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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
KnottyAndPistey · 15/06/2025 17:59

LoseLooseLucy · 15/06/2025 16:53

You’re all so lovely and talented.
I think my comment last week was overlooked, but the offer still stands.

Oh my! I am SO SORRY. Yes please. Will message now.

OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 15/06/2025 18:02

MyrtleLion · 15/06/2025 17:04

My first square.

I'm not sure it's good enough to send in. A couple of dropped stitches at the beginning but it improved as I went along.

I don't know if it's big enough. I cast on 33 stitches and it looks 5" wide. I don't know how many rows I've knitted, but each row of double bumps counts 26. Is that 52 rows or 26 rows? And it's 4.5" long.

Happy to call a practice square - wool only arrived yesterday. Any tips on how to keep the tension in the last stitch of the row? It always seems loose.

You are doing an amazing job! Maybe you need a cast on of say 35. Knit a few rows, measure and see how wide that is. Just under 6 inches is better than over for joining as they gently stretch to size.

OP posts:
MyrtleLion · 15/06/2025 18:05

KnottyAndPistey · 15/06/2025 18:02

You are doing an amazing job! Maybe you need a cast on of say 35. Knit a few rows, measure and see how wide that is. Just under 6 inches is better than over for joining as they gently stretch to size.

Thank you! I'll start another one tomorrow and see where I get.

KnottyAndPistey · 15/06/2025 18:10

@Fairyfellowsmasterstroke was this the Yarnsmiths?

OP posts:
Fairyfellowsmasterstroke · 15/06/2025 18:32

KnottyAndPistey · 15/06/2025 18:10

@Fairyfellowsmasterstroke was this the Yarnsmiths?

Hi Knotty,

I’ve never used Yarnsmiths so I’m not sure what it’s like to work with.

All my squares are made in Drops Merino Extra Fine Mix.

It crochets up beautifully.

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
KnottyAndPistey · 15/06/2025 18:39

Striped scarf in progress. I’m doing it double width as I’m going to join it so the edge where I’m carrying the colour up the side will be out of view and inside. So it’ll be half this wide. Just need to think how long I need it to be. Also. Fringing? How would I do that?

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
OP posts:
KnottyAndPistey · 15/06/2025 18:40

Fairyfellowsmasterstroke · 15/06/2025 18:32

Hi Knotty,

I’ve never used Yarnsmiths so I’m not sure what it’s like to work with.

All my squares are made in Drops Merino Extra Fine Mix.

It crochets up beautifully.

Yes. Love it. My red and white are drops.

OP posts:
MercyChant66 · 15/06/2025 19:41

KnottyAndPistey · 15/06/2025 09:32

I’m in love with the Yarnsmiths grass green. Going to be using it as a background square to my football scarf.

DD and I have come for a few days to Ibiza. I do stress the beautiful quiet part, not the foam party part!

And this was the start of the crochet scarf. It would possibly be big enough for a bluestocking gerbil. But this one is for Swash 🤗

Love the north of the island - it’s only a tiny bit that’s club oriented. Also love a bit of plane crafting but always worried that they’ll confiscate my hook/ needles! Loving seeing everyone’s work - it’s starting to take shape already.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 15/06/2025 20:31

@KnottyAndPistey Fringing - you could cut a length of yarn, fold it in half, pull the loopy end through a stitch at the end of the scarf (from the front to the back), put the 2 loose ends through the loop & pull to secure it.

Repeat in each stitch across the end of the scarf - or only the ones which will show when it's been joined lengthwise?

Sunshineandrainbow · 15/06/2025 21:26

Fairyfellowsmasterstroke · 15/06/2025 16:00

Good Afternoon All ☕.

I've taken inspiration from Swashbuckled son's name and nickname and created these squares so that his name is incorporated into part of the woolly hug.

I had a bit of spare yarn so added a matching heart shape along with some random stripes (I thought they'd fill a space between other more interesting squares!).

These will be posted in the week with a massive virtual hug for Swashbuckled 💙💛💙

Wow those are AMAZING and completed so quickly.

What stitch creates the bobble?

Fairyfellowsmasterstroke · 16/06/2025 06:06

@Sunshineandrainbow

The Bobble Stitch is an easy stitch which I learnt from watching YouTube videos (Bella Coco does some great tutorials which take you through the process, step by step).

Whenever I’m invited to participate in a Woolly Hug project I like to create bobble squares with names, initials or images on, it’s a very therapeutic stitch to work with.

WhiteWidowWithAttitude · 16/06/2025 06:18

I would like to contribute, but I can’t knit or crochet, and I’m not in the UK, so I can’t buy and send yarn, it would take too long. Is there a “wooly hugs” account that I could donate a small amount to? ❤️

Blondeshavemorefun · 16/06/2025 09:24

WhiteWidowWithAttitude · 16/06/2025 06:18

I would like to contribute, but I can’t knit or crochet, and I’m not in the UK, so I can’t buy and send yarn, it would take too long. Is there a “wooly hugs” account that I could donate a small amount to? ❤️

I always send via PayPal to woolly hugs. Make sure do f&f

KnottyAndPistey · 16/06/2025 11:26

Thanks B

@WhiteWidowWithAttitude - thank you so much. Have sent you the details.

OP posts:
MadisonAvenue · 16/06/2025 13:40

Must say that this is my first time using Yarnsmiths and I love it!

WhiteWidowWithAttitude · 16/06/2025 14:02

KnottyAndPistey · 16/06/2025 11:26

Thanks B

@WhiteWidowWithAttitude - thank you so much. Have sent you the details.

Just replied xx

IoWfairy · 16/06/2025 15:56

I’m dropping these into the post tomorrow. I’ve got a pile of work coming up so I’m pleased these are done. Now I’ll be cheering the blanket creators from the sidelines.
As promised, a dartboard. Also a bear, a football colour rosette (possibly inspired by the Tunnocks tea cake design!) and a blue heart to finish off the yarn.
There is love in every stitch - but I’m afraid that I may have accidentally caught a couple of expletives in the dartboard too 🤬 - apologies!

With love to Swashbuckled, I am so very sorry for your loss 💔

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
ifIwerenotanandroid · 16/06/2025 16:49

Those are gorgeous - especially the dartboard!

ElizaBlack · 16/06/2025 17:25

@IoWfairy , those are all lovely, and so personal to Swashy’s Ted.

MyrtleLion · 16/06/2025 18:39

My first proper square It was going perfectly then I dropped a stitch and screwed up the fix so I don’t know if it’s good enough.

My DM gave me a tip to slip the first stitch and back knit the last one so I was feeling very proud of myself.

I may have enough wool to knit another square in this colour, then I will try Caribbean Sea.

Woolly Hugs. Desperately sad news we are afraid. Making a Blanket for lovely Swashbuckled whose son has tragically died.
inkymoose · 16/06/2025 19:43

Hello Woolly Huggers, is there a guide as to how many stitches to cast on and how many rows to get the right size square?
My wool is here and I'm looking at it fondly

inkymoose · 16/06/2025 20:23

Have googled the information. My brain is not fully functioning at the moment!

😳

MyrtleLion · 16/06/2025 21:08

MyrtleLion · 16/06/2025 18:39

My first proper square It was going perfectly then I dropped a stitch and screwed up the fix so I don’t know if it’s good enough.

My DM gave me a tip to slip the first stitch and back knit the last one so I was feeling very proud of myself.

I may have enough wool to knit another square in this colour, then I will try Caribbean Sea.

Well, I managed around 15 rows then dropped a stitch and it went to hell.

I'm probably tired. I've unravelled it all and will try again tomorrow.

bookbook · 16/06/2025 21:53

inkymoose · 16/06/2025 19:43

Hello Woolly Huggers, is there a guide as to how many stitches to cast on and how many rows to get the right size square?
My wool is here and I'm looking at it fondly

It depends on your tension - I personally cast on 31 , but anything between 30-34 usually sorts it - good luck !
To get the right size square , the easiest way is to knit until you can make a triangle - so take the bottom corner of your square , fold it up so the side lays along the needle . It will be square if the corner reaches the start of your knitting . Does that make sense ?

inkymoose · 16/06/2025 22:39

bookbook · 16/06/2025 21:53

It depends on your tension - I personally cast on 31 , but anything between 30-34 usually sorts it - good luck !
To get the right size square , the easiest way is to knit until you can make a triangle - so take the bottom corner of your square , fold it up so the side lays along the needle . It will be square if the corner reaches the start of your knitting . Does that make sense ?

Yes, that's very helpful, thank you @bookbook 😊

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