67 Blankets for Mandela Day is currently working on one of the world’s tallest knitted and crocheted Christmas trees, measuring 5.8m.

The regional ambassador, Penny Boden, said 67 Blankets for Mandela Day is an international project. In White River, it started in 2015 with a small group of ladies who were keen to knit and crochet for this wonderful cause. “From these humble beginnings, the group has now blossomed into a group of over 70 ‘knitwits’, some of whom meet on a monthly basis to exchange ideas, patterns and also to bring along beautiful blankets to be distributed to the needy at the beginning of the winter season.”

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She also said after coming out of two difficult years of Covid-19, the organisation decided that each regional group would create their own Christmas tree out of knitted and crocheted squares.
“The call went out early this year for plenty of colourful 20cm squares, all to be finished off with a green border. More than 70 of our own White River knitwits answered the call with great enthusiasm, as well as many friends of 67 Blankets from outside the province,” Boden said.

“Our creative ladies were encouraged to depict some of our local specialities in their squares, so we have the red cross of St George’s Anglican Church, golf squares and many wonderful wildlife scenes. We also added other squares depicting traditional Christmas features,” she explained.

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The tree has been designed in three separate steel sections and is 5.8m tall. Initially, they needed 1 000 squares. “We have ended up with double that number. Our ladies have also made baubles, bells, whirligigs, bunting and other decorations.

It has been a real learning curve for all involved,” Boden said.
“The tree will be unveiled on December 3 at Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre. There will be vendors selling Christmas treats and light refreshments, a festive carols by candlelight service, as well as performances by other guest artists. Father Christmas will join the crowd and proceed to the unique 2022 Christmas tree,” she said.