The last squares are being stitched together in an effort to create the largest blanket fort in the world.
Timaru outreach librarian Ingrid Davies-Martin said the Guinness World Record attempt began around the end of April or beginning of May last year.
The aim is to knit the equivalent of the length of seven rugby fields — 700 metres
— and break the current record of 625.79m.
‘‘We are managing and will keep going to reach the goal.’’
As well as having the largest blanket fort, they have to hold an event in the fort to qualify for the Guinness World Record.
‘‘Both the framework and the event are in the progress of being designed, we will need a big space and we are in the planning stages of what we will need,’’ she said.
At present they have about 632 blankets in varying sizes, made up of knitted squares that have been knitted by members of the South Canterbury region, including children.
Every Thursday, locals get together to help work on the blanket fort as well as any other knitting projects they brought along with them.
Local woman Judy Gabites said they came to knit and natter, and anyone was welcome to join them.
‘‘People are more than welcome to bring along any other projects they may have. We don’t just work on the blanket.’’
Local woman Annette Prien said sewing all the blankets together would take ages.
‘‘The blankets have to be sewn together, but not beautifully. People can come along and learn to knit, people are happy to teach,’’ she said.
They are now asking for people who have any finished blankets at home to drop them in and for anyone working on any squares to provide an update as they are heading into the final stages of making the blanket fort.
Once the the event is over, they will take the blankets apart and distribute them back among the South Canterbury community.
