If you'd like to knit, sew or crochet for charity, come and join us at Woolly Hugs. All levels of experience and ability are welcome here.

Chornobyl 2027 is here!

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Before we start again for this year, we must thank the wonderful Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline.  Making the blankets is a big team effort for us (and we are truly grateful, thank you) but then transporting them by road to the Ukrainian border area of Poland and then into Ukraine itself is also a huge enterprise. We do obviously pay a £££ contribution for this, but the delivery job itself is not to be underestimated. Especially the dangers of driving in Ukraine. These folk are amazing and so generous in spirit. The CCLL continue to be astonishing in their efforts to support families. Even those who managed to flee have incredible stuggles as funding ceases and finding accommodation or meeting basic needs are a challenge. The situation is tougher than last year, bleaker, colder.

We are eternally grateful because without them, our project would not exist. Thank you CCLL! Also do check out our Christmas 2025 blog.

We are delighted to have been invited back to Poland at Christmas time to help deliver the 2026 collection, it truly was a very precious time in previous years. Meeting the children and their teachers, hearing the resilience, watching their joy and having time just to be safe and warm. Seeing their utter joy at the blankets! We are also taking any remaining Besties again from the summer.Thank you again to the CCLL for having us back. This year we are going to be running another crafting workshop. We will be asking for help when we know exactly what we need.Thank you in advance!

How to Help for 2027

Squares. We need twelve inch squares in the Stylecraft Special DK palette as in photo,  if 12 is too much, 6 inch squares are fine too, just this yarn in these colours please, inc for embellishments so the blankets come together and are consistent for wash and wear. Knit and crochet equally welcome, beginner or expert, as simple or complex as you like, single colour, multi colour. Design of square up to you, but not too lacy, they need to be hardy. Please use a 4mm hook or needles. If sizing is a challenge with your pattern/tension, we prefer them just under sized rather than over!

There is the text list of colours at the bottom….

SO IMPORTANT! Please ensure you knot off every end/colour change very very securely, leave approx a 6 inch tail end and use a needle to sew in. These blankets have to be super sturdy as there is no way back to fix them if squares collapse. If we have doubt over a square’s integrity strength wise, it can’t go in.

Whole blankets We know some crafters love to make their own whole blankets and this is wonderful, we are truly grateful, thank you. Please still use our SSDK palette. Finished blanket size is still 48inches by 60 inches.

Size matters! Chernob blankets MUST be 48 inches by 60 inches. If a blanket arrives and it is too small it will be redirected to Little Hugs. Equally please don’t go much over size, if it comes to taking two blankets of the right size vs one kingsize, we will take two, because that is two children supported, rather then one.  Again thank you for your support on this, size really is important.

LAST POSTING FOR SQUARES  IS MARCH 1st 2027!

LAST POSTING FOR WHOLE BLANKETS IS JUNE 5th 2027

PLEASE DO NOT POST FOR THIS PROJECT UNTIL JANUARY 2026 AS THERE IS NO STORAGE SPACE UNTIL SNUGS/CWTCHES LEAVE!

Donating funds As always we like to be inclusive and would love to send yarn to folks who otherwise would not be able to craft. In addition, we already know there will be the high cost of transporting them to the children again and would be incredibly grateful to anyone who would like to donate funds for this project.

Our Paypal is admin@woollyhugs.com

Bank transfer

• We are a Cooperative account in the name of Woolly Hugs
• Account number: 65579631
• Sort code: 089299

Please do inc your name so we can thank you properly.

  1. Apple
  2. Aspen
  3. Aster
  4. Bluebell
  5. Boysenberry
  6. Candy Floss
  7. Citron
  8. Claret
  9. Cloud blue
  10. Cornish blue
  11. Denim
  12. Duck egg
  13. Fondant
  14. Fuchsia purple
  15. Grass green
  16. Kelly Green
  17. Lapis
  18. Lavender
  19. Lipstick
  20. Lobelia
  21. Magenta
  22. Meadow
  23. Parchment
  24. Petrol
  25. Pistachio
  26. Plum
  27. Pomegranate
  28. Proper purple
  29. Saffron
  30. Sage
  31. Sherbet
  32. Spearmint
  33. Spice
  34. Storm blue
  35. Tomato
  36. Turquoise
  37. Violet
Posted with permission. A story from Korosten School No12 (NW of Kyiv) sent by Iryna, one of the teachers who comes with the children to Lublin just before Christmas. We’ve met her every year. She’s an astonishing teacher and the main organiser from the Ukrainian side. Due to ongoing drone attacks some of their lessons are conducted online. At her English class she asked her students to choose any personal item which they associated with safety, comfort and a warm feeling. Mark, one of the boys who came to Lublin two years ago, presented his “best buddy from WH” straight away. 
Struggling for words. That adorable hedgehog (Vivienne R) is helping him return to happy memories in dark moments. And while this is from one teen, we know it will represent others, through the trips the CCLL work hard to achieve, on which we are so happy we can support in our way, through your blankets, the Besties. 


So let’s keep on. Together let’s help as many Marks as we can. 


Thank you everyone who helps this project in any way.

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