Two festivals this summer, because one is never enough! Firstly we are back to Carry on Crafting between July 12 – 13th.This is held at the South of England Showground, Ardingley.

And secondly, Woolly Hugs is headlining alongside Tom Jones (in our hearts) at Camp Bestival between July 31st – August 3rd. Well we are ACTUALLY having a charity stall! 

Please come and find us at either event if you are attending!

At Carry on Crafting we plan to run Hugathon type workshop sessions throughout the weekend, focusing on our Snug project,  getting folk to make 6 inch squares.  We will be providing yarn. There is no booking needed for this, it will be a drop in activity.  It worked brilliantly last year. Hopefully it will be busy and great fun again. We will again be accepting ££ donations and spreading the woolly word. As last year (and nearer the time) we will make a blanket to raffle. This was extremely popular and a great fundraiser.

At Camp Bestival we will be again spreading the woolly word and running drop in pompom making sessions for families for a ££ donation.

As well as spreading the woolly message and rallying more crafters to our ranks at both festivals, are looking to have a few craft items to sell. This is where BESTIES and KEYRINGS come in!

How to help by making…

Overwhelmingly at Carry on Crafting it is an adult crowd buying any items, and at Camp Bestival it is 99% children. This is just something to consider.

1. We are looking for small handheld 3D pocket friends. Sewn, knitted, crocheted. Cute or quirky. Kids LOVED the animals. These sold incredibly well in previous years, and with your love and support they will again. Because of the age range particularly at Camp Bestival, no buttons, sequins etc, ie nothing which can be a choking risk. Safety eyes or embroidered eyes only.
2. And secondly we are looking for key rings/ bag tags, these could come with a Bestie attached or something else, we have had some many in previous craft sales so we suggest looking back there for ideas.

Have included Ali’s pattern from 2022 should folk wish to use it as a base for their Bestie. Scroll down..

Have a look at this Pinterest board for ideas..

How to help us by purchasing resources.

The children loved making pompoms last year, parents donated for these craft workshops, and it was a fabulous opportunity to chat about the work Woolly Hugs does. The number of crafters was pretty limited by the number of kits we had. So if anyone would like to buy us a set or two, thank you so so much, have a look here (at scissors and pompom makers) Our Amazon Wish List

Last posting for Camp Bestival is 1st July, to Teddington, please write BESTIES on the outside!

Photos from previous years…

This is the pattern from 2022 if anyone wishes to use as a base…

One for the Crochet crew. This is the base as devised by lovely Ali Oxford. Suggestions for personalising are as below. Safety eyes only please, or embroidered. Besties can be made in any yarn and colour. You can use plain or variegated yarn. Personalise your Bestie with accessories – spots, spikes, hats, wings, hair, etc. Please ensure that all accessories are securely attached, we will be testing before putting out for sale!

Accessory Ideas

Please do not post until we are back after our Summer break. Last posting please November 22nd 2025!

This is a wonderful project we have worked on for the last couple of years.

Care Leavers Christmas Dinners were originally set up by the poet Lemn Sissay to help communities provide a Christmas Day for young care leavers (of foster and care homes) aged 18-25, who often spend the day alone.  It aims to be a magical day to be cherished and remembered by those who attend, with care leavers being able to gather together for food, pressies, company and fun on the 25th.. Please see the link which gives more detail regarding The Dinner: http://thechristmasdinners.org.uk/

One of their organisers, Katie coordinates knitters to gift hand knitted hats and scarves to include with the presents given to the care leavers. The Care Leavers project collected around 200 hand knitted and donated hat and scarf sets last year to gift to care leavers in Leeds and Bradford and two Christmas Dinner groups in London.

The aim this year is to gift hat and scarf sets to as many Christmas Dinner groups across the UK as possible.

Here is where we come in….

If you would like to be involved with the project and knit a hat and scarf gift set for the care leavers attending the 2025 Christmas Dinners in the UK, READ ON YOU LOVELY PERSON!

The crafting info is specific and precise, so if you are keen, make sure you are meeting their criteria! This is not our own project so we have to fit in!

We will need folk to commit to a hand AND scarf set

Crafting Info

• The chosen patterns (Wheat Scarf and Barley Hat) can be downloaded for free from the Tin Can Knits website (see link below). If any knitters prefer to knit flat rather than in the round the alternative hat pattern we ask them to use is the Basic Family Knit Hat pattern which can be downloaded for free from the Yarnspirations website (see link below).
• We ask that the hat is made WITHOUT the pompom.
• We ask that the yarn used is machine washable, aran weight  in solid, gender and cheery neutral colours. Thinking about this we’d suggest reds, oranges, blues, greens, plums, purples, greys, black?
• Adult size please.
• Add a Christmas label sending Christmas wishes and letting the recipient know how best to care for their gift.

Unfortunately hookers will have to sit this one out as there is no given crochet alternative. Or maybe this is the time to learn to knit??

These patterns all use aran/worsted weight yarn and are free:

– The Barley hat and Wheat scarf, which can be found within the Simple Collection 

https://tincanknits.com/book/the-simple-collection

– Boyfriend Cashmere Scarf, which can be downloaded from the following website: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boyfriend-scarf-8. If you’re unable to use Ravelry, please let me know and I can email you the pdf of the pattern.

– The Basic Family Knit Hat (knit flat and seamed) https://www.yarnspirations.com/en-row/products/caron-basic-family-knit-hat . We ask that you make the hat without the pom pom. 

– The Classic Cuffed Hat https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/10/22/classic-cuffed-hat/. Again, please make the hat without the pom pom.

– No-purl ribbed scarf from the Purl Soho website https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/09/12/no-purl-ribbed-scarf/

– Seedbed scarf: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2018/10/02/seedbed-scarf/

– Christian’s scarf  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christians-scarf

– Heartwarming Scarf: https://www.yarnspirations.com/products/red-heart-heartwarming-knit-scarf

– Mixed rib hat: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2024/03/02/mixed-rib-hat/

– Lovely ribbed hat: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2020/02/28/lovely-ribbed-hat-in-linen-quill-worsted/ If knitting this it is likely best to knit the adult small as the pattern sounds like it uses fine Aran (worsted yarn).

– Fit ribbed hat pattern (knit flat and seamed): https://www.yarnspirations.com/products/red-heart-easy-fit-ribbed-hat

– Wide rib hat – https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2021/03/12/wide-rib-hat-hand-warmers/?srsltid=AfmBOorsqgVRShFhVrxaFOqBCWrJcWaqDhh8jiaM8XqLONYkXkiebPaI

In addition, and these CAN be crocheted…

They would also greatly accept any woolly garments for children and babies, as young care leavers attending the dinner sometimes have children of their own. Some hat patterns include sizes for babies and children, but any pattern can be used be it hats, garments, booties, etc. Any colour of yarn can be used for children and babies knits.

Please remember you are making a wonderfful Christmas gift so do take time to write a gift tag, wish them a Merry Christmas, and tie up the set together. No need to wrap, the young people get to choose a colour they would like.

Posting will be Teddington. 

Thank you SO MUCH!!