Blanket Babes: Warmth and Color for Children of SMA

By Elizabeth Adlung

A child’s whole demeanor can change. Their eyes light up. It’s transformative. They may ask, “For me?” when they see their bright new blanket. “That moment of spark of life is the most beautiful thing to witness,” reports Gabriela Rodriguez, Executive Director of Casita Linda.

Since 2015 the Blanket Babes, a group of friends who love to knit and crochet, have been making blankets and ponchos for children in rural communities around San Miguel de Allende. To date nearly 70 blankets and 200 ponchos have been delivered to families in Los Charcos, Palo Colorado, La Cantera and Landeta.  The community of Loma Blanca received a new house from Casita Linda.

Hillary Smith, designer and virtuoso crocheter, founded and led Blanket Babes until her death last summer.

Although COVID slowed Casita Linda’s construction of houses, several Babes have built up an inventory of blankets and ponchos for children while they continued to meet on Zoom.

The Babes are now meeting and working in the Starbuck’s courtyard on Wednesdays from 11:30 to 1:30 in masks and safely distanced. Crocheted and knitted items are carefully made according to our guidelines so that they wear well and endure for many years.

We need more Babes to knit and crochet! Come and see our work and pictures of children with their blankets and ponchos. We give friendly companionship, yarn, hooks and guidelines to new members. If you aren’t ready to crochet yet, we need pesos so we can buy durable, washable yarn and supplies from local vendors. We appreciate your support! Look for us on Facebook at BlanketBabes.

Casita Linda (which means “pretty little house”) is a Mexican non-profit organization founded in 2001 that builds homes for families who are among the poorest of the poor in San Miguel in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. For more information, visit www.casitalinda.org.