A knitted hug that started out as a gift for her son has proven to be a global success story for a mum from Royton. During the Covid-19 lockdown Claire Calverley-Smith and her whole family were shielding after being sadly diagnosed with a very rare type of blood cancer a few years ago.
Stuck indoors and unable to continue with her role as an assistant headteacher, she discovered a love of knitting. For Christmas 2020 her son Lance asked her to knit him a chunky knit cardigan to keep him warm in the winter months ahead.
And through 'love and lockdown' she created the 'Cuddlygan', an oversized chunky knit hoodie that weighs 3kg. The wearable weighted blanket, which has helped to ease wearers' tension and anxiety, went viral on social media after being shared by Lance.
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He posted it on the social media platform Reddit and within 24 hours it had over 175,000 shares. Claire, 53, and Lance, 27, who call themselves the 'The Cuddlygan HQ', then created an instagram account @thecuddlygan and within 24 hours it had gained over 2,500 followers.
They've been inundated with message and orders from all around the world with customers in America, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Holland and Germany. So far Claire has sold 122 of her Cuddlygans, which are available via her website thecuddlygan.co.uk and global marketplace Etsy. Her 'Cuddlers' include former Coronation Street and Hollyoaks star Katie McGlynn and M People legend Heather Small.
"One of my first customers was in New York. I call my customers my Cuddlygan Family," she said.
"They help with stress because they weigh 3kg and it's like getting a hug it's so big. And you can hide in them. They're like being hugged by a marshmallow.
"It came about because of my son Lance. I asked him 'do you want me to make you something?'
"I got chunky chenille yarn, created a pattern and called it a Cuddlygan. He shared it on Reddit and it got 175,000 shares."
She explained: "The yarn is so expensive. I concentrate on one at a time and they take me 14 hours to make.
"I get one or two orders a week and I also make blankets and pet beds. I knit them with my hands as the wool is so heavy."
The Cuddlygan is bespoke with customers choosing from a selection of colours. And Claire also makes slippers, hats and scarves.
"Many 'Cuddlers' have told us that the Cuddlygan acts like a wearable weighted blanket that has helped ease their tension and anxiety as a constant cuddle," she said.
She added: "It has been like a dream. Heather Small wearing a Cuddlygan was a pinch me moment."
