Crochet blankets made from recycled fabric provide shade during Spanish summer

Crochet blankets, which have been in the making by a local crochet group for the past three years, will replace traditional plastic awnings used to shade the streets from the hot summer’s sun

Spotted: During summer, temperatures in southern Spain are usually over 30 degrees centigrade during the day and hover around the mid-twenties at night. Due to the high temperature and intense sun rays, many cities and towns across this region have been using plastic awnings to shade their walkways. However, the town of Alhaurín de la Torre in Malaga have found a more eco-friendly solution to plastic.  

Three years ago, the City Council’s Department of the Environment started collaborating with Eva Pacheco, a local crochet teacher. Pachecho, alongside a dozen of her students, used recycled fabric to crochet a vibrantly patterned assemblage of sunshades for the town. 

Since then, Pacheco and her students have continued to weave, modifying and extending the sunshades year on year. They now extend to about 500 square meters (5,381 square feet) of fabric, according to Alhaurin’s town hall website. 

The gigantic fort-like mantel covers about 60 meters in length between the pharmacy and the Plaza del Conde in Alhaurín de la Torre. Aside from their environmental impact, the shades have also helped to boost local tourism and the town’s social profile. The images on social media have received more than 427,000 views and garnered support from all over the world.  

The town’s Counselor highlighted that the crochet project not only represents a commitment to respect the environment but also promotes local and traditional commerce, and is a unique selling point for visitors who come to the historic centre of Alhaurín de la Torre. 

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