Woolly Hugs. A Blanket for the very lovely UtterlyEthereal. Crafters and donors, we need your help.

[KnottyAndPistey]

Very sad news we are afraid. There are no words really to describe her devastating loss, the wonderful Mumsnetter UtterlyEthereal’s beautiful 20 year old son Martin suddenly and unexpectedly died at university in the Autumn. He was about to start his third year there. Life has been so cruel to him, to his family and friends, to all who love and will miss him. An absolutely shattering loss. We are desperately sorry. Her thread is here if you would like to add a message of condolence. They are utterly stunned and bereft was you can imagine. His death came like a bolt out of the blue.

We were so pleased that the lovely UtterlyEthereal accepted our offer of a Woolly Hug, she will be able to wrap herself in it, there will be love in every stitch for her and the family and as a tribute to Martin. Can you help us make this for her ?We shall need donors of yarn, funds and crafters.


Martin’s favourite colour was orange, Ethereal says this as because it matched his hair colour, so he was a gorgeous red head. He loved yellow too.

The main colours
Any of the true orange shades in our yarn collection are perfect, do take care to avoid those more salmon coloured, if in doubt please check.
Yellow - one of these two please.. Drops merino extra fine DK no 24 ‘light yellow’ Or the brighter Patons Merino Extrafine DK shade 120
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

Then for accents within squares and embellishments only
Red - but one of these two please, Drops Merino Extra Fine 11 Red, or Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK WM6 ‘Ruby’ please
Black
Taupe and browns
Silver greys

From Ethereal….
His passion was listening to all genres of music and he played several instruments from the age of 5, but his favourite was the guitar and he had a whole collection of them - acoustic, electric and bass.

So ideas to go on for squares and a beautiful colour combination

The Yarn we are Using….
Debbie Bliss Rialto DK ( can only be bought from Love Crafts)
Drops Merino Extra Fine DK
Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK
Katia Merino 100% DK
King Cole Luxury Merino DK Currently on sale at Wise Badger
Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK Currently on sale on at Black Sheep Wools
Patons Merino Extrafine DK Currently on sale at Lady Sew and Sew Knits

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, 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 - Try Wool Warehouse, Wise Badger,Laughing Hens, Love Crafts, Black Sheep Wools, Lady Sew and Sew Knits

Important crafting info
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! No blocking please, makes it much easier to join squares.

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


When posting, it will be the Teddington address, please make sure you add your name and who the squares are for, and if you would like to include a card for the UtterlyEthereal and her family, please do, we will pass it on.

Remembering the wonderful Martin, thoughts very much with his family and all who love and miss him.


Thank you so much everyone

[OakWillow]

I know this family and mourn the loss of their lovely, clever, talented, super kind son with them.

Thank you to all who have made this absolutely beautiful blanket.

[Yiayoula]

Thinking of you , @SausageCrush, and your lovely son.
Honoured to have been a small part of this, and hope the blanket brings you comfort. xx

[KnottyAndPistey]

And here we are, it really is utterly glorious in oranges, reds and yellows, we are so glad the blanket is with Ethereal, truly love in every stitch xxx


www.woollyhugs.org/2021/07/12/a-blanket-for-utterlyethereal/

[KnottyAndPistey]

I've had the most frustrating tech probs, but thing seem to be playing so I'm just working on uploading the photos I took.

Huge love to you Ethereal, we think about you and Martin so often xxxx

[ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba]

oh @SausageCrush your gorgeous words have made me well up.
Sending you so much love xxx

[Lilyofthevalleys]

@SausageCrush so much love for Martin’s birthday, it must have been a difficult week. Glad the blanket is giving you comfort it is truly made with love. Thank you for such a lovely post, it is such a privilege to be a part of something to commemorate your lovely boy

[bookbook]

@SausageCrush - your post is so lovely and just amplifies the reason we do this - all is made with love for you and your family , in every stitch .
K&P will be along to share the pictures on here in due course I'm sure
to you and your family

[SausageCrush]

(Previously UtterlyEthereal)
Martin's blanket arrived yesterday and I wanted to say a massive thank you to all who contributed.
It would have been his 21st birthday this week, so emotions have been running high.
I was so overcome that I couldn't even open the parcel yesterday!
This morning I did open it - and then could hardly see it for tears.
We hear so much negativity about the internet, yet here we have a group of complete strangers who have done something so overwhelmingly kind that I am blown away by you all.
So this is to tell you how much we love and appreciate your thoughtfulness.
The blanket is so beautiful that I can't stop looking at it, drinking in all the hours of time and effort that have gone into it.
It might well be the best gift I have ever received.
My own Grannie was good at knitting and tried to pass on her skills to me. The only item I ever made was a dolls scarf and it was so tight it was like a piece of thick cardboard. I never got passed that, but I can certainly appreciate all the time and skill and love that has gone into making this fabulous tribute to my much loved son.
All 99 squares are incredible. I can't believe the skills that you have and please accept my deepest gratitude for this wonderful, woolly hug.
If I was a bit more technically minded I would attach a photo of it, stretched out across our double bed, it's new home.
I know you have others to knit for and as I can't help in a practical way, I would like to contribute some money for wool so that other bereaved families can receive a personal tribute to their loved ones too.
Thank you so, so much. I hope these inadequate words go some way to letting you all know what a treasured possession you have given us xx

[bookbook]

@KnottyAndPistey

Just to say and thank you so much to lovely *@bookbook for her help, I'd got so far behind with jury service, that the Woolly Hug for lovely @UtterlyEthereal* is ready and photographed. Just about to message her and organise delivery. It truly is beautiful, so much love in there for her boy and for her and the family. We hope they love it.

Photos once it is with them and THANK YOU everyone again xxxx

You are very welcome , an honour to help :)

[KnottyAndPistey]

Just to say and thank you so much to lovely @bookbook for her help, I'd got so far behind with jury service, that the Woolly Hug for lovely @UtterlyEthereal is ready and photographed. Just about to message her and organise delivery. It truly is beautiful, so much love in there for her boy and for her and the family. We hope they love it.

Photos once it is with them and THANK YOU everyone again xxxx

[MadisonAvenue]

*No, not now

[MadisonAvenue]

Now worries! Can’t begin to imagine sorting so many parcels
Here you go!

[KnottyAndPistey]

I think I can find photos!

[KnottyAndPistey]

ah, this was undoubtedly my mistake, do you have any photos and I will resort, sorry x

[MadisonAvenue]

@KnottyAndPistey Did I label them wrong? The cream squares were intended for Alfie’s blanket.

[KnottyAndPistey]

The sun is shining and we have such beautiful treasure to share. Absolutely gorgeous. Crafters, you are amazing. Thank you so much

@Okki. Beautiful crocheted treasure and n cream and yellow. Fabulous

@TheNinjaGooseIsHooking Stunning crocheted squares. Hearts, musical notes and a mixed granny. Gorgeous.

@PurpleFrog Fabulous crocheted squares in oranges and yellow. Love the music too!

KB Mixed colour grannies and beautiful sunshine squares too. Gorgeous

@BellaVita Beautiful crocheted treasure in orange and silver. Lovely

@EssentiallyDelighted A beautiful square in yellow with a cream music note. Fab.

@MNP Two glorious squares depicting music. Beautiful

@SpiralArchitect Stunning in all the oranges and yellow. Fantastic crocheted treasure

@Iwantacampervan In n silver and yellow her beautiful trademark heart. Wonderful

@jetSTAR Two fabulous circle to square designs in orange and yellow. Brilliant

S Gorgeous textured, stunning stars. Utterly gorgeous crocheted treasure

@Trumpton Two fabulous knits. Gorgeous textures in orange and cream.

@AmaDablam A wonderful triangle design and a red and yellow flower. Gorgeous

@WitchDancer In the glorious burnt orange and cream, a fabulous flower and traditional grannies too. Epic.

@MadisonAvenue in cream and burnt orange, wonderful willow, a bobble heart. Fantastic crocheted treasure

@Spindelina Two deeply textured squares in yellow with silver, red, black and cream accents. Beautiful designs

Absolutely wonderful everyone. Thank you so much. This blanket will be stunning

[KnottyAndPistey]

We had set a last posting date of last Monday (15th March) but know life has been very busy and challenging. So let’s have an extension ....


with the FNAL posting day next Friday 26th March

please to the Teddington address. Message if you need it. Please remember to securely sew in all ends, no blocking, do include your name and a card if you'd like to.


Then everything will be in by Easter. Hope this works for everyone. Thank you so much!

[KnottyAndPistey]

Morning! Apologies for the radio silence. Life was taken over by the craft sale, but aiming to be back by Monday. Lots of parcels are here. Thank you so much everyone.

Those are beautiful @PurpleFrog! Thank you xxx

[PurpleFrog]

My squares went in the post today...

[KnottyAndPistey]

@Bearfrills!! Sorry. Your name fell off

@Bearfrills Gorgeous! beautiful crocheted squares in yellow, cream with black. A fab guitar, 🎵 and a mix of gorgeous grannies. Fab.

[KnottyAndPistey]

Beautifully crafted treasure has been arriving. Apologies for the delay. We have a quarantine of parcels thing going on. But these stunning squares are ready to go!

@Ginisatnic. Absolutely gorgeous knits. Beautiful textures. All in cream. Super

@TheWoollybacksWife A beautiful knitted guitar design. Gorgeous

@Redbrook two absolute beauties. In yellow, orange and cream. A gorgeous 3D flower plus a super design too. Lovely.

@Yiayoula Stunning knits. Her beautiful heart and stars.

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba Gorgeous mixed colour grannies. Stunning.

@Whatsthatbrightlight Beautifully knitted treasure. Gorgeous textures, a guitar, music notes, diagonals, corners. Wonderful!

@FiveGoMadinDorset. Beautiful knits. Super garter squares in cream and yellow. Lovely!

J&A absolutely beautiful, a clever woven design, music notes, guitars and an M too. Epic.

YW Beautiful crocheted squares. A solid granny and a textured stripe. Fabulous

@Run4it. Gorgeous knits in yellow and cream. Beautiful rich textures

@Costacoffeeplease Two beautiful crocheted squares in yellow. Super designs

beautiful crocheted squares in yellow, cream with black. A fab guitar, 🎵 and a mix of gorgeous grannies. Fab.

Abby A glorious knit in yellow. Beautifully done.

@Zhx3 Bright and cheery. So beautiful. Crochet in oranges, yellow and taupe. Super!

noname super squares in taupe, stone and orange. Beautiful

Thank you so much everyone. Absolutely amazing! More have been arriving but are currently in quarantine. So back with more in a few days.

[KnottyAndPistey]

Absolutely beautiful squares, loving this orange, thank you so much. We have a big pile of squares now ready to open!

[SpiralArchitect]

Posted these today, with much love in every stitch

[Zhx3]

Wow, how lovely everyone's squares are.

I posted mine yesterday, hopefully they will be with you soon.

[KnottyAndPistey]

Hopefully have replied to all PMs, have squares which have been arriving, just letting them stand for a few days, then will be opening them, can't wait to see the treasure!


Thank you so much everyone xxx