Two-Tone, Blue Crochet Blanket
Date2023
Dimensions57.2 × 61 cm (22 1/2 × 24 in.)
Credit LineGift of Sandie Lynn Fletcher, London, Ontario, 2024
Object number2024.006.001
Label TextLondoner Sandie Fletcher made this crocheted blue blanket in 2023. Fletcher moved to London from Toronto in 2015. Homeless in Toronto for many years, she was initially homeless in London, too. A chance encounter with Allison DeBlaire from 519 Pursuit led to changes. DeBlaire and her colleague, Amber Irvine, helped Fletcher find temporary accommodation and then helped her through the process of finding permanent housing. Fletcher moved into permanent housing on July 20, 2015, and has remained housed ever since. Having received help from 519 Pursuit, Fletcher became involved in volunteering for that organization. To show her gratitude, she also crocheted blankets for staff. Her crocheting has since evolved even further. Today, Fletcher crochets blankets to give to homeless people. Asked about making this and other blankets, Fletcher said: "I think about who would use them. You know, whether I want them to be- well, this one's kind of thin because I used a single, but when I use a double, it gets thicker, so it gets more warmth…and I just think about helping people because that- that is whom my, my dad raised me to be. And even when I was on the streets of Toronto and Jess was helping me, I was still helping people. So it was like I was paying it forward." The fact that Fletcher is able to crochet is related to being housed. She said,
"I've crocheted for a long time, on and off. There's just certain... You know, you can't do it when you're on the streets, you know, because crochet hooks can be used as weapons or classified as weapons. So if you get caught with it, like a crochet hook, you could end up, if you're in a- go to a shelter, they can end up taking it away, the crochet hook because it could be used as a weapon. So there's not really a way that you can do it on the street. So it's just when I would be staying at Jess's or my friends' or actually had a home that I can do my crocheting again."
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