Chennai: It was a spectacle of colours, like a garden of iridescent flowers in full bloom.

A colourful crochet measuring 11,148 square metres, the handiwork of 2,472 women who came together on Facebook, found a place in the Guinness World Records on Sunday. The project was the brainchild of Subashri Natarajan, CEO of a private company in India, and was called Mother India’s Crochet Queen (MICQ),

A closer look of this mosaic tapestry in vibygor colours reveals the Himalayan ranges and a Taj Mahal in white thread, while a cyan peacock shows off its rich plumage in another mosaic.

From one nook, the work of Indian expat women screamed: “I Love You India” in green, white and saffron.

And, standing alone, yet distinct, was an map of India, done intricately in green and earth hues, a testimony to the passion and labour that went into its making.

MICQ’s target was to make a crochet blanket that would surpass an earlier record measuring 3,377 square metres. made by South African women last year.

Granny Square pattern

When Natarajan set the yarn rolling in August on social media, she had no inkling of what she was getting hooked onto. And, before she could unhook her needle, there were requests from women not just from different parts of India but globally, seeking to be a part of this mission.

Each participant could make any number of single blankets measuring a square metre and the pattern used was Granny Square. All the blankets would then be stitched together.

Cut to five months later, Natarajan and her global family of 2,000-plus women could not contain their joy when on January 31, Pravin Patel, adjucator at Guinness World Records, declared MICQ’s entry into the esteemed book.

With a blanket that stretched to 11,148 square metres, MICQ eclipsed the African women’s record of 3,357 square metres with a margin that would give future challengers a good run.

Patel said: “I am absolutely delighted to adjudicate the world’s largest crochet blanket. We had strict guidelines and MICQ met every one of them.”

Dream fulfilled

Natarajan said she had always nurtured a dream to do something that would be spectacular and also benefit society. MICQ was launched with this idea.”

Chief guest for the event, Tamil actor Jayam Ravi, who is still basking in his role of ‘Thani Oruvan’, referred to Natarajan as ‘Thani Oruthi,’ (Lone Woman) and an achiever. He praised all the members of MICQ for helping Natarajan in fulfilling her dream.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Chennai