a few days before Easter and had fluffy hair.

Rainbows are very significant too - can someone take this on?

Stars too, can someone make a square with a star on?

So lots of ideas that we can tackle very well we have every confidence in the Woolly Hug crew

There is support for buying colours on our website, here. Squares to be six inches, using 4mm needles or hook, no blocking of squares and please knot off sturdily when changing colours or finishing, leave a good end and use a needle to sew in the peskies.

Simple or complex, made by beginner or expert, we genuinely welcome them all. It really is the love and thought that counts. When ready for posting, it will be the Teddington address, if you would like to include a card for the family, please do, we will pass it on.

As always, thank you so much for your support, love to SanJ and their gorgeous boy


Pistey and Knotty xxxxx

I hope the colours are ok. Worried that the dark pink is too reddish or purple!

Marking my place here so I can see the lovely squares. I've nearly finished 3 - a star, snowdrop and bluebells.

I’m out of creativity ATM so just a granny sort of square

That's definitely a snitch MrsJones, lovely! Beautiful squares all round. 😁

oh, gorgeous squares everyone. :)
With love in the stitches , a nod to a love of sewing

I can crochet (but not knit) but I've never done a square for a woolly hug before. Am I too late to join?

Don't think a post date has been set yet @MulticolourMophead - Just a warning that it gets addictive

Thank you, MrsJonesAndMe

I just found that Debbie Bliss Rialto DK is on offer at Wool Warehouse. My DD has just chosen a couple of colours to meet the palette requested. This will be from both of us, SanJunipero's loss touched DD too (she can't knit or crochet).

Did a mug of tea yesterday, but will now forever bug me that I didn't put the handle on the right rather than the left...

I really don't know what to say. Thank you all so much for doing this for us. I've just been looking through the thread and have been so taken aback by the beautiful squares people have been making for our blanket. So much time and love. It's been ever such a hard week, as it was my son's first birthday and what would have been my wedding anniversary, but looking through this thread has been lovely. I'm sitting here having a little cry. Thank you all so very much xxx

@SanJunipero I’m so sorry for your loss. So much crafty inspiration in the things your wife loved. It’s been a pleasure to help with this blanket. Thinking of you and your little boy.

Much love and sympathy @SanJunipero Feels like the least I can do and I'm sure the other ladies feel the same.

I have the wool thank you K&P, I'm getting started ASAP xx

Much love, @SanJunipero, and I hope your son had a lovely birthday.

I'm afraid my squares will be rather plain, but will be useful as filler.

Afternoon all and huge hugs for San

Great news that wool is arriving, could we safely set a post by date do you think?

Beautiful treasure has been arriving and it is absolutely gorgeous, many thanks to the lovely crafters for all they do

JB A beautiful crocheted heart design in two shades of lavender, plus two little heart embellishments too, just fabulous

Zing Two gorgeous crocheted squares in ice cream colours, one a C2C in mint, vanilla, strawberry and blackberry pastels, the other a trad granny, so lovely.

No name with this A beautiful striped garter knit in pale pink and yellow, tis lovely, anyone?

Thank you all so much, a fantastic start!

I think the wool I ordered has arrived, I got a card through the door saying parcel was too big for the letterbox. Now to find a time when a) I'm not at work and b) when the sorting office is actually open......not easy, but doable.

Ive just set up a donation

Its monthly and dh has asked are you a charity so we can gift aid it

He also said being a charity is a pain in the bottom so you might not be

Not sure where to look for the information

Dh is off to the post office now with a parcel that includes three squares for this blanket.

I am hoping this is due to the Craft Sale/ha;f term etc. but just slightly worried that the squares I posted on 25th March might not have made it to you.

Though also could be because I put "Jo E" rather than my MN name

Gorgeous woolly treasure arriving safely today, tis all marvellous

ScienceRocks In pink and pale lavender blue a gorgeous basket weave knit. Really super.

R You say beginner??!! Awesome, a solid pale blue granny with a star, C2C in blue and yellow and a super yellow willow square. All fabulous.

GleamingHeels Absolutely lovely crochet, a gorgeous 3D flower design in pink, the African violet and grannies in lavender and stone. Beautiful.

BlueEyeshadow Beautiful traditional granny in pinks and yellow, gorgeous bullseye design in pinks, beautiful flowers, all fabulous.

IwantaCampervan Beautiful knitted treasure in pinks and pale blue, a wonderful star design, then a 3D blue bell and 3D snowdrop. So clever, lovely.

Absolutely lovely, folk are awesome, thank you so much everyone

I'm ready to post, which address is it?

I am pleased that my squares arrived safely.

This one went to London yesterday to finish sewing on!