Please or to access all these features

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. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.

1000 replies

KnottyAndPistey · 08/06/2025 14:44

Desperately sad news, we are afraid, lovely Swashbuckled’s wonderful son Ted has died in a road traffic accident where he was a pedestrian. He was just 24, it is unspeakable sad, and we send much love to her and her daughter. There are no words really are there? It’s absolutely devastating. Lovely Swash is on a long running thread on Mumsnet and this request has come from lovely folk on there with her.

We are so glad Swash would like a Woolly Hug. For those new on here, this is a long standing tradition on Mumsnet where folk come together to make a blanket for one of our own who has been bereaved. We hope it may give whatever comfort it can. There will be love crafted into every stitch. We want it to be a tribute and full of memories.

So we are now asking for help once again. We shall need crafters and donors of funds and wool, can you help us? We’d be so grateful. Thank you so much.

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.

Ideas from lovely Swashbuckled, have copied some as quotes

Her son’s name is Ted and his friends gave him the nickname “Bear”.
Her daughter’s initials are HLF and Swashbuckled’s are SJF

“He lived with me, just the two of us.
We were extremely close and had an incredible bond.
He has always been so happy, cheerful, polite and loving. We always described him as “pure of heart” as his nature was so open and warm and he didn’t seem to have any of the complications that some of us struggle with.”

“His eyes were navy blue and he had dark brown hair. I think of him in those colours.”

“He was a chef. He led the team at work and the phrase he always used to motivate them on busy shifts was “In it together”. I think of him saying that phrase to me now, as we stick together through the rest of my life.”

“He has a small flat cap collection in his bedroom, which he has displayed with some football shirts.
He loved football and was loyal to his team (although they were in a lower league). His team play in red and white.
He enjoyed watching darts and had recently joined a local darts club. He bought a dart board for his room and experimented with different darts sets and was pleased with his progress.
He was saving up to buy his first house, and loved watching his savings build. He was good with money.

He loved news and politics.

He liked cooking at home too, where he could choose what to make, and experiment with different dishes.
He had just bought a new car, and only had it about three weeks. It was a black Mini Cooper countryman and he was so pleased with it, and proud of it. (It has just been taken back by the dealer, who was very kind.)
We lived together in a stone cottage by a small river. There is a little bridge from the lane that you walked over to the front of our house.”

We’d also love to have a bluestocking referenced square - really important. If you are unsure what this term means pls do a bit of research before undertaking.

So many ideas for themed squares, and we need simple squares too.

The Colours
Blues including navy
Silvers and greys
Taupes
Greens - nature inspired
Cream but only this one please Drops Merino Extra Fine - Off White (01)

Then to create the above ideas, so accents/ not whole squares
Dark browns
Black
Red, just this one please Drops Merino Extra Fine DK 11, Crimson red.

The Yarn we will be Using….
Debbie Bliss Rialto DK only available on Love Crafts
Drops Merino Extra Fine DK, currently on sale at Wool Warehouse
Katia Merino 100% DK
King Cole Luxury Merino DK
Yarnsmiths Merino DK Superwash - new to us and a BIG sale at Wool Warehouse. Loads of colours, looks exciting.

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 or have become less easy to find- Artesano Superwash Merino DK, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK, Jenny Watson Pure Merino DK, Patons Merino Extrafine DK or James C. Brett Pure Merino DK in your stash, please do use them.

Posting will be Teddington, please message if you need the address. If you'd like to include a card for her family , please send with your squares. And please don't forget to include your name!

Thank you lovely crafters, thinking of lovely Swash and her family, and all who love and miss Ted.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
385
AlexandraLeaving · 24/07/2025 07:18

So delighted about there being enough for two blankets. Can’t wait to see them both assembled.

I’ve just been looking back through the thread gallery at the wealth of variety and creativity. Despite a single brief, there is so much beautiful difference between all the squares, both in terms of colour and in terms of design. @KnottyAndPistey you are amazing to have choreographed this project. And what a privilege it has been to be part of it, even though I am sure we all wish it had not been necessary.

KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 08:42

Huge love Swash. Our hearts are broken for you xxx

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 08:47

Apologies for the delay. These did arrive yesterday but yesterday was bonkers and I wanted to do the squares properly not rush at it.

Star Beautiful treasure in navy blue and grass green. Gorgeous crochet. Thank you so much lovely @Bearfrills Flowers

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 08:51

HANG ON THERE. I’M COMING!!

<muffled squeaking>

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 08:56

Just. Can’t. Cope.

LOOK!!

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 08:58

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

OP posts:
Yiayoula · 24/07/2025 09:11

Aaaaaaah, isn’t he gorgeous !! ❤️❤️

KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 09:15

Star Beautiful treasure arriving, including a black Mini Cooper countryman and a Ted in a flat cap. My day has peaked and it’s only 9am ish. Astonishing. Thank you so much lovely @SpringSparrow Flowers

I’ve taken a montage of pics so you can really see these squares. Little Ted comes out of his pocket to reveal a heart. And he can take his hat off in warmer weather should he wish.

I’m in love. 😍

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 09:16

This was all that arrived yesterday Brew

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 09:19

Maud is now standing on the doorstep. She is hoping to find @JamieFrasersSassenach’s parcel.

She’s the woman for the job.

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 10:17

As we know lovely @bookbook is repeating the special In it Together square for our second blanket and we thought it would be more special if they matched. Lovely bookbook had used wool from stash. Then we found it was a discontinued one! As in from years ago. Thank you to some super sleuthing we found THE yarn in THE colour!

🎉

So thank you again lovely donors of funds! This will be on the way to lovely @bookbook Flowers

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
EdithStourton · 24/07/2025 10:26

Thank you so much @KnottyAndPistey for organising this so that we could all be a part of it - it lets us offer comfort to Swash and DrSwash in a more tanglible way than just words over the ether.

bookbook · 24/07/2025 10:28

KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 10:17

As we know lovely @bookbook is repeating the special In it Together square for our second blanket and we thought it would be more special if they matched. Lovely bookbook had used wool from stash. Then we found it was a discontinued one! As in from years ago. Thank you to some super sleuthing we found THE yarn in THE colour!

🎉

So thank you again lovely donors of funds! This will be on the way to lovely @bookbook Flowers

The knitting needles are at the ready 😊, so glad I am able to do this for Swash and Dr Swash x

Bearfrills · 24/07/2025 13:24

Ah I'm so glad they've arrived safely!

JamieFrasersSassenach · 24/07/2025 13:47

I can’t believe mine haven’t arrived yet - I’m getting worried that I sent them to the wrong address - you haven’t moved in the last year have you @KnottyAndPistey?

KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 13:50

Teddington address, no not moved. do you have photo Jamie - it is v unlikely I did this but I can check all my photos to see if I did photo and not upload

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 13:50

or just describe - numbers style colours

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 14:48

@JamieFrasersSassenach I’ve been through all my photos in this time frame and this isn’t what has happened. It was a long shot. So sorry

OP posts:
JamieFrasersSassenach · 24/07/2025 14:49

Everything crossed for tomorrow then 🤞🤞🤞

JamieFrasersSassenach · 24/07/2025 14:52

@KnottyAndPistey - they are 5 squares, 2 plain, one cream and one moss green, then 3 granny squares each a mix of navy, moss and cream

KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 14:53

I’m going to go through the bag of squares now. Just in case. I’ve kept everyone’s squares separate. So fingers crossed I somehow packed them away

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 15:23

Not there either. Let’s hope they have just been taking the scenic route. So sorry for this Jamie

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 17:10

Our joining yarn is here. For both. Another huge thanks to the lovely donors of funds. It’s always a big expense at the end of the project so we try to tuck funds away. And we were able to. So grateful to you all. Thank you!

Flowers
Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 24/07/2025 17:11

The colours!

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
Boiledbeetle · 24/07/2025 18:11

I see Maud has had another busy day helping. Bless her she's shattered.

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is not accepting new messages.