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.

Category: Past Projects

  • December 2017. Billie’s Butterfly Blankets for a London Children’s Hospice

    December 2017. Billie’s Butterfly Blankets for a London Children’s Hospice

    December 14th. Our four beautiful Billie’s Butterfly blankets are now with the wonderful staff at the children’s hospice in London. It was such a privilege to be able to deliver them this morning. Thank you so much to everyone who helped in anyway. The blankets truly have love and compassion in every stitch and are ready in place now for their post bereavement room, together we will be helping families in the bleakest darkest times feel loved and looked after.  Really thank you doesn’t come close.

     

    We have left the crafting info from this project at the bottom of the page, if anyone is keen to revisit it, but here are the photos of all four blankets. The most enormous thanks particularly to Wendy, Kim and Mhairi for their wonderful construction skills. xxx

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Our original crafting info….

     

     

    This is a very special project to help support bereaved families at a London children’s hospice. We have been approached by lovely MrsDV who works here asking if we can make special blankets for the bed in their Butterfly Suite (post bereavement room) so these will be used to to dress the bed with. We are so glad she did. At an intensely bleak and dark time there is still something very positive and personal that together we can do for the child and their family.

    Our blankets are always handmade with love and compassion and so are perfect. We can help care for the whole family at this time by covering the child in bed so they look comfortable and cosy whilst sending love and a hug to their bereaved parents. Loved and looked after.

    The hospice would like to have these blankets in hand for time to come so that they can be ready.

    We need your help to achieve this for them, we always say love in every stitch and it will be true again this time, thank you so much if you feel you can help. Our aim is to make four single bed sized blankets, two suitable for younger children and two for older. The hospice have asked for soft colours and with a butterfly theme

    If you’d like to donate funds to help us achieve this, please message us, or if you need resources to take part then do let us know. We don’t want anyone unable to take part due to cost.

     

    Crafting info

    We will be using Stylecraft Special DK as blankets will need to be very practical, six inch squares made using 4mm hook or needles. Knit or crochet equally welcome.

    The colours…

    Duck egg, grape, sage, storm, parchment, pale rose, raspberry, cloud blue, sherbert.

    NB – Just these please, no blocking of squares and please knot off sturdily when changing colours or finishing, leave a good end and use a needle to sew in the peskies.

     

    Simple squares are very welcome, but if looking for an idea for theme, these are their suggestions…

    • Butterflies/Hearts
    • Teddies, cars, toys, cats etc
    • Stars, leaves, feathers etc

     

     

     

    Last posting please to be Saturday 14th October.

    Thank you doesn’t seem enough, but the most enormous thank you. xxx

     

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  • 2017 Woolly knockers for community breastfeeding support in Portsmouth

    2017 Woolly knockers for community breastfeeding support in Portsmouth

    This is a project to help community nurses who are on the hunt for more of these valuable props to enhance their breastfeeding support sessions. With so many babies born every year, they really do get through a lot!  Breastfeeding is not always easy, and the woolly knockers are fabulous to help with latching, feeding, positioning and expressing demonstrations, and are such a useful tool for both new mums and staff. Some of you will remember we ran very successful similar projects for the Brompton and Portsmouth a few years ago. Heading photo on this page from back in 2015. All the money in the world cannot buy this product so it’s a labour of love for the team. Thank you
    “It doesn’t matter about the colour, shape or size, we are really thankful to everyone who knits and makes donations to us, and we would be very grateful to receive any more- the more the better!” 
    We’d love to be able to help them, will you join us?

    Crafting info…

    • The Knitting pattern is here, on the Breastfeeding Network…
    • A suggested crochet pattern is here on Ravelry….You find others, do share any with us, so we can pass the info on. Thank you.
    • We’re suggesting any DK wool that can be machine washed, it is a great stash buster, but we can send you yarn if you need, please just message us. x
    • If you are able to stuff them, please do, but we will also love to receive them flat, cheaper for you to post too, and stuff this end, if this option, please leave a long tail for finishing off.
    • Once your knocker is finished, please contact us we will give you all the details for posting, it will be the Woolly Hugs, South coast address.
    • Women come in all shapes and sizes, we really aren’t making a standard knocker here, differences are good! If you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
    We could do with more than a handful. 😀

     

    Last posting to be Saturday 1st July. 

    As ever, many thanks.
    Bless you… and your knockers.  xx

     

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  • Butterflies and hearts. A very special Yarn Bomb for Billie, April 2017

    Butterflies and hearts. A very special Yarn Bomb for Billie, April 2017

    It is Billie’s anniversary coming upon April 27th, and we have a plan with her mum to yarn bomb the bench her family have installed in her memory in their local park. We need lovely crafters to help us achieve this. Is this something you might be able to help us with? It would be wonderful if so, thank you!!!!! xxx

    This is Billie and our ongoing project in her name. 

     

    Crafting info

    • Stylecraft Special DK only please because if we are blessed with a lot we be attaching them to the next collections of Billie’s Blankets, and need to be confident in the yarn used.
    • 2D or 3D but not too hefty please, and around the 5cm – 8cm size mark.
    • Please leave ONE tail for attaching, please sew the other in!
    • Colours – All the pinky pinks, particularly fondant and fiesta. Aspen and Turquoise. Saffron and Sunshine and Shrimp
    • Last posting please April 18th to the Teddington address, please message if you need it. xx

     Some photos from the project..

     

    Some suggested heart and butterfly patterns, please share any others you may have, especially if anyone has a good knitted butterfly embellishment one!

     

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  • 2015 : Woolly Knockers for Portsmouth!

    2015 : Woolly Knockers for Portsmouth!

     

    This is a project to help the Breastfeeding Advisory team at Portsmouth Hospitals’ NHS Trust who are on the hunt for more of these valuable props to enhance their support sessions. With so many babies born every year, they really do get through a lot!  Breastfeeding is not always easy, and the woolly knockers are fabulous to help with latching, feeding, positioning and expressing demonstrations, and are such a useful tool for both new mums and staff.
    Some of you will remember we ran a very successful similar project for the Brompton a few years ago. Heading photo on this page from back then. All the money in the world cannot buy this product so it’s a labour of love for the team. Thank you [thanks]
    “It doesn’t matter about the colour, shape or size, we are really thankful to everyone who knits and makes donations to us, and we would be very grateful to receive any more- the more the better!”  Portsmouth
    We’d love to be able to help them, will you join us?
    The Knitting pattern given by Portsmouth is here, on the Breastfeeding Network… But it is very similar to the pattern courtesy of the Lactation Consultants of Great Britain we used before. That can still be found here on our website if you prefer.
    A suggested crochet pattern is here on Ravelry….You find others, do share any with us, so we can pass the info on. Thank you.
    We’re suggesting any DK wool that can be machine washed, and do have some of our Stylecraft winnings set aside for this, if you need it, please message us and we’ll get some sent to you.
    If you are able to stuff them, please do, but we will also love to receive them flat, cheaper for you to post too, and stuff this end, if this option, please leave a long tail for finishing off.
    Women come in all shapes and sizes, we really aren’t making a standard knocker here, differences are good! If you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
    Once your knocker is finished, please contact us we will give you all the details for posting.
    Last posting is to be October 31st 2015.
    We could do with more than a handful. 😀
    As ever, many thanks.
    Bless you… and your knockers.  xx
  • January 2013. Knit a Knocker for the Brompton’s Breastfeeding Support Team

    January 2013. Knit a Knocker for the Brompton’s Breastfeeding Support Team

    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.

    Can you help us?

    • Knitters : Thanks to Rubycon for testing out the knitting pattern. She says approx 50g plus a bit for the nipple.
    • Crocheters : See the lovely DillyTante’s blog here, for a crochet pattern, and great blog piece, thank you to her for the link.
    • No need to stuff, send your knockers to Pistey! She will stuff them and take them along to the Hospital. When ready for posting either email RatherBeOnThePiste  for details if on MN, or email us here at admin@woollyhugs.com.  Thank you

    All the money in the world cannot buy this product so it’s a labour of love for the team. Thank you Xx

    How to Contact Us

    If you need any more information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Once your knocker is finished, send us a message and we will give you all the details for posting. You can message us in a variety of ways…..

    • PM us on Mumsnet – (KnottyLocks or RatherBeOnThePiste)
    • Email us admin@woollyhugs.com
    • Send us a message on the MNWoollyHugs Facebook page.
    • Send us a message via Twitter MNWoollyHugs

    Pattern courtesy of the Lactation Consultants of Great Britain http://www.lcgb.org/ (Slightly amended from a pattern by Carolyn Westcott IBCLC)

    You will need

    • 1 50g Ball of flesh coloured double knitting wool – choose your flesh colour
    • 1 Some of darker colour double knitting wool
    • NB colours are not important – we are happy to have them in any colour you wish!
    • Pair of 3 1⁄4 mm / UK size 10 knitting needles

    Knocker Pattern

    • Cast on 71 stitches
    • * Work st st for 20 rows
    • 1st decrease 21st row: K1, *K2 tog, K5, rep from * to end 22nd and alternate rows: purl
    • 2nd decrease 23rd row: K1, *K2 tog, K4, rep from * to end
    • 3rd decrease K3
    • Continue to decrease in this way and after 3rd decrease change to darker wool to make the areola
    • 4th decrease K2
    • 5th decrease K1
    • Continue decreasing until K1, *K2 tog, from *to end has been worked.
    • Nipple: st st 4 rows (see below for amendments)
    • Break yarn, thread through rem stitches, draw up and fasten off.
    • Sew sides together
    • In darker wool on the wrong side of work, make a draw-string stitch around the base of the nipple, draw up and fasten off. Tightening of this stitch determines the prominence of the nipple.

    Experiment to get the type you want. It is good to have a variety of shapes and sizes, just as women do, (very flat, very small/large, inverted, etc), so they can see that all work!

    • To complete:

    Some find the crochet base easier to do, as the knitting in the base is tight with the rapid increasing necessary. However, for those who cannot crochet and would like to knit the base –

    • With size 8 needles cast on 71 sts
    • Row 1- 3 Knit 71 stitches
    • Row 4, K1 (K2 tog K5) to end (61 stitches)
    • Row 5 and alternate rows, purl
    • Row 6, K1 (K2 tog K4) to end (51 stitches)
    • Row 8, K1 (K2 tog K3) to end ( 41)
    • Row 10, K1 (K2 tog K2) to end (31)
    • Row 12, K1 (K2 tog K1) to end (21)
    • Row 14, K1 (K2 tog) to end (11)
    • Row 16, K1 (K2 tog) to end (6)
    • Rows 17 and 18, knit (6)
    • Break off yarn, thread yarn through sts, draw up and seam
    • Ta Da!
  • 2016. A Woolly Year in Review

    2016. A Woolly Year in Review

    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