Knit a Knocker : the project details.

The breastfeeding and expressing support team at the Brompton asked the Octavia Appeal, who in turn came to us to help them by obtaining a few pairs of knitted breasts.  Babies born with heart conditions often find breastfeeding more difficult as they do not have the energy required for it and, with many newborn babies being transferred to the Brompton, it is vital they are able to support mothers with this. They have decided knitted breasts are the way forward to help them teach hand expressing techniques, positioning and attachments skills to new mums and to new staff.

Christmas Crafts for Yorkhill 2012

When we offered to make some Little Hugs for Yorkhill Hospital, we also talked to them about their Christmas Fundraiser. 

As part of our support, we offered to help by making some little things that could be sold on a craft stall to help raise funds for the hospital.

So here we are, asking you if you could help in anyway.
If you could make one small thing, we would be so grateful.

We have an idea of the types of things that have been popular in the past and have a few idea of our own such as:

1. Little hats
2. Little cardis
3. Christmas Decorations
4. Little bags and purses
5. Christmas stockings
6. Bunting
7. Knitted or crocheted softies
8. Brooches
9. Cotton washcloths
10. Napkins
11. Coasters
12. Stocking fillers

Although it is a Christmas event, the goodies needn’t necessarily be Christmassy.Any other suggestions are welcomed with open arms. If you have any patterns or links that would help to inspire others we’d be grateful for those too.

We have a Last Posting date of 17th November 2012 so that we can ensure that all the goodies arrive in time for the Christmas event.

As always, thank you so much for your support.

As 2016 comes towards its close, we’d like to thank all for their brilliant support this year, for every stitch, every penny, every moment, every word, every resource, every Post office queue, everything! Your love and compassion seem boundless, never failing to amaze us with your generosity and spirit. We ask so much, but everywhere we look, Woolly Hug folk are being utterly marvellous. We seem to say this every year now, but it has been an extraordinary year. We easily get overwhelmed looking at the whole Woolly picture, it is an awful lot to take in!

Donors and crafters alike, what you do means so much to our families, our coming together for our Woolly Hug blanket making is very special indeed. Thanks to you too, our ongoing projects are stronger than ever. From here in the UK to as far away as Kurdistan, Lesbos, Syria, Malawi, Belarus, Ghana and the Philippines, children and their families are feeling love, warmth, support and comfort through our Billie’s Blankets, Little Hugs, Kinship Hugs, Christmas Hugs and Children of Chernobyl blankets. An astonishing 300+ blankets have been sent as part of our Refugee project this year alone, with about a quarter made using separate squares folk send, everyone contributing what they can (huge thanks here to our wonderful Construction Crew!) scarves, jumpers, cardis, mittens, bootees, and over 1700 hats have gone too, the quantity is truly humbling. So much love and woolly warmth going to folk who really need support, our thoughts are with all the families. Thinking too of all the families who have received our Angel Hugs in incredibly bleak and devastating times. Love in every stitch we say and it really is true.

We were completed chuffed to bits when in June we finally became a full charity, so thrilled that Woolly Hugs and the wonderful work everyone does for others was recognised. Was a very special day, and involved much joyful shrieking from us we’ll not deny 😀

And none of us stopped there, raising funds for other charities, recently Hope not Hate and The Alzheimer’s Society, just awesome, thank you.

All of this and JK Rowling’s retweet too.😃🎉👍

With your love and support we go on, we know we can’t help everyone, but together let’s help as many as we can, all info for all ongoing projects is on the website. There is even a section with tutorials for the complete novice if this is your resolution for the New Year! Our Chernobyl project 2017 is going to be bigger than ever, if you want to get a head start, crafting info is there too! And we have two brand new projects already lined up for early next year. No one can do any of this alone, we hope so much you will be with us. 2017 then, you ready? Let’s crack on!

Much love, heartfelt thanks and huge hugs from us xxxx

There cannot be a single soul who has not been shocked and horrified by the devastating attack and murder of MP Jo Cox. Truly awful, at times like this one struggles to find the words to make any sense, there just aren’t any. We feel desperately sorry for Jo’s children, husband, parents, family and friends, and are thinking of all who love and miss her.

In one of the most beautiful and courageous pieces written her husband Brendan has said she would have wished now for their children to be bathed in love, this really resonates with what we hope Woolly Hugs is all about. We have made two beautiful blankets for Jo’s children which will be delivered within the next week or so. Our original crafting page is here if you would like to see.

We wanted to do more and so decided to make a blanket for Auction in the run up to Christmas, and have chosen one of Jo’s charities to be our recipient. Brendan said it would have been Jo’s wish that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her, so we have chosen the charity called Hope not Hate.  It seems right.

The response to this project has been overwhelming, and all in such a positive outpouring of love way, truly humbling. We have made these two wonderful blankets for Auction, and others which will go to other families going through incredibly difficult and challenging times both in the UK and in Kuristan. We think she would have approved.  Thank you so much everyone again for all the wonderful squares, and to lovely Sally W for the beautiful Vintage blanket construction and Jo E for the Traditional blanket construction. Everyone is just wonderful. x

Our Auction starts on Saturday 3rd December at 9am and finishes on Saturday 10th December at 9pm.  All money raised will go to Hope not Hate. Woolly Hugs will donate the postage costs. We really hope that we can raise a lot of money for such an amazing charity, much needed in these times. We are on Facebook as Woolly Hugs and Twitter @Woolly_Hugs which are both good ways to keep in touch. As always heartfelt thanks for your support.

  “She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now, one that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her.”

The Auction site is here with many more pics, good luck and thank you – we hope we raise a lot of money!