Last year some time, Carolyn Steyn was challenged to make 67 blankets for Mandela Day. She responded by organising an event that yesterday tripled the Guinness World Record for the largest crocheted blanket, covered the terraces in front of Pretoria's Union Buildings and aim to hand out thousands of handmade blankets this winter!
In a week that South Africa was not the happiest place, this was something good to focus on.
Thousands of knitters and crocheters had worked on beautiful blankets, to give away to strangers, to people in need, in crisis. Everyone who has made a blanket knows that you don't do it in a just a few days, and that, for me, is the greatness of this event, that thousands of people had been willing to put in the time and the effort, from grannies to school girls, corporate yuppies to the Sharks rugby team, this is was a collective effort that makes one happy.
In a week that South Africa was not the happiest place, this was something good to focus on.
Thousands of knitters and crocheters had worked on beautiful blankets, to give away to strangers, to people in need, in crisis. Everyone who has made a blanket knows that you don't do it in a just a few days, and that, for me, is the greatness of this event, that thousands of people had been willing to put in the time and the effort, from grannies to school girls, corporate yuppies to the Sharks rugby team, this is was a collective effort that makes one happy.
When my Mzansi makes blankets, we go big.
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| Today in The Times. Photo: Peter Morey |
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| It started with unpacking and stitching the blankets together Photo: Carolyn Steyn |
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| Breakfast tv was there! |
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| My friend Kotie quickly walked over, as this is almost her back yard |
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| How amazing is this! Filling up the terraces. Photo: Peter Morey |
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| Fantastic aerial view of the Union Buildings and gardens Photo: Peter Morey |
The blankets are still being counted, as some were received yesterday on site and more will be received until July.
I wish wish wish I could have been there!
The hellohart team posted a beautiful selection of 67 blankets plus their favourites.
And remember our yarnbomb of ±630 blankets at the Voortrekker Monument last year, plus other record efforts in South Africa?
A proud day!
ReplyDeleteNow that's what I call a blanket!
ReplyDeleteWonderfull that so many people make such beautifull things...
OMG this is REALLY awesome :-)
ReplyDeleteWow that is so "onbaatzuchtig" - unselfishly of everyone that made a blanked. Amazing. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAmazing !!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo many blankets and it looks so beautiful.
A truly awesome collection!
ReplyDeleteLooking at those aerial shots, I am wondering "which one is yours?" :-)
Wishing your country some more peaceful times. It makes me sad to think that there are people who would rather be violent than try to live in peace with others.
Let's hope that the blanket project can show them how cooperation can achieve great things.