DUBAI: Inspired by the 67 Blankets for Mandela Movement in South Africa, a Dubai-based group of women has started a campaign Knit-A-Thon across the UAE.
Throughout April, women will knit 15x15 cm squares, in any color or design, which will be collected from across the country.
They will later be sewn together to make blankets, which will then be sent to orphanages around the world.
Currently, South Africa holds the record for the Largest hand knitted blanket (non-crochet), measuring 1,378.28 m² (14,835.68 ft²).
Barbara Evans, a British expatriate who is running the initiative, said beginners, professionals, and everyone in between are welcome to join.
Pam Marsh, who is part of the initiative said that in her native country South Africa, there was a huge movement called: 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela.
“It started as a small movement to supply warmth to the poor and homeless. Well, it grew and grew and found itself in the Guinness Book of Records for the biggest blanket in the world, spread over the gardens of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the home to our government in South Africa.”
Marsh said she always keen to pursue the same initiative in Dubai where she has been living for four years. “I discussed with Barbara who is already running a very successful campaign ‘Rags To Riches’ where she and her group of friends stitch dresses for underprivileged children around the world. And rest is history.”
“We are planning to send the blankets to orphanages all over the world. After we collect all of the squares, we will be joining them to form blankets during May, and then begin distributing them to orphanages around the world.”
Barbara Evans said that the response has been amazing far above my expectations. “We only started Knit-A-Thon on 1st April so its still early days as yet, we don’t know how long this will take us but we will keep knitting till we get the record,” said the British lady.
“We are hoping to break the record previously set by South Africa and make more than 67 blankets,” said Marsh.
