Numerous crochet blankets which will go on to become part of the world’s biggest covering five football fields, are currently being exhibited at Palazzo de La Salle, St George’s Square and HSBC in Valletta.

Created over the past 18 months by Maltese and Gozitan crocheters – most of whom are from the Malta Lace Club, the Malta Cross Stitch Club or the Malta Society of Arts – the crochet blankets will then travel to the Dutch town of Leeuwarden, which also holds the title of European Capital of Culture for 2018.

The project, which has brought together numerous countries, seeks to demonstrate power, warmth, diversity, connection and colour through this age-old craft. Made entirely from recycled wool, the blanket is expected to make it into the Guinness World Book of Records.

“This has been a joint effort by various people,” explains Carmen Ellul, one of the administrators of the project and a teacher of crochet at the Malta Society of Arts.

“Some of us undid old woolen garments, others knitted the 10x10cm granny squares, and others put them together in 140x200cm blankets. It’s been an amazing journey and I would like to thank everyone who helped along the way.”

Although Malta was expected to send 50 such blankets, the local crocheters have managed to create well over 170 and, once the exhibition in the Netherlands is over, these blankets will be resent to Malta and distributed among various charitable institutions.

This project is endorsed by the Valletta 2018 Foundation.

The crochet blankets will be exhibited at St George’s Square today and at HSBC in Valletta between Monday and Friday, February 28.