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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

Woolly Hugs. Making a true celebration of the wonderful WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo, can you help?

130 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 03/07/2019 20:45

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo (Chrissie) touched the lives of so many, ours included, and it is incredibly sad to think she is gone. Leslie was an extraordinary generous, compassionate soul and we were lucky to know her, she was inspirational and gave unstinting support to many people on this site and elsewhere too. She was just 28 when she died, only 21 when she was diagnosed with a genetic colon cancer. Life has been very cruel, absolutely tragic.

Leslie was an absolute rock to those folk on the Mumsnet cancer support threads, she organised them for years, always making time for others even when she was so ill herself, many handholds offered, gently encouraging, wise beyond her years, and the threads that still run are a legacy, a truly loving, giving, supportive safe place.

She was an absolute stalwart on the Woolly Hug threads, always ready to join in, ready to help someone else. She and her parents have made so many gorgeous things over the years, super snuggly scarves and mittens for refugees, Billie's Blankets for children with cancer. Extraordinary. So many children and adults feeling their love and support, both at home in the UK and much further afield.

There aren’t enough words to explain how highly we thought of her, how much she was loved on here. We can all learn from her, anyone who came into contact with her did.

We have written to her wonderful folks and we are so glad they have accepted our offer of a Woolly Hug, so glad we can do this for her. Her wonderful friend @TwitterQueen has been fabulous in helping with ideas, colours etc and this has been great. We see this blanket as a tribute to Chrissie a celebration of her and we hope you will be able to help us.


We have some ideas from TQ, but different folk knew her differently, so please do make what is right for your own tribute.

Chrissie was a lifelong veggie with a huge love of cheese!

She also loved pizza, ice cream and cake!

She had two big bunny rabbits called Marigold and Juniper!

She loved the pusheen character and had some very jaunty PJs.

She loved knitting and crochet and had wonderfully impressive skills.

She loved her shoes! Glitzy and glam ideally with sparkles, she saved her best pairs for the chemo ward.

Her name WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo comes form the NBC comedy Parks and Rec - find it, give it a go, we love it too.




Lots of beautiful ideas for squares, but please don’t feel daunted, simple squares are needed too.

The Yarn we are Using….
Artesano Superwash Merino DK
Debbie Bliss Rialto DK
Drops Merino Extra Fine DK
Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK
Katia Merino 100% DK
King Cole Luxury Merino DK (new this time)
Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK
Patons Merino Extrafine DK

Colourwise…
Limes to mid green. not dark please.
Mid to light blues
Oranges
Plum type purple
Teals
Then for accents and embellishments (not whole squares)
Pinks
Red, but one of these two please, Drops Merino Extra Fine 11 Red, or Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM6 ‘Ruby’ please
Cream but please one of the following - Debbie Bliss Rialto DK 02 ecru, Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM4 cream, or Drops Merino 01 off white
Taupe - Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM7 Taupe
Stone - Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM9 Beige, Debbie Bliss Rialto 06 Stone
Yellow please Drops merino extra fine DK no 24 ‘light yellow’

It would be lovely to have some sparkle in this blanket, so any sparkly thread is fine but just for embellishments please, we need to know the blanket can still be machine washable. We will certainly add some into the border too.

Simple or complex, made by beginner or expert, we genuinely welcome them all. It really is the love and thought that counts.*

Squares to be six inches, using 4mm needles or hook. Please knot off VERY carefully when finishing or changing colour and sew your ends in, thank you! Previous blankets can be seen on our website



When ready for posting, it will be the Teddington address, if you would like to include a card for Chrissie’s family, please do, we will pass it on.

She looked after so many here on Mumsnet, time to do something for her now



Sending so much love Thanks

Woolly Hugs. Making a true celebration of the wonderful WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo, can you help?
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MrsMozartMkII · 03/07/2019 20:49

I'm so sorry to read of this loss.

Rest in peace lass Flowers

Put me down to provide wool, so someone with the skill to turn it into something beautiful for her.

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HelloCanYouHearMe · 03/07/2019 21:01

I will more than happily make some squares. Im not very good, so they will be plain!!

Can someone DM me the address they need to be sent to please?

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bookbook · 03/07/2019 21:03

Most certainly in for this - I met her at last years Hugathon , along with TQ . I 'm fairly sure I have some of these colours in my stash .
Love to her family Flowers

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FiveGoMadInDorset · 03/07/2019 21:04

Count me in, have funds so will buy some wool and get going ❤️

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Candleabra · 03/07/2019 21:08

I'm a rubbish knitter but would like to help. Can I provide wool for someone with better skills?

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Ilove · 03/07/2019 21:11

I will help but need wool please

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ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 03/07/2019 21:21

Leslie was such a lovely, generous soul, such an amazing young woman.
I did watch Parks & Rec last year (available on Amazon Prime for free in the UK) because of her!

Her loss is so heartbreaking, deepest condolences to her family & I'm sending lots of love to them and all who knew & love her in real life or here.


I'm in, and will PM you shortly as I have a yarn enquiry x

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Wintersnowdrop · 03/07/2019 21:30

Please count me in too.

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Iwantacampervan · 03/07/2019 21:48

Count me in for some squares - I'll just need to check what colours I have already.

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ExpletiveDelighted · 03/07/2019 21:50

I'm in, will check my stash. Flowers

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KnottyAndPistey · 03/07/2019 21:51

Thank you so much everyone xxxx

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ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 03/07/2019 22:08

Also I'd be honoured to join the squares if you want me to x

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MadisonAvenue · 03/07/2019 22:11

I'd love to do something for Leslie, is it possible to have some wool donated though please?

I'll have think to see if there's something Parks and Rec related that I could do.

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WitchDancer · 03/07/2019 22:15

I'm in for a square or two. I'll check to see what I've got in my stash

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Blondeshavemorefun · 04/07/2019 01:40

Happy to be a woolly donor

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DramaAlpaca · 04/07/2019 01:43

I'd like to donate funds if I could, please let me know what to do x

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Blazedout · 04/07/2019 07:38

I'm in, can I have some wool sent please?

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BlueEyeshadow · 04/07/2019 07:52

I'll do some squares, will have a look at the yarn situation...

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Ginisatonic · 04/07/2019 08:16

I’m in. Leslie was an amazing support to many, myself included.

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KnottyAndPistey · 04/07/2019 08:29

Morning everyone Brew

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KnottyAndPistey · 04/07/2019 08:31

We are making a spreadsheet of all wonderful donors and those needing yarn, will be back later on with matches, but thank you so much everyone, fabulous response. Rightly so. She was wonderful

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bookbook · 04/07/2019 08:36

what sort of posting date K&P?

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SpiralArchitect · 04/07/2019 11:27

I missed this last night - I will definitely make some squares for lovely Leslie Flowers

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KnottyAndPistey · 04/07/2019 17:25

Hello 😊

Catching up now.
Apologies for late response; we both have family stuff on today.

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MrsPear · 04/07/2019 17:42

Oh wow - I’m so sorry to read of her loss. My heartfelt condolences to her family. I cannot knit but I can help with wool - please let me know.

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