More than 3 000 knitted baby beanies have been made by the staff and patrons of City of Cape Town libraries who have been clicking away the past two months. The project aimed to honour Mandela Day and to celebrate the libraries mascot LiBee.
‘When we challenged our library staff, friends and family to join our beanie project and to knit bee beanies, we knew they’d buzz to the challenge. The project celebrates our library mascot LiBee and the City libraries’ upcoming 1000 Stories before School Reading Campaign. In support of Mandela Day, the 3 149 beanies, and several other baby items knitted by our avid crafters, will be donated to City clinics for distribution to babies who visit these facilities for their health checkups,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
The 1000 Stories Before School Reading campaign will start in February 2022 at all City libraries and will focus on the joy, benefits and importance of reading to children from 26 weeks of pregnancy until they go to school when they can start learning to read for themselves.
The top five libraries who have thus far collected the most beanies are:
Edgemead – 595
Wynberg – 571
Southfield – 480
Durbanvile – 240
Lansdowne – 147
‘Staff have certainly come on board and used this initiative to challenge one another or to challenge other library communities. Some libraries have used this as a team building exercise and staff have been hard at work knitting and stitching these little bee beanies. The project has created a sense of community and unity and we are grateful for all the hands who made it possible,’ said Councillor Badroodien.
Southfield library sent out a challenge to their community and teacher Jenny Lawrence (from the Cultivating Excellence Cottage School in Plumstead) was so intrigued by the wonderful initiative that she decided she would implement the programme at her school. She also challenged her pupils to make their own knitting needles using dowel sticks and beads.
This initiative will be used as part of an upliftment project and sharing of skills as well as teaching the children the importance of giving back to the community.
In other libraries the Friends groups and knitting clubs jumped on board and donated wool and needles to the project.
Milnerton Library’s knitting club and the Spin-a-Yarn Knitting club of Lansdowne Library joined in the fun and also knitted blankets and other clothing for the winter handouts.
Milnerton is also the only library who has a centenarian knitting for them. Doreen Jacobs was born on 9 November 1920 in District Six. She is currently living in George and boasts that she used to knit socks for servicemen during World War II.
‘While the project was a wonderful way to get the community and staff working towards a common goal, knitters know there are health benefits to their craft. It can lower blood pressure as well as reduce depression and anxiety. Knitting has the added benefit of knowing you are creating useful items and I am grateful for every single knitter who took up the challenge,’ added Councillor Badroodien.