• People

One block at a time

• 1 Week Ago - 2025-04-14 11:58:00

This year, the group is already a decade old and for the past ten years they have been ensuring that the country's most vulnerable are protected from the cold thanks to the most beautiful and colourful crochet blankets that are lovingly put together stitch by stitch and block by block.
In 2015, Venita Nolte and Shola Smit saw the great need for a warm blanket, hat or gloves against the chilly Namibian cold, especially for the country's elderly, vulnerable children and the homeless. Knit a Bit, a non-profit organisation that gives back to the country by knitting or crocheting was born. The goal – to crochet or knit as many granny squares as possible from which blankets are sewn together to be distributed to those in need.
The idea is that any person (yes, men and children too. . .) all over the country crochets or knit blocks of 20 cm x 20 cm. The blocks are then sent to people who string the colourful blocks together to make the most beautiful and warm blankets.
Soon Venita and Shola had people all over the country crocheting or knitting, with the crochet needles that clicked properly. Black garbage bags full of blocks were received and reassembled into blankets by other members.
Celine Malherbe says that over time the crochet and knitting needles “became a little quieter”, but “we were a few die-hards who kept going with the wonderful project”.
Last year, Alida Siebert organised a crochet marathon in Windhoek which brought new enthusiasm among crocheters and knitters and the fire was rekindled to take up the needles for a good cause. Since then, people have gathered monthly in the capital to crochet blocks and make blankets. Okahandja and Aranos have also hosted their crochet marathons.
Young and gold
Old and young can get involved in the project, emphasises Celine. “Young people have been learning to crochet with great enthusiasm during the gatherings!”
And even if your grandmother’s crocheted knee blanket is your only reference, you are still welcome. “Beginners are taught to crochet a basic ‘granny square’. Blocks can be any pattern, as long as they are only 20 cm x 20 cm.”
It takes 36 of these blocks to make one blanket.
According to Celine, in several towns in the country, there are women in crochet and knitting groups who, in addition to the blocks, also donate hats and blankets that are distributed. “We make the blankets with love and as beautifully as we can.”
The cosy blankets are donated to the elderly, children and the less privileged all over the country. “When we have a few blankets together, we ask for suggestions for places where there is a need and to whom we can give the blankets.”
Although Knit a Bit receives wool donations from time to time, the crocheters and knitters use their own wool most of the time.
“Wool donations are very welcome, even if it is leftover wool.”
The hope and goal is also to be able to give out more blankets each year than the previous year. Last year, 57 blankets were distributed to the Lions’ home for the frail elderly in Swakopmund (13), the Orlindi Children’s Home in Windhoek (27) and Huis Deon Louw in Gobabis (16).
Beneficiaries
Other beneficiaries since 2015 include the Eastern Court Nursing Home in Windhoek, Hands of Hope in Swakopmund, the Cat Adams Project, the Hochfeld Soup Kitchen, the Uis Dementia Project, Bahnhoff, Senior Park, the nursing homes in Karasburg, Mariental and Lüderitz, Visions of Hope, Hentiesbaai Soup Kitchen, the Safe Home for Women and Children in Windhoek as well as the Home for the Frail Elderly in Hentiesbaai.
Earlier this year, 32 crocheted blankets were handed over to elderly residents and also to those who are not so healthy in the Finkenstein Manor Retirement Home in Windhoek. Members of the retirement home's art group helped crochet and knit the multi-coloured blankets. One of the residents also received his "poncho" and as a gift, there was also an Easter egg for each one.
According to Cecile, the hope and goal is to be able to hand out more blankets each year than the previous year.
Anyone is welcome to join in making blocks and blankets, she invites.
“Even if you can’t crochet, you can learn to crochet or knit. The only requirement is your passion for wanting to do it.”
With winter just around the corner and the days getting shorter and cooler, now is the perfect time to pull out your crochet and knitting needles to make a difference in someone’s life.
Easy guidelines
These easy guidelines will quickly get you on the right crochet or knitting path: Square blocks of 20 cm x 20 cm (crocheted or knitted). You can use any wool, but "double knit" wool works easiest. Use the right size needle for the wool. Rather a thicker needle if you don't have the right size. Too thin needles make the blocks very stiff and difficult to handle, while a thicker needle makes the blocks softer. Any pattern can be made.
With knitted blocks, stocking stitch should preferably not be used, because it curls up and makes it difficult to crochet the blocks together. Blankets are at least 1.0 m x 1.2 m and single bed size or larger. Arrangements can be made to get the blocks from a member of Knit a Bit who will stitch the blankets together.
Plans are already underway to hold a crochet marathon again this year, with the calendar already marked for May 10.
“We now have four new young ladies who have joined the group and our future plans include continuing with the monthly meetings. It is informal and just great inspiration!”
If you would like to crochet blocks, donate wool or get involved in any other way with this very special project, visit the Knit a Bit Facebook page or call Alida Siebert on 081 287 5384 for more details. – [email protected]
Did you know?
The name crochet is derived from the French term crochet, meaning "small hook" and the first evidence of crocheted materials made its appearance in 19th century Europe.
The first known time that instructions for crocheting an item were published was in the Dutch magazine Pénélopé in 1823. Here, the explicit use of the term crochet is used to identify the technique in its current form. Fashions in crochet changed at the end of the Victorian era in the 1890s. During the new Edwardian period, the peak between 1910 and 1920, crocheted lace became even more intricate in texture and stitching.
The strong Victorian colors disappeared and new publications called for white or pale colors. Purses were often crocheted from brightly coloured lace and featured beautiful beadwork.
After World War I, far fewer crochet patterns were published and most of them were simplified versions of early 20th century patterns.
During the late 1940s to the early 1960s, there was increased interest, especially in America. Many new and imaginative crochet designs were published for colourful doilies, dishcloths, and other household items. These patterns called for thicker threads and yarns than in earlier patterns and also included variegated colours.
Crochet remained primarily a homemaker's art until the late 1960s and early 1970s when the younger generation began to crochet and granny squares became popular – an easy motif worked in the round and incorporating bright colours. – Source: af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hekel