The Lowveld KnitWits came together to knit and crochet festive-themed squares which they have turned into a giant Christmas tree – they will reveal it on the 3rd of December 2022.
White River, South Africa (22 November 2022) – The 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day group, also affectionately known as the “KnitWits”, completed their 2022 project – a giant “Rainbow Nation Blanket of Hope” consisting of 4500 beautifully knitted and crocheted blankets. The blankets were donated to Gift of the Givers and Doctors Without Borders.
Many of the people within the group, team up within their own provinces to try and get as many blankets made as possible. Once the 67 Blankets project is over, everyone turns their attention to personal projects or they take a break until a new project is announced each year.
The KnitWits of the Lowveld decided to use their time to make a Christmas tree out of crochet and knitted “granny squares”. The ladies come together to knit each month, working towards their annual goals. Together, they knitted 1800 squares which will be used to make a Christmas tree at the Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre’s Carols by Candlelight on the 3rd of December 2022.
67 Blankets Mpumalanga ambassador Penny Boden rallied the KnitWits together and they are very excited to reveal the crochet Christmas tree. Once the tree has been revealed, it will be dismantled and sewn into 20 blankets for people in need.
Good Things Guy will be attending the event to see the tree so stay tuned for updates!
How 67 Blankets Started.
In December 2013, Zelda la Grange, late former President Nelson Mandela’s trusted assistant, presented philanthropist and ‘Arts Angel’ Carolyn Steyn with a challenge: knit, sew or crochet 67 blankets!
These blankets would then be distributed to those in need on Mandela Day. In honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on the 18th of July, Mandela’s birthday. The United Nations officially declared the day in 2009.
Carolyn gladly accepted Zelda’s challenge, but soon she called on her friends for help and developed a Facebook group called “67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day”. In just days, hundreds of people from around the world had pledged to knit a blanket for Nelson Mandela Day.
Since then, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day has transformed into what some are calling a “movement” – a movement that has captured the attention of many South African and international celebrities as well as corporates and “KnitWits for Madiba” in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Cyprus, London, the US and India.
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You can join the cause and become a KnitWit via the Facebook group here. In the group, you will be able to connect with fellow KntWits in your area, collaborate on community-based projects, chat directly with the leaders of the organisation and stay up to date with exciting projects.
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