Make a Blanket Day in the United States is February 15, and guests aboard two Holland America Line Grand Voyages are knitting their way around the world in support of Project Linus, a non-profit organization that provides knitted blankets to children who are in need. The organization was named after the adorable security blanket-toting character (Linus) from the Peanuts comic strip.
Also known as “blanketeers,” knitters aboard the 128-day Grand World Voyage and 133-day Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole gather every sea day in Ocean Bar for a few hours to turn yards of yarn into colorful blankets for children who are ill, traumatized or otherwise in need.
National Make a Blanket Day raises awareness for the organization, and the guests (and sometimes crew members) on board who dedicate their time and knitting talent are passionate about the cause.
“This has become a special tradition aboard our Grand World Voyages over the years,” said Henk Mensink, Zuiderdam’s hotel general manager. “We are grateful to our guests for making the best use of their sea days for such a meaningful cause.”
Blanketeers on Holland America Line Grand World Voyages have been knitting for Project Linus for at least 20 years. Guests Marty and Gail Gottlieb from Jacksonville, Florida, have been spearheading the Grand World Voyage efforts for the past six world cruises, sourcing the yarn prior to departure and organizing the sessions on board. The Gottliebs boarded Zuiderdam Jan. 4, 2025, with nearly one million yards of yarn in more than 30 colors that will be turned into a collection of hundreds of blankets over the fourth-month cruise. (During the 2023 and 2024 Grand World Voyages, guests produced a combined 1,100 blankets!)
This year, they also collected yarn for the first-ever Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole, which departed January 25. Guest Johanna Oostewegel is overseeing the effort aboard Zaandam.
Guests can knit during the sea-day session or take their yarn to complete blankets wherever they wish. Most blankets take from eight days to three weeks to complete, depending on the complexity. New knitters are welcome, with fellow guests and the ship’s staff lending a teaching hand.
“Gail and I feel good and enjoy giving to others,” said Marty Gottlieb, Holland America Line guest and Project Linus chapter member. “We enjoy having other guests have the same feeling as we do, making a handmade blanket for a child. Over the years we have heard from fellow passengers how their grandchild or child had received a Project Linus blanket while in the hospital and kept them into adulthood. The blanketeers feel an accomplishment finishing the blanket, giving the child the comfort and security of the blanket made with love.”
After the Grand Voyages conclude in May and June, the Gottliebs will ship the completed blankets to Project Linus’ headquarters in Missouri for distribution.