Thursday, 13 February, 2025

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Eight years ago White River knitting enthusiast Penny Boden started the local chapter of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day with a handful of women in the lounge at her home.

Changing the world one stitch at a time

Eight years ago White River knitting enthusiast Penny Boden started the local chapter of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day with a handful of women in the lounge at her home.

Today there are more than 80 “knitwits” knitting and crocheting for this wonderful cause.

To celebrate this wonderful occasion the group converged at the Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre in White River. 

FEATURE IMAGE: Neha Motriram and Penny Boden.

Penny Boden, the founder of the White River chapter of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day.

“We have been going for eight busy, happy, eventful and productive years,” said Penny. “We have been to prisons, children’s homes, informal settlements, hospitals, schools and shopping malls to teach crocheting and to hand out blankets. We have assisted in several Guinness World Record attempts and one year we made over 5 000 scarves for local rural schools and for all the staff at Rob Ferreira Hospital. And don’t forget our record-breaking incredible Christmas tree last year!”

Carol Stephan, Maxie Viljoen and Gloria Aveley.

During the birthday celebrations members also handed in completed blankets, beanies, jerseys, scarves and doilies. 

“Our once depleted shelves are being refilled,” Penney said.

Helen Worthington, Heslia Schon, Eleonora Williams and Sheila Gillespie.

One of the highlights was the introduction of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day: The Knitting and Crochet Revolution, a book that records a decade of the phenomenal growth of the organisation. With a Foreword by Sello Hatang, former CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and a letter from Graça Machel in the preface, the book shows how the simple gift of a handmade blanket has had a profound effect on the lives of many.

The book will be available at the Sabie Valley Coffee Shop at Casterbridge for the use of all members.

After the lucky draw where loads of prizes were up for grabs, it was time to enjoy birthday cake and snacks and make plans for the next eight years.

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