Sarah Welton-Blake, the founder of Community Hours, said the celebration of World Granny Square Day was personal.
Her memories of both her Welsh and Irish grandmothers, women who were taught to knit by their own mothers and grandmothers, shaped the meaning behind an afternoon dedicated to knitting, giving, and building community. Welton-Blake recalled growing up in jerseys made by her grandmothers, with every stitch carrying more than just warmth. “It’s not only about the warmth of the jersey; it’s about the love that went into making it.”

Read more: Get knitting for Mandela Day

Each of her grandmothers made jerseys for all their grandchildren, and the garments were so well made that some could still be worn decades later. “For me, it was always about the hands that were busy, and they were in their relaxing time, and the hands that gifted.”

That spirit of gifting was brought to life at Cedar Square, where Community Hours, in collaboration with 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, celebrated World Granny Square Day with an afternoon of knitting, crochet, laughter, and a movie. Welton-Blake described the event as a huge success, with the theatre reaching its maximum capacity of 123 people.

Guests enjoyed the romantic comedy, Notting Hill, while keeping their hands busy, knitting and crocheting squares and blankets that could eventually be donated to people in need. “We’re building communities. This is what we love, unity and giving back to those in need.”

Some attendees also donated the squares they made during the afternoon. These will be joined with other pieces at an upcoming Knit and Natter gathering to create blankets for those who need them.

Welton-Blake said the impact of this kind of community work can be seen in the small but meaningful gifts people make for others. She recalled recently working with a volunteer group of 50 students in Parys, Free state, where they made 150 baby blankets and 150 baby toys. The items were later gifted to mothers in the Tomahawk Tumahole community through their local clinic, as part Parys’ 150 year anniversary.

Also read: Dainfern knitting group to stitch hard this year

For her, these gestures can change someone’s experience in a meaningful way. “It changes the trajectory of the world in which we live, not in a Bill Gates kind of a huge way, but in a meaningful way to show kindness to a mother who is going to go home with a baby who’s got something warm.”

Welton-Blake thanked all the sponsors for making the event a success, including Hirsch’s, 67 Blankets for Mandela Day, Ster-Kinekor, Woolworths, Carmella’s on the Square at Cedar Square, as well as Kismet Wool and ProCD, amongst others.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!