The Big Blanket Project was completed and exhibited on 6th December 2017. The event was held at Conway Hall in Holborn, London, where all 50 blankets were laid out together for the first time, to make the floral image.
After the event, the blankets were taken to Crisis, who distributed them to their Centres.
This was a project of huge organisational challenges, but it produced many beautifully made blankets that each had a story behind them.
Over two hundred volunteers helped to create the blankets, some working alone, many in groups both organised (several Womens Institutes) and some formed especially, creating new friendships. A class of thirteen year old school children made one blanket, learning about recycling and sustainability as they did so. Another was made by college students, upcycling and using creative stitching techniques.
Five were made in a huge Making Day at Metal, Southend-on-Sea, organised by Tracy Spurgeon.
One was made by a mother and daughter group who meet every week to teach their children to knit and crochet.
Some groups needed extra help, and I'm so grateful for all the last minute squares produced to make up the gaps. Not to mention the last minute 'punk' blanket, held together with safety pins to replace one that didn't turn up at all.
Many thanks to my two assistants, Sabrina Begum and Vicky Cowin, without whom I couldn't have achieved anything. Huge thanks to the photographer, Steve Blunt, who also took the time lapse film which is just a work of art in itself.
Thanks to The Cass, London Metropolitan University for the support.
For more information about the project, please contact Gina Pierce. g.pierce@londonmet.ac.uk