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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. 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
Boiledbeetle · 31/08/2025 10:59

MyrtleLion · 31/08/2025 10:55

Furntus Polest!

Furnotur Polisa!

😆😂😅🤣

She's been buying the knock off stuff from Tina at No 46.

IoWfairy · 31/08/2025 17:24

I ❤️ Maud

KnottyAndPistey · 01/09/2025 08:22

Well. If they’ve had a party you’d never know! Place is gleaming. Maud has the kettle on, so line up your mugs!

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 01/09/2025 08:23

Boiledbeetle · 26/08/2025 20:29

Maud's doing an excellent job of looking after the cats, who have managed to persuade her that cat treats are given out at a rate of one packet per cat every hour!

They are quite rotund now 😃

OP posts:
MyrtleLion · 01/09/2025 10:30

Welcome home.

Boiledbeetle · 01/09/2025 11:13

KnottyAndPistey · 01/09/2025 08:23

They are quite rotund now 😃

Aren't they just.

I see Maud is happy to see you.

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
KnottyAndPistey · 01/09/2025 11:20

Fawley only fits in her chair like this now. What a lil chonk.

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
Boiledbeetle · 01/09/2025 11:48

KnottyAndPistey · 01/09/2025 11:20

Fawley only fits in her chair like this now. What a lil chonk.

It's getting quite a squeeze when Maud joins her

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
KnottyAndPistey · 01/09/2025 17:59

Oh my. Look at them ❤️❤️

OP posts:
MyrtleLion · 01/09/2025 18:00

KnottyAndPistey · 01/09/2025 17:59

Oh my. Look at them ❤️❤️

It’s Maud’s half closed eye that makes it. ❤️

KnottyAndPistey · 01/09/2025 18:00

Back on our second blanket today

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
Boiledbeetle · 02/09/2025 15:59

It's Maud's turn to wear the Sparticus costume today!

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
AlexandraLeaving · 02/09/2025 17:29

Boiledbeetle · 02/09/2025 15:59

It's Maud's turn to wear the Sparticus costume today!

That cat looks a lot less impressed with developments than Maud does...

Boiledbeetle · 02/09/2025 18:06

AlexandraLeaving · 02/09/2025 17:29

That cat looks a lot less impressed with developments than Maud does...

Fawley was just focusing on the end goal.

One does not do gerbil rides for free.

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
ifIwerenotanandroid · 02/09/2025 18:08

Fawley is contempating the choice of Cheese, Cheese or Cheese. Tricky.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 02/09/2025 18:09

Are all the cats named after oil refineries? It's a bit niche, but that's good.

Magpiecomplex · 02/09/2025 18:18

ifIwerenotanandroid · 02/09/2025 18:09

Are all the cats named after oil refineries? It's a bit niche, but that's good.

Beats yet another Fluffy!

KnottyAndPistey · 03/09/2025 09:34

Fawley would have them all! Her full name is The Time to Fawley. And it’s a rowing reference! I have heard since about the oil. But she’s a London cat. So far away 😃

OP posts:
Baital · 03/09/2025 09:42

I am sorry, after having someone kind donate the yarn, that I have gad a bit of a crisis (nowhere near what Swash is going through) so haven't contributed to the blanket 😥

I am very sorry, and so glad to see what other people have made.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 03/09/2025 12:16

Please don’t worry, @Baital - life does get in the way sometimes. I hope things are going better now.

Boiledbeetle · 03/09/2025 13:29

KnottyAndPistey · 03/09/2025 09:34

Fawley would have them all! Her full name is The Time to Fawley. And it’s a rowing reference! I have heard since about the oil. But she’s a London cat. So far away 😃

I believe Fawley actually negotiated a price of one packet for every 10 minutes galloping around the garden and Maud booked her 30 minutes.

So no tea for Fawley today!

KnottyAndPistey · 03/09/2025 19:23

Sparko. The pea is a family joke. All those soft blankets. She’s a princess.

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 03/09/2025 19:24

I’m onto verticals now. And today the 12 inch cushion pad arrived. Making good progress. ❤️

OP posts:
Boiledbeetle · 03/09/2025 19:32

KnottyAndPistey · 03/09/2025 19:24

I’m onto verticals now. And today the 12 inch cushion pad arrived. Making good progress. ❤️

I see Maud is back to being useful after her day of annoying the cat!

You have very clean crochet hooks.

And she's had the carpet relaid!

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
ifIwerenotanandroid · 03/09/2025 19:35

KnottyAndPistey · 03/09/2025 19:23

Sparko. The pea is a family joke. All those soft blankets. She’s a princess.

I had one like that. She had an actual duvet folded over & over, on a sofa, & that was deemed acceptable. She was a tiny cat, & ruled the house with a sigh.

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