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Chernobyl project 2018!
We are delighted to be launching our Chernobyl Project 2018!
For the last four years we have been making warm, comforting Little Hugs for Belarusian teenagers and children visiting the UK for recuperative holidays during the summer with the fabulous charity the Chernobyl Children’s Project and Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline.
Each year these marvellous charities bring children who live in the most contaminated area near the Chernobyl reactor over to the UK. In summer, when the dust causes radiation levels to rise, it becomes even more important for as many children as possible to leave their contaminated homeland for a few weeks of fresh air and clean food. The rates of childhood cancer are incredibly high the most common cancers being thyroid and leukaemia. Coming to the UK for a four week break increases their immunity against the awful disease when they return home. Often these children are in remission. Sadly though there is a high chance of these children falling ill again. They all suffer living in such difficult conditions and with very little.
We have spoken to all the groups we sent to last year, some are still confirming their funding etc and not all host every year, but already confirmed are…
- Isle of Wight
- Peterborough/Helpston
- Bristol
- And we are chuffed to be introducing the Ayrshire, Fife and Aberdeen groups this year too!
There are other groups we can contact, but will just wait to hear from last year first. So this year we look like we are aiming for approx 115 blankets but this may change. It is a good place to start with!
The last posting date for squares and blankets made by individuals for our Chernobyl 2018 project will be April 16th, to the Teddington address, message if you need it!
Please do join us, here’s how..
- Yarn is Stylecraft Special DK – ONLY this please, inc for any embellishments.
- Squares to be 12 inch ideally, or 6 inch if that is too much.
- Knit and crochet equally welcome. Beginner or more experienced crafters also equally welcomed.
- Please use a 4mm hook or needles. No blocking please, and please ensure you are knotting off very thoroughly when colour changing or finishing, leave a 6cm end and use a needle to sew it in.
- We are asking folk to avoid using a magic ring (crochet) to start as find that these don’t seem to always stand up to the pressures of wash and wear.
- Squares to be single colour, multi colour, textured, whatever you like, they will be wonderful, thank you.
- If you’d like to make a whole blanket, please use these colours too, makes thing easier at the giving stage! Whole blankets need to be 48 inches by 60 inches with some kind of border please.
- Supporting with funds
If anyone would like to donate funds to support this, we would be so grateful. Our paypal is admin@woollyhugs.com . Cheques and cash are very welcome too, just PM for the address. We are grateful for every single penny.
The Palette
- Aspen
- Aster
- Bluebell
- Blush
- Boysenberry
- Bright pink
- Burgundy
- Candy floss
- Citron
- Claret
- Cloud blue
- Cypress
- Denim
- Duck egg
- Emperor
- Empire
- Fondant
- Fuchsia pink
- Grape
- Grass green
- Kelly green
- Lapis
- Lavender
- Lime
- Lincoln
- Lipstick
- Lobelia
- Magenta
- Meadow
- Mustard
- Pale Rose
- Parchment
- Petrol
- Pistachio
- Plum
- Pomegranate
- Raspberry
- Saffron
- Sage
- Sherbert
- Shrimp
- Spice
- Storm blue
- Teal
- Tomato
- Turquoise
- Violet
Can anyone help with extras? LAST POSTING FOR EXTRAS IS MAY 26th!
There are a few extras which we will be collecting too alongside squares, items which really help, if you would like to add in any of these we would love to receive them for the children, thank you, bless you. xx
* Underwear aged 10 plus. New only*
* Adult size socks (one size fits all) new only* Gloves
* Toothbrushes, single packed please
* Hairbrushes
* Toiletries, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo etc, but not bars of soap please. These are obvs very heavy, but you can if you prefer send funds and we can get locally.
* Sanitary Towels
* Plasters, first aid bits
* Vitamins, please check suitable for 10 years+
* Any little luxuries that pre/teens might love, eg nail varnish, lip balms, hair clips, make up bits, stickers etc.
* If you would like to add 50p in when you post squares for ice creams that would be so kind, we will split any money we receive between the groups.Hugs for Heads – we have enough of these thank you!!
After the success of Fife last year, we thought how lovely it would be to send all children a cosy hat to take home with their blanket this year, so introduced Hugs for Heads, if you would like to knit or crochet a child’s hat size age 8 to adult (most are teens) in machine washable yarn, we would love to receive it for them. The pattern is up to you., we do have yarn available, please message us. Last posting the same as squares.
What a big ask! Good grief!
But the fabulous Woolly Hug crew never fail to amaze, last year was an astonishing team effort, we know that together we can do this.On behalf of these children and their families, a huge THANK YOU.
Actually, thank you doesn’t really come close. xxx
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Spring and Easter Craft Sale 2018!
Folk really are fabulous and have been asking about our Spring and Easter Craft sale. We are delighted to confirm it will be going ahead, and with your love and support any funds raised will be going to support our Ongoing projects, particularly this year our Chernobyl project.
We are going to run our online Spring Craft sale in a similar way to previous sales.
We’d love your help…
We are looking to make and sell small/lightweight Eastery/Spring/ Generally gorgeous items. Sewn, beaded, crocheted, knitted, any crafty crafts, the how is up to you!
To keep postage costs to a minimum we ask that ideally anything made can be sent on to a buyer in a ‘Large’ envelope.
Bigger items are welcome too, we are just aware of postal charges!
Some suggestions for you but we are open to others!
- Easter decorations – chicks, eggs, sheeeeps, rabbits.
- Easter/spring bunting/ garlands, decorations
- Keyrings, purses, accessories
- Other Lovely Things???!!!
- If making an item to wear, please include the washing info?ball band.
Last posting for crafts to be Saturday 3rd March
Please message for posting information. Thank you so much.
The Sale itself will take place March 14th – 17th tbc very soon.
It will be run through an Event page on Facebook (Woolly Hugs) , with a selection of items on our Auction site here on the website to help those not on FB
We are truly grateful for all support, heartfelt thanks xxxx
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Ongoing into 2025. Snugs for Looked After Children and Young People
LAST POSTING FOR 2025, BLANKETS AND SQUARES IS OCTOBER 1st.
About the project
We are aiming to make blankets for children (0-16years) who are being looked after within the foster care system. We would like to make these children something permanent, that they can take with them wherever they are. These children tend to have very little to call their own. We’d like them to have their own Hug.
Previously blankets have gone to Middlesbrough, East London, Portsmouth, Waterloo and the south coast.
Crafting Info
- Yarn is Stylecraft Special DK – just this please, inc for any embellishments.
- Squares to be 12 inch ideally, or 6 inch if that is too much.
- Knit and crochet equally welcome. Beginner or more experienced crafters also equally welcomed.
- Please use a 4mm hook or needles.
- No blocking please, and please ensure you are knotting off very thoroughly when colour changing or finishing, leave a 6cm end and use a needle to sew it in.
- We are asking folk to avoid using a magic ring (crochet) to start as find that these don’t seem to always stand up to the pressures of wash and wear.
- Please read the list of colours in our palette carefully, the list is below.
- Squares to be single colour, multi colour, textured, whatever you like, they will be wonderful, thank you.
- If you’d like to make a whole blanket, please use these colours too, makes thing easier at the giving stage! Whole blankets to be 48 by 60 inches, we would like them all to be single bed size no matter what age the child.
The colours are a twist on a rainbow theme…
- Apple
- Aspen
- Aster
- Bluebell
- Boysenberry
- Candy Floss
- Citron
- Claret
- Cloud blue
- Cornish blue
- Denim
- Duck egg
- Fondant
- Fuchsia purple
- Grass green
- Kelly Green
- Lapis
- Lavender
- Lipstick
- Lobelia
- Magenta
- Meadow
- Parchment
- Petrol
- Pistachio
- Plum
- Pomegranate
- Proper purple
- Saffron
- Sage
- Sherbet
- Spearmint
- Spice
- Storm blue
- Tomato
- Turquoise
- Violet
Photos show previous collections!
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2017 – A Woolly Year in Review.
What a year 2017 turned out to be and as it comes to a close we find ourselves looking back in awe and wonder at how amazing folk have been, full of spirit, compassion, generosity, enthusiasm, love and care, truly it feels boundless. Donors and crafters alike, what you do means so much and our coming together as Woolly Hugs is very special indeed. We never take any of this for granted. Ever. Every day is extraordinary, the whole year simply mind blowing! Such a lot to take in. We would like to thank all for their wonderful support, for every stitch, every ball of yarn, every internet trawl for idea or pattern, every penny, every single moment, every pesky end sewn in, every word, every ounce of support, every resource, every Post office queue, parcel posted, everything! Thank you xxx
We always worry, we wouldn’t be us if we didn’t, and we ask such a lot, but folk never fail to amaze in response, we reach for those stars together. Our ongoing projects are ambitious and stronger than ever thanks to you.
We knew her time left with us was short, but the news of Candy’s (Zombie’s) death back in January 2017 was still a sad shock, she will be much missed by all who love her. Just before, Zombie donated funds to Woolly Hugs and together we hatched a plan to develop an ongoing project with her, which she loved, to make comforting cosy blankets with love in every stitch for women going through treatment for breast and other cancers, and at times these may form part of palliative care. So glad we could establish Candy’s Hugs with her and thanks to you wonderful people achieve her ambition of seeing it all well underway before her death. Since then this year over 50 Candy’s Hugs have gone to wonderful women on the rocky road of cancer treatment. what a wonderful legacy Candy’s Hugs is, one of love and strength, of friendship, learning and developing crafting skills, of creativity, of coming together to show compassion, support and give and receive comfort.Such a beautiful inspirational woman. How lucky we were to know her.
Chernobyl 2017 proved to be quite extraordinary! Our initial aim for 70 blankets for our Children of Chernobyl project was blown out of the water as with your incredible enthusiastic love and support we were able to help many more children than we first hoped, gifting a blanket to 120 children (fondly know as our Chernobs!) visiting the UK in the end last summer, that is the equivalent of 9600 six inch squares!!!! Wow, thank you doesn’t come close!
And all hail the incredible Construction Crew who have really come into their own in 2017, for this and several other projects, we could not function without you, the sheer joyful enthusiasm our calls for help is met with makes us so teary and thankful, what wonders you are. Thank you!
We all love seeing photos of the children wrapped in love and cosy comfort which continues as they go home to Belarus. We were privileged to meet the children visiting Portsmouth and Gloucester, very precious days indeed. And all those extras folk sent and ice cream funds too, it all makes a real difference to the lives of these children, what amazing empathy and generosity, thank you. It all officially starts again soon, 2018 may even be bigger, we are already collecting Hugs for Heads to go with the blankets next summer!
Thanks to you too, all of our ongoing projects are stronger than ever. From here in the UK to as far away as Kurdistan, Syria, Malawi, Cameroon, Belarus and Ghana children and their families are feeling love, warmth, support and comfort through our Refugee Project, Billie’s Blankets, Little Hugs, Kinship Hugs and Christmas Hugs for children living in the Chernobyl contaminate zone. Thinking too of all the families who have received our Angel Hugs and Teds in incredibly bleak and devastating times. Love in every stitch we say and it really is true. Our Angel Hug project with the Brompton Hospital in London came to a finish this year, we now work with Glasgow Maternity hospitals.
We estimate over 2000 items have been sent this year as part of our Refugee project, truly love in every stitch for those who receive them. It was wonderful too to help Debbie Bliss take warm hats and scarves over to France, and provide comfort to families arriving in the UK in December. Over 300 blankets have been sent as part of our Refugee project this year alone, with about a third made using separate squares folk send, everyone contributing what they can (huge thanks here to our wonderful Construction Crew!) scarves, jumpers, cardis, mittens, bootees, 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.
Events in Manchester on May 22nd shocked everyone to the core, our Hugs for Manchester project began as an urgent appeal in the aftermath of the bombing at the Ariane Grande concert. The Woolly Hugs crew responded amazingly to the rallying cry. We had to do something and after speaking with the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital about sending Little Hug blankets to children and families there, which they have said they would love, we decided to make and send joint Little Hug blankets. These were also to be offered where any of the Woolly Hugs crew personally knew families affected by the bombing. So far we have sent five of these family blankets, and two very large collections to RMCH. Thank you so much everyone again, this is now an ongoing project and has become a regular part of our Little Hug project.
We’ve made woolly knockers again this year! Always a popular 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. Thank you so much for taking part, we do love to help.
So glad we could help with a very special yarn bomb in memory of Billie, a wonderful flurry of beautiful hearts and butterflies arriving, thank you, this meant such a lot to her family x
We were very glad to be able to help with 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. We made four blankets, delivered just before Christmas. Love in every stitch. Always.
And it didn’t stop there, together we very recently raised £2250 for Meningitis Now through our Christmas Craft Sale, with over £1000 going to support our ongoing projects, and earlier in the year £2285.21 at our Spring Sale, thank you so much to everyone who helped in any way!
Our blankets for bereaved families remain as central as ever and we are truly grateful to all crafters and donors. Each family’s loss is beyond measure, we hope our Woolly Hugs can give a little comfort, they are full of personalisations, memories, a tribute to a life lived with love. They mean so much to the recipient families, thank you so much for all your help. Sadly we know there will be more in the time to come, we hope you will be with us again. xx
This last week we had to submit our first Annual review for the Charity commission, and one of the questions was about the number of volunteers we have on board. Impossible to say really, but several thousand for sure. Woolly Hugs wouldn’t exist without, we are so grateful to everyone on board. We all do what we can do, we all fit in this in around families, busy lives, work commitments, a hundred and one other things, which truly makes it all so amazing. No one can do this alone. We just do our best, tis all we have. And if you are reading this thinking you’d like to jump in, PLEASE make 2018 the year you do, we’d love to have you with us, message us if you you’d like a chat about how. Our aim is always to be inclusive, no one should be excluded because they can’t afford to join in and we welcome al levels of ability, from someone keen to begin to learn to someone with a lot of experience.
This ^^^
Where will 2018 take us? We’d best be ready!
The most enormous love and thanks from us both xxxx
PS. Just a few more pics from the year, because, why not??!! Shame we can’t share them all, but the website would collapse! xx
Woolly Hugs, 2017
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The Blanket for Zombie’s family
So pleased to let everyone know that this has arrived safely with her son and daughter in law in West Virginia, USA. Truly made and sent with so much love.
Our original thread for Zombie’s Woolly Hugs is here….
Thank you so much everyone xxxx
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