The town of Leeuwarden in The Netherlands, which is also the European Capital of Culture for 2018 in conjunction with Valletta , are organising  a project to cover 5 soccer pitches with hand made crochet blankets with received woolen threads. Hence they invited several countries from around the world to take part in this activity. This project is to demonstrate the power, warmth, diversity, connection and the colourful side of our society.

Malta was also asked to take part, since our capital city will also be the European Cultural City. One of the aims of this activity is to promote unity amongst peoples. This international project aims to be also included in the Guinness Book of Records. After the event is over in The Netherlands, the blankets will be sent back to their origin and be distributed amongst charitable institutions. In Malta we have decided to distribute them to several institutions which cater for the less fortunate in our society like homes for the homeless, elderly homes, children homes etc.

A group of people from around Malta and Gozo who love doing handcrafts have helped in this activity. These included members of the Malta Lace Club, The Malta Cross Stitch Club, The Malta Society of Arts and other individuals. For the last year and a half, they have been working on these blankets, which were made from  recycled woolen thread taken from old woolen garments. The aim was to make about  50 blankets, but the enthusiasm was so big that together they have managed to finish more than 150 blankets.

Several persons worked together: some undid the old woolens and made them into balls of wool, others produced the squares, while others joined them into blankets. These blankets are made from small granny’s squares of 10 x 10 cm and formed into a large blanket measuring 140 x 200 cm.

Before they are digitally presented to the town of Leeuwarden throughout the weekend of the 14th and 15th of July, they will be displayed in Pjazza San Ġorġ in Valletta for the general public to view on the 24th February 2018.

Some of the blankets will be exhibited at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta from the 9th to the 16th February 2018, and also at the HSBC in Valletta from the 19th to the 28th February 2018.

This project is endorsed by the Valletta 2018 Foundation.