Mumbai woman part of group that made largest crochet blanket, enters Guinness

For Panvel resident Sarala Sonawane, Sunday brought double delight — not only did she, along with several other women, enter the Guinness Book of World Records for making the largest crochet blanket, but also was able to contribute for a noble cause that followed soon after.

Sonawane, a homemaker, and several others made the record-breaking work in the competition that was held in Chennai. The blanket that was made in parts and then joined together was later removed to its individual pieces to give to children, the needy and in old-age homes.

A project by Mother India's Crochet Queens, it saw 2,472 women and children from across India make the world's largest blanket at 11,148sqmt. "All of us were asked to make granny square pattern, which was later knitted into a big one," said Sonawane.

The previous record was of 3,377sqmt by a group from South Africa. "We were so happy that we managed to make the blanket thrice as big," said Subashri Natarajan, initiator of the project who contacted all members.

Natarajan contacted women on Facebook to complete the feat in "sharp six month's time". "It started in August and we managed to do it in six months. I always wanted to do something good; what better than to create something that contributes to a noble cause. As there were a lot of beginners, we ensured that the pattern was fixed so that they too could participate," said Natarajan.

The youngest participant was four years old, while the oldest was 93.