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

[KnottyAndPistey]

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.

@KnottyAndPistey - I've DMed you. Thank you!

Another erstwhile regular at the Bluestocking. Been away a lot recently IRL, so haven't called in much of late, and I'm going away again shortly.

But I used to knit and I will give knitting a square my full attention when I get back. Plain I'm afraid, if plain ones are still needed.

I’ve only just seen the message but would love to help. Could I have some yarn though please?

Such horribly sad news, my thoughts are with Swashbuckled and the family.

Thank you lovely xx. Have PM you 😘

@Chersfrozenface , we don’t call them plain - no such thing on a woolly hug.
However, simple squares made with love are essential to the whole blanket. Xx

@MadisonAvenue , message us with your address, my lovely x

I'm intrigued to know how you sort all the squares out and go from a random jumble of squares arriving in the post to a fully formed blanket.

I can't even imagine how fried my brain would get trying to bring them all together.

Having looked at the website of previous blankets i am totally in awe of the abilities of the women who not only do the knitting but do the sorting into a cohesive thing bit!

Square one is well underway in “country green” - thank you for the wool warehouse recommendation, excellent service from them.
Could you PM the address to send to once done? I should have 4 or 6 squares to send you

Are you psychic? The square under her left hand is exactly what I'm making today. Hope it will look that good!

I assemble blankets so can give you a little insight. First you look through the squares and then pick out some key ones, the corners, and then fill in the gaps, laying them out on the floor. Then you look at them for about 24 hours, swapping them around until you’re happy. Then it’s just a case of joining each row and column until you have a completely assembled blanket. Then work the boarder, and finally see in your ends.

It’s an honour to do so.

Thank you, just sent it to you

Thank you. ❤

Good morning folk. Early start today, not around again until later on this evening, but do post questions and do PM for help. THANK YOU

I do much the same when laying out a blanket, I start by sorting squares by colour, then start with the central panel, there may an initial square or similar to have in the middle , then I work outwards, I prefer crochet squares on the border, but def for the corners.

Then I photograph the layout - because sometimes things stand out more on a pic.

Then I move the squares around

and around

and around

bit more around

and a bit more

Then I usually end up more or less where I started :)

Then I put the squares into numbered bags for each row

Then I hook them together right to left going horizontally - all the rows then all the columns and border.

And its going to be my privilege and honour to join this beauty for Swash xx

We do have some more lovely donors thank - you are truly amazing, thank you

R funds safely here, thank you

M - also safely here, thank you

and lovely @Igmum thank you so much

You all rock, thank you!

Lovely woolly wool has arrived! A huge thank you to those who donate funds x

I've only just seen this, sorry to come in late. But I will check my stash and create something-

Thinking of all the family

I have some drops merino and will crochet some plain squares. I’m assuming that the address has not changed @KnottyAndPistey?

@FluffandBuzz great to have you on board. Thank you.

Still here in Teddington.

I actually just had one that looked like that too.

Thank you, woolly treasure has arrived safely

I have ordered some wool. I'd like to do something wavy or redolent of the sea, sky and the river.
Maybe the wool will arrive by Monday when I'll be at home ready to search for the right size knitting needles... meanwhile, lovely magical daydreams ensue

Morning team

Ok, so technically afternoon !

Quick question please: I tend to be quite a loose knitter and usually go down a size or two for projects where size and tension matters. Would you prefer looser knit/fewer stitches and rows but on 4mm needles or tighter (but not tight) knit/normal number of stitches and rows on 3.5mm needles? I've started with the latter but thought I ought to check before I go too far and have to frog back masses.

Edited to add, I am measuring and it will be 6 inches square whatever I do.

I’d suggest going down to 3.5mm. Think that will fit better with those from other people.