67 Blankets in the USA is spreading the KnitWit cheer by donating warm knitted blankets, scarves and hats, just in time for winter!
Maryland, United States (15 November 2021) – 67 Blankets was founded 7 years ago by Carolyn Steyn. The idea was to use knitting and crochet to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s legacy.
It all started in 2014 when Zelda la Grange, long time Personal Assistant to former President Nelson Mandela, presented her friend Carolyn Steyn with the challenge of making 67 blankets by the 18th of July for Nelson Mandela Day.
Carolyn accepted the challenge and encourages her nearest and dearest to help make the challenge happen. She encouraged them all to help her make the blankets to give to those less fortunate. It worked and before the big day, Carolyn revealed that together, they had knitted and collected over 6000 blankets.
That is where it started and today, the movement has thousands of South Africans supporting various projects each year. The idea has been so wonderful that it has travelled the world and there are several people who knit in honour of Mandela in other parts of the world.
The USA-based KnitWits, an affectionate name given to those who dedicate their hours knitting blankets for the cause, have been hard at work preparing for their winter season. The international branch in Washington DC, Maryland, was founded late 2015. The group recently made a donation to the Friends of Sparsh, a non-profit charity organisation, serving the homeless community of Maryland. The donation included the iconic knitted/crocheted blankets, scarves and hats.
Veronica Buzby is the ambassador for the project in Maryland and has collected knitted donations from KnitWits such as homemakers and sorority sisters. She has collected scarves, beanies, and even blanket squares. The group is small but always growing as they spread Madiba’s message across the United States.
So if you find yourself stateside and wanting to do some good inspired by this Proudly South African, you can join the Washington DC group here or the Maryland State group here.
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