Woolly Hugs. A Blanket for the family of the wonderful NormaStanleyFletcher.

[KnottyAndPistey]

Norma had been a Mumsnet regular over the years across the boards, with a real zest for politics, feminism and strong opinions about Boris Johnson, as anyone at the MN 15th birthday party will tell you. Remembering THE Heckle which was epic. Love her for it. She also ran the Christmas appeal which would have been an astonishing amount of work. She cared enough for others to make it happen. Norma genuinely touched the lives of so many here on Mumsnet, ours included. Such a compassionate beautiful soul.

It was desperately shocking to hear of her death in August. She had been very ill and in the end her body couldn't cope any more. Devastating for her husband and their wonderful children, their families and friends. They will miss her terribly.

Norma really wasn't one to burden others with her worries, but was a very kind and selfless friend. So supportive of others. Generous to a fault in many ways, and very bloody entertaining. We can all learn from her.

We were so glad when her family accepted our offer of a Woolly Hug, truly there will be love in every stitch. Can you help us? We shall need donors and crafters alike, please post below with offers of help.

Norma was a passionate feminist and so we are looking a suffragette colours as our main palette, so please do check these out..

Main colours
Suffragette purple
Suffragette green
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

Accents - so not whole squares, but use within a square
Blues
Oranges
Black
Silvers
Red, but one of these two please, Drops Merino Extra Fine 11 Red, or Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM6 ‘Ruby’ please
Yellow please Drops merino extra fine DK no 24 ‘light yellow’

We have some ideas from knowing her across the boards, but different folk knew her differently, so please let us know if you have other ideas.

The ideas we have
Anything connected to feminism and the Suffragettes
Boris Out/ Tories Out/ love for the EU themes would be great.
She loved olives, Border collies, ravens and crows!
She was passionate about the NHS.
Bali was her favourite place.
She loved Banksy, Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett

With your love and support we’d actually like to create TWO blankets, one for her family and a second to auction for Refuge, to help raise some funds in her name. So if making, please try to make a couple of extras, especially in the Suffragette colours.

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 Norma’s family, please do, we will pass it on.

Such a stalwart for so many here on Mumsnet, time to do something for her now

We were lucky to know her.

Sending so much love

@MirandaWest of course and thank you. Please could you message your address

That sounds like a great idea @Chicchicchicchiclana we also make Candy’s Hugs for women undergoing treatment for cancer. In memory of our own Zombie. That might work for her too. Absolutely no pressure but if she fancied carrying on.

And lovely @BellaVita thank you so much.

That 42 is brilliant @bookbook you are amazingly talented. Thank you!

Count me in - I’ve ordered some cream and purple yarn.

Oh thank you lovely @SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius glad to have you on board xxx

A square for the blanket going to auction . Poor light , but same colours

Woolly parcel has arrived - thank you.

Wool arrived this morning, thank you. I'll get cracking shortly

A lovely parcel of wool has just arrived, thank you ❤️

I haven't done a ripple pattern for ages but thought it would work for this blanket

@KnottyAndPistey - I have been trying to reply to your pm about this blanket, but for some reason my pms were misbehaving and wouldn't send the message to you!

I have had Stern Words.

@KnottyAndPistey are you still wanting donors to buy wool - I dont think I have missed a post/pm with who to buy for on?

Yarn arrived thanks

Just popped on to say "Thank you" to all the donors for this blanket.

My wool arrived today - without the wonderful help of donors I wouldn't have been able to join in.

THANK YOU
THANK YOU

Wool has arrived today, thank you. Will get cracking shortly x

[quote Thiswillbeinteresting]@KnottyAndPistey are you still wanting donors to buy wool - I dont think I have missed a post/pm with who to buy for on?[/quote]
Just waiting for a couple of addresses @Thiswillbeinteresting. Hopefully will be sorted today. Thank you so much xxx

Morning all

It’s wonderful to hear news of so much wool arriving with crafters. Thank you so much again fabulous donors xxx

@EerilyDeleted

I haven't done a ripple pattern for ages but thought it would work for this blanket

That’s a beauty! Thank you

And @bookbook. It’s another corker. Thank you x

Morning! I've made these 3 in the suffragette colours and have enough yarn for one or possibly two more. Shall I carry on, or do you think you'll have plenty?

Morning, @KnottyAndPistey!

I sent you a message yesterday (I think) but not sure if PMs are working properly.

Just want to check the address to send squares to.
x

square for the charity auction .

lovely squares Expletive and Ama - love the one on the left , do you have a link to the pattern?
If you find you need more squares K&P let me know

BookBook it's in my all time favourite crochet book Granny Square Flair which I highly recommend for WH stuff. I tried to pick stuff that could be construed as vaguely Edwardian looking, to fit in with the suffragette theme.

One of the best things about the book is it has a diagram and written instructions for every pattern and I've yet to spot a mistake 😊

Thank you Ama - will go and have a look!