Think outside the square blanket challenge

Years

Volunteers

Blankets

2025 Challenge is coming: 1 April – 31 July 2025

What is the Think Outside the Square (TOTS) Blanket Challenge?

Simply put it is a challenge for volunteers from all across Australia to participate in doing some good in the world. We ask participants to knit or crochet 20x20cm squares that we then sew (yes, more volunteers) into blankets for those most in need in our community.

We like to set ourselves lofty goals of donating blankets which like this year alone – we managed to get to a whopping 680 blankets in total. We hope that you can help us reach our target by joining our challenge in 2025!

If you can’t knit or crochet we always need help to sort squares or sew them together.

If you are a school, this is a great social justice activity to do within your classes, retirement villages have been amazing in helping us too. We welcome any age group and love it when we see our men getting involved. Scroll further down the page for our FAQ’s and previous results across the years.

Join the Challenge

MEET THE VOLUNTEERS

Join our community at our Free Sewing Bees

Now running Daytime and Evening sessions.

If you would like to come along to our FREE Monthly Sewing Bee’s – come and help us sew squares, knit blankets, learn to knit or even crochet – there is always someone here to show you how, enjoy a cuppa, few nibbles and meet other amazing members of our challenge!

We now have added DAYTIME Sewing Bee’s for those that find it difficult to join us for the evening sessions.

Our sewing Bee dates for 2025 are listed below for you:

Evening Sewing Bee – Wednesday 2 April 6pm-8pm

Morning Sewing Bee – Wednesday 16 April 11am -1pm

Evening Sewing Bee – Wednesday 7 May 6pm – 8pm

Morning Sewing Bee – Wednesday 21 May 11am – 1pm

Evening Sewing Bee – Wednesday 11 June 6pm – 8pm

Morning sewing Bee – Wednesday 25 June 11am – 1pm

Evening Sewing Bee – Wednesday 9 July 6pm-8pm

Morning Sewing Bee – Wednesday 23 July 11am -1pm

JOIN THE CHALLENGE

Heartfelt Hero – Sponsor needed for 2025

We are so grateful to The Bunker and Fed by the Bunker who have been our amazing Sponsor for 2024.

We are now seeking a SPONSOR for 2025 TOTS Challenge.

Every year, our amazing volunteers dedicate countless hours to knit, crochet, and sew blankets for our community in need. This year, we are seeking a generous Heartfelt Hero Sponsor to cover the cost of food and drinks for our hardworking volunteers who attend our 8 sewing bee’s throughout the challenge.

By becoming our Heartfelt Hero Sponsor, you’ll ensure that our volunteers stay fueled and energised as they create these beautiful, handmade blankets. Your support will make a significant difference in the lives of many!

Event Date: Tots Challenge Begins April 1, 2025 – Ends August 1st, 2025

Sponsorship Needs: Grazing platters/fruit and beverages for our 8 sewing bee’s – catering for up to 25-30 people. We are seeking to cover the cost of squares and blankets to be sent to us via Australia Post from our volunteers in other locations/ states who participate in this challenge.

Sponsorship Benefits: Recognition of our Heartfelt Hero in all our social media posts, your logo and details on our Website/TOTS Blanket Challenge Page, and the satisfaction of supporting a wonderful local cause!

Interested in becoming our 2025 Heartfelt Hero Sponsor? Reach out to us at [email protected]

Thank you for your generosity and support!

If you have any other queries you can contact us on 02 47324766

Our Charity Partners

TOTS Blanket Challenge results from FINAL 2024 Handover

You may have seen that we set ourselves an exceptionally high goal of creating 650 Blankets for 2024. In mid July – we thought perhaps that we should rethink our goal.. as we honestly thought we wouldnt make it. But, our volunteers turned it up another gear .. and not only did we make it, we exceeded it! 680 Blankets. What a year. What a result. WHAT A COMMUNITY. 680 blankets are now in the hands of our charity partners who are busily getting these out to those in need as we speak.

Thank you, TOTS community, you always seem to step up to the calls we put out on social media – calling for community to get invloved, knit, crochet, sew or even help us sort the squares – your unwavering support is just priceless.

To our incredible charity partners for all the work you do:

Link Wentworth Housing, Platform Youth Services, WestCare Penrith, Penrith Community Kitchen, The Haven – Nepean Women’s Shelter Incorporated, Cancer Wellness Support

TOTS Blanket Challenge results from FINAL 2023 Handover

We may have missed our mammoth target of trying to hit the 650 blankets for the year – but you couldnt wipe the smiles from our faces with the huge result! We handed over 547 for the year! As always, handing over these blankets is only part of their journey – its now in the hands of our incredible charity partners who get these blankets into the hands of those who need it most in our community.

Thank you, TOTS community, you always seem to step up the calls we put out on social media – calling for community to get invloved, knit, crochet, sew or even help us sort the squares – your unwavering support is just priceless.. and you certainly did. The squares and fully completed blankets were pouring in the the door and via the mail ( sorry Aust Post ) in our final days of the challenge for 2023

To our incredible charity partners for all the work you do:

Link Wentworth Housing, Platform Youth Services, WestCare Penrith, Penrith Community Kitchen, The Haven – Nepean Women’s Shelter Incorporated, Cancer Wellness Support

TOTS Blanket Challenge Results from Previous Years:

Over the years our challenge has certainly grown, not only in blanket numbers, but our supporters and volunteer base has certainly had a growth spurt!

Take a look at these figures from previous years:

April – July 2017 – 49

April – July 2018 – 70

April – July 2019 – 93

April – July 2020 – 200

April – July 2021 – 290

April – July 2022 – 539

April – July 2023 – 547

April- July 2024 – 680