Clicking knitting needles bring joy
The knitting needles will be clicking this coming weekend to knit and crochet blankets for various community institutions, such as old age homes and schools.Organiser Alida Siebert believes that the Knit-a-bit event held in the capital has a two-fold purpose. "At the same time we are also building a community of people who crochet and knit," she says.
The group will gather at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) hotel school from 08:00 to 15:00 to complete 100 blankets. One blanket consists of 35 blocks that are 20 cm x 20 cm large.
Even those who do not have the gift of creating something with wool are invited to become part of this initiative.
"We are willing to teach people," says Alida, adding that volunteers can join the group with wool (double-knit) and a number 4 size crochet hook or set of knitting needles.
"It can become an addiction," Alida jokes.
"They did studies and found that knitting and crocheting help alleviate hypertension," Alida says about studies conducted abroad on CEOs of successful companies who noticed a significant improvement in their heart health when they set aside time to knit for the study.
"I think it's it's the instant gratification you enjoy when you knit or crochet - if you've stitched a row, you can immediately see the row and when you've finished a block, you can see it," she says.
Alida says that she got the idea to host this event in Namibia after she saw similar events being held in South Africa and says that Namibians from all corners of the country have so far joined in and have already started to send squares for the blankets. – [email protected]