Purler of a yarn: knit a world record

The Timaru District Council has issued a challenge to residents – it wants them to help knit the world’s largest blanket fort.

Timaru District Libraries manager Adele Hewlett said it was hoped the initiative would land the district a Guinness World Record.

The objective is to knit the equivalent of the length of seven rugby fields – 700 metres and break the current record of 625.79m.

This mark was achieved by an American event management company, Murderboat Productions, which partnered with blanket company Rumpl to create a large blanket fort in Portland, Oregon.

The record was officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records in August 2019.

‘‘The idea is that everyone in the community knits peggy

Timaru District Libraries manager

squares said.

‘‘These for the fort,’’ Hewlett would be sewn together to form the walls and roof of the fort.

‘‘Then, when the record attempt is over, we would divide up the fort into blankets that would be donated back to the community.’’

The library was collecting wool and needles to allow anyone interested in taking part to do so.

‘‘To beat the record, it is roughly 16 knitted squares for every person in the district.

‘‘Each square is knitted in garter stitch – 20 stitches by 40 rows – 10cm square – double knit yarn, 4mm needles.

‘‘It’s going to be a big job, but we think that the community is up to the challenge,’’ Hewlett said.

The knitting challenge begins on Saturday, coinciding with World Knit in Public Day.

‘‘For every 16 squares that a knitter returns to the library they will be able to enter a prize draw. There will be two draws – a childrens’, 16 and under, and an adults’ section,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s going to be a big job, but we think that the community is up to the challenge.’’ Adele Hewlett