‘KNITWITS for Madiba’ are once again appealing to the public to be part of their 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day initiative.
This year their aim is to collect 21 000 blankets to coincide with South Africa’s celebration of 21 years of democracy. The blankets will first be displayed at the feet of the Nelson Mandela statue at the Union Buildings on Tuesday, 21 April in a world record-breaking attempt.
Knitting became trendy last year, and on Tuesday, 27 January they marked the initiative’s first birthday at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
This initiative was started by philanthropist and ‘arts angel’, Carolyn Steyn, who welcomed a challenge from Zelda la Grange, Nelson Mandela’s trusted assistant, to knit 67 blankets in December 2013.
Steyn gladly accepted the challenge but soon realised that she would not be able to achieve it alone. She called on her friends for help, and developed the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day Facebook group.
Her friends shared the page with their friends, who shared the page with theirs, and in just a few weeks hundreds of people from around the world had pledged to knit a blanket for Nelson Mandela Day.
Steyn said, “We urged all South Africans to get involved so we can show the world what we are made of. The current world record is 7 800 blankets, which were displayed at a cathedral in Helsinki.
“We can beat this, but time is of the essence. Even if you cannot knit or crochet, we have drop-off points across the country for wool donations. The wool will then be distributed to knitting enthusiasts and transformed into beautiful blankets to those in need.
“To create and gather 21 000 blankets in just three months is a real challenge. So get those knitting needles clicking away,” she said.
People can join the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day (South Africa) Facebook group, or visit www.67blankets.co.za.
