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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.

Woolly Hugs. We need your help. We are making a blanket for the family of the wonderful Oldsilver.

275 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 02/05/2019 17:30

Just devastating. Like many we just couldn’t take it in that Oldsilver had died so suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack in April. Utterly shocking. Words really do fail, we are just so very sorry life has been so cruel to her and truly devastating for her DH, young son, family and friends. She was a total legend here on Mumsnet, posting on many boards, but her true love was with the Nobdies, and they too will miss her terribly.

We are so pleased to say that her DH has accepted our offer of a Woolly Hug, and we hope that he and their son will feel our love and support and that the blanket may give whatever comfort it can to them.

There is a thread here if you would like to post…

Oldsilver was devoted to her husband (P) and son (D) – their initials would be great. The initial ‘H’ is also significant for her. As well as her family, her great loves were her garden and veg patch, and a tortoise called Brian. She also loved elephants, dragons, biscuits, cider, ferrero rocher, cider, 1980s pop and fashion (!).

She adored flowers, and her favourite colours were blue and purple – any bold colours but NOT PINK!

A favourite photo of her, which her DH has allowed us to post, is this one of her going to a formal do dressed as a bottle of Hooch. She had the most brilliant sense of humour

She was very into stationery and kept meticulous lists and records. On MN she was the keeper of all the Nobdie archives, and instigator of many evenings listening to the Wurzels. Her name was inspired by the silver rings she wore.

Thanks

What an amazing woman. How lucky we were to know her. We want to make her Woolly Hug a real tribute and celebration, please 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.

There are lots of ideas for squares, if you can, but simple squares made with love are equally loved and cherished

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.

Our listed yarns are all easily available online - Wool Warehouse, Wise Badger, Laughing Hens all v good and stock our brands.

Colours
Garden greens, so think apple, pistachio, Drops green.
Mid to light silvers
Accents/Embellishments…..Bright blues, orange and purples. Red too, (one of these two please, Drops Merino Extra Fine 11 Red, or Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM6 ‘Ruby’ please, and Yellow but this one please… Drops merino extra fine DK no 24 ‘light yellow’

** NB definitely NOT pinky purple, not even bolder shades please.

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 for Oldsilver and her family that counts. Thanks

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.

Sending so much love to OldSilver’s son and DH and all who love and miss her xxx

Woolly Hugs. We need your help. We are making a blanket for the family of the wonderful Oldsilver.
OP posts:
Thread gallery
25
TheStigReturns · 23/05/2019 22:36

K&P
Do you block the squares? Am struggling with keeping tension even so it's not staying square but blocking it would really help!

CJCregg · 24/05/2019 00:40

Hello Stiggy Smile

Not sure but I think you're not supposed to block.

I've done hearts and flowers and am attempting a dragon. K&P, has someone done a Hooch bottle? Grin I was going to try it but have run out of green.

Those biscuits are AMAZING.

TheStigReturns · 24/05/2019 06:59

Hi CJ
I guess I'm hoping that once it is joined it will be nicely held in shape by surrounding squares! Nothing so artistic here as biscuits or animals Grin.
Let me know if you want some Patons merino ef dk in pine green and I'll post you some. It's quite a bold green.

KnottyAndPistey · 24/05/2019 09:16

Beautiful treasure has been arriving for the family of Oldsilver. Wonderful. Thank you so much Thanks

Thanks bookbook Pictured up thread, these beauties are gorgeous. On green, cabbage, carrots and corn and on silver beautiful flowers. Totally fabulous. Star

Thanks CN Beautiful knits in a silvery green plus pistachio and forest. Gorgeous heart designs, embroidered initials and solid grannies. Lovely. Star

Thanks MadisonAvenue Absolutely gorgeous crochet in greens and silvers, a wonderful mixture of traditional grannies, deeply textured squares, a super bobble heart, circle to square, solid grannies and a super knot square too! Marvellous. Star

Thanks BlueEyeshadow Utterly beautiful takes on circles to squares, traditional and solid grannies. Absolutely gorgeous. In silver and green Star

Thanks BigApple11 Such beautiful crochet. Flowers, textures, a bobble heart, stunning. In greens and red. Lovely! Star

Thanks AmaDablam Gorgeous crocheted treasure. Two stunning 3D flowers in silver, yellow, orange and green. Very beautiful indeed. Star

Absolutely wonderful. Heartfelt thanks everyone xxxx

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/05/2019 09:17

Blazedout Am away this weekend and can post on Tuesday. Please PM your address. Thank you so much xxx

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/05/2019 09:19

PurpleFrog Of course P, crack on, it will be fabulous. Thank you! x x

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/05/2019 09:21

TheStigReturns We ask that you avoid blocking as it can make it much harder to join them, and you are right, once joined it’s held nicely in shape anyway. Thank you so much xxx

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/05/2019 09:23

CJ Not seen one yet and we definitely need one. So yes please! That Patons sounds ideal if you are happy to post Stig?

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/05/2019 09:24

Thank you so much everyone. Away for the weekend now, back on Tuesday but will check in BrewWineGinSmile

OP posts:
Blazedout · 24/05/2019 10:05

@knottyandpistey I've sent you a pm. Happy to do initials if they haven't been done yet, or whatever is needed.

MNP2019isUpAndRunning · 24/05/2019 12:24

Thank you MrsMozartMkII

MrsJonesAndMe · 24/05/2019 13:34

My 4 are done. Will post once I've done my SquareSquad one.

Woolly Hugs. We need your help. We are making a blanket for the family of the wonderful Oldsilver.
CJCregg · 24/05/2019 17:08

These are all so beautiful. It's going to be stunning. Stiggy, will PM you xx

WitchDancer · 24/05/2019 20:47

Tonight's effort, lovely colours from my donor thank you!

Woolly Hugs. We need your help. We are making a blanket for the family of the wonderful Oldsilver.
KnottyAndPistey · 25/05/2019 09:23

Beauties! Thank you so much. Morning lovely people Brew

OP posts:
MrsMozartMkII · 25/05/2019 11:00

Wow. There's are all so beautiful.

As an aside, I'm very tempted to try again to crochet, though have little chance of emulating these beauties.

TheWoollybacksWife · 25/05/2019 11:03

MrsM if you are in the East Midlands I would be delighted to meet for lots of cake and crochet.

WitchDancer · 25/05/2019 12:15

MrsM I started with some proper wonky efforts when Book got me started on crotchet. I tried and tried using Bella Coco's you tube of granny squares and went on from there. Remember not every square should be 'fancy', we need plain squares to go in between too

bookbook · 25/05/2019 13:16

Gosh , the squares are beauties on here!
Witch - we were both knitters to start with, weren't we , wondering how the crochet squares got done so quickly . I still knit for these though mostly - its my first love . MrsM - yes Bella Coco and Woolly would sort you out , I have no doubting - and my first squares were very interesting to say the least!

Iwantacampervan · 25/05/2019 13:26

Mrs M - South Coast here, willing to help with crochet (very beginner level) especially if there's cake!

MadisonAvenue · 25/05/2019 15:19

This blanket is going to be absolutely beautiful ❤️

MrsMozartMkII · 25/05/2019 16:34

You are all most excellent stars, thank you indeed. Annoyingly I have been both south coast and east Mids, but sadly no longer Sad

MrsJonesAndMe · 25/05/2019 20:39

MrsM, I taught myself 18m ago using Bella coco. Can't make sense of patterns, but can make pretty much anything square out there on YouTube if I set my mind to it now. I'm closer to London way and also a cake fan Wink

TheStigReturns · 25/05/2019 20:53

MrsM self taught by BellaCoco videos here too about 3 yrs ago after my DM bought all her DGDs yarn and knitting needles and crochet hooks as Xmas gifts. She taught them, but not me, how to knit and then when we got back home they wanted to know what to do with the hooks in their kits.
I have just frogged my last square Sad will try again tomorrow.

MrsMozartMkII · 25/05/2019 22:29

MrsJones Mmmmmm... Cake... Sadly I'm not London way either. Sadness indeed.

I will go look up BellaCoco, thankies most kindly.

TheStig My Ma taught DD1 to knit, as did various other relatives, as she and they had given up trying to teach me. I just can't get the tension right. I can sew though, so if there's ever a sewing type thing then I can turn hand to that.