(In 2015 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, 3133 square metres of
handmade blankets knitted, crocheted or quilted by the Knitwits of 67 Blankets
for Nelson Mandela Day broke a Guinness World Record – it is the largest area
covered by a blanket.)
67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day’s annual
event, Magical Moments for Mandela (MM4M) which was scheduled to take place on April
4, 2020, at various venues across the country was cancelled due to the COVID
-19 national lockdown but the good news is, it will now be a virtual Facebook
event!
This event which takes place in major cities
across the country, showcases handmade blankets that get distributed
nationally. While public spaces will not be adorned with colourful blankets
this year, blankets that have been knitted or crocheted will still reach those
needing warmth during the cold winter months.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have to cancel
this event,” says Carolyn Steyn, the Founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela
Day. She added “We could not even contemplate postponing our event as winter is
on its way and our blankets (made with love) need to be distributed to those in
need.
I have decided instead to keep the April 4 as
our MM4M celebration, but this year, we will do it ‘virtually’, which is an
exciting new idea for us; here we can connect with our KnitWit family via a
live Facebook stream from our 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day (South Africa)
page.”
(Another Guinness Book of Records was achieved for The longest crocheted
scarf which measures 29.17 km (95, 725 ft) and was achieved by 67 Blankets for
Nelson Mandela Day (South Africa) at Mandela Capture Site, Howick,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,
on 29 July 2018.)
“The Coronavirus is a very significant challenge
and our lives are all being disrupted and will be for a while. However, we will
get through this. Hopefully within a few months a vaccine will be found and
life will get back to normal.” she says.
67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day which was
started in 2013 is now in 2020, considered a ‘movement’. This initiative has
captured the hearts, creative spirit and hands of thousands of people, not only
in South Africa but across the globe, calling themselves “KnitWits for Madiba”.
These are people who join forces by knitting and crocheting blankets and
scarves in order to keep those less fortunate, warm during the winter months.
Steyn says that while the public events this
year have been cancelled, the ethos and commitment of the project thrives, no
matter what: “We will never waver in our efforts to - stitch by stitch - create
warmth for thousands upon thousands of people living in dire need for years to
come.”
The programme for the MM4M is on tomorrow
(Saturday, April 4, 2020) and one can catch it on the 67 Blankets for Nelson
Mandela Day (South Africa) Facebook group.
10h00: Carolyn Steyn will go live on Facebook
and invite people to join Timothy Moloi in singing the National Anthem from the
comfort of their homes.
To find out more about the project or to become
a KnitWit visit:
Facebook: 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day
(South Africa)
Twitter and Instagram: @67blankets
www.67blankets.co.za
Posts
