(Caroline
Smart & Pauline Dalais and the beginnings of the artSMart blanket!
Pic by
Kajal Bagwandeen)
Inspired by the 67 Blankets for Madiba Day project,
an artSMart team comprising editor Caroline Smart with manager Pauline Dalais is
putting together a multi-coloured blanket.
The artSMart office is ablaze with the
different colour wools and well-known actress and television presenter, Kajal
Bagwandeen, was kind enough to photograph the two new Knitwits (as those
involved in the project have been dubbed). Online manager Clinton Marius
ensures the stories get out to the public!
The project was the idea of Zelda la Grange, former personal
assistant to late former president Nelson Mandela, who presented a challenge to
well-known Johannesburg live-wire personality Carolyn Steyn to knit 67 blankets
by July 18 for Mandela Day. These blankets would then be distributed to those
in need.
Carolyn
Steyn initially put the idea out to the arts community and the response was incredible.
Leading theatre personalities, both women and men - not to mention the Minister
of Arts & Culture, Paul Mashatile – responded immediately. Before long,
Knitwits were popping up everywhere, inside and outside South Africa, inspired
by the values of the project. The list grows by the minute.
“I have been crocheting and knitting things
since I was very young,” explains Caroline Smart. “I love creating things and
sometimes go a bit overboard. Once, when I was crocheting a double-bed blanket,
I decided to take it on a trip to the UK so I could crochet while we were
driving fair distances. I even worked on it on the plane. Must have been crazy!
To think of doing something like that now boggles the mind!”
While Smart needed no encouragement to pick
up her crochet hook again, Pauline Dalais required a bit of persuasion.
“I never thought that I would ever crochet
in this lifetime - but look at me go!” she says. “When Caroline asked if I'd
like to assist on the 67 Blankets for Madiba Day Project, I laughed ‘cos I know
absolutely nothing about crocheting. Within an hour, she taught me how to
crochet and I was hooked! Although, I must admit my technique is more
croch-knit! I don't know if I'll ever get the hang of holding the crochet
needle in the conventional manner! However, I feel all the more blessed to be
involved on this project, as I feel that I have benefited! The process is both
therapeutic and gratifying! I am a proud Knitwit!”
For the full story visit http://news.artsmart.co.za/2014/01/join-knit-wit-revolution.html
It’s also well worth taking a look at the 67 Blankets for Madiba
Day Facebook page where the most wonderful array of knitting and crochet
work is being produced, from the most basic to those which should be displayed
on an exhibition!
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