Many around the world have attempted and succeeded in winning a spot in the Guinness World Records for feats that may seem impossible for mankind. Now, a community group in Monchique is looking to create the world’s largest boot.
‘A maior bota do mundo’ was the brainchild of the Monchique Associação Espiral de Vontades. This local association works tirelessly to support people and families in disadvantaged and vulnerable situations. Local events are held to encourage the integration of these vulnerable groups into society and promote their overall well-being. Founded in 2011 by a group of friends who worked together to organise a bone marrow campaign, the association puts the community at the forefront of everything it does.
In 2018, the association attempted to achieve the record for the world’s largest blanket,using over 112,225 crocheted pieces to unite the community. Sadly their hopes were dashed due to the rise and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the group’s plans were put on hold. In a new bid to create the world’s largest boot, the association gathered more than 500 people from across the country to achieve Monchique’s very own world record. The association even went as far as to teach crochet in schools in Monchique to encourage youngsters to join in the fun, take pride in this charitable effort, and be part of the hill-top village’s world record attempt.
The workforce tasked with putting together the donated crocheted pieces included fifty locals. The mostly older association members began to assemble the crocheted boot pieces on 8 July after months of preparations. With just five days to complete the mammoth task, Monchique residents could see the largest boot known to man slowly taking shape.
Event organiser Luisa Martins expressed her gratitude to the dedicated team who gathered at 8 am and worked throughout the morning to piece the boot together at Monchique’s Juventude Desportiva Monchiquensesports park. Fighting the summer heat, the group returned later in the afternoon and worked late into the night to get the boot ready in time for the official adjudication on 13 July by Guinness World Records. “It’s been tiring and a lot of hard work, but it’s been worth it,”Luisa told me as she walked me around the enormous boot.
In this one-of-a-kind community activity, Luisa went on to explain that the art of crochet isn’t just a way to bring the community together. Crochet also has many health benefits, including stress relief, joint exercise and mind-strengthening capabilities.
Standing on a plateau above the football pitch, I couldn’t believe my eyes at the sheer scale of this project. But one question remained: “Why a boot?” Luisa explained that after the association’s plans for the world’s largest blanket were put on hold, they thought, ‘Why not use the material to create a boot instead?’
“It’s a fully functional boot, similar to a knitted sock,” Luisa said while showing me the double layers of the boot. If it were possible to hold it up, it would be fully usable, although it would take a giant to wear it and, of course, he would probably need a pair!
Made by crocheting 1.2 by 2-metre rectangular
square blankets together, each square used 24 balls of wool and took 72 hours to complete. The fully finished boot weighs in at 3,120kg – that’s over three tonnes – and took over 192,400 hours to complete using a staggering 62,400 balls of wool!
In the hopes of exceeding the required size, of over 7,000 square metres, I asked Luisa how confident she is about beating the world record. She said, “I’m optimistic. We’ve put in a lot of effort, but let’s see. I have faith.”
The completed crochet boot finally went on public display the following weekend (13 and 14 July) at the Juventude Desportiva Monchiquense sports park, where locals and visitors gathered to see the world record attempt with their own eyes. At the grand unveiling, a surveyor, a lawyer, and an architect gathered to check that the measurements were accurate and sufficient to gain the record. Meanwhile, guests were serenaded by the Senior Academy Choral Group and Marcelo Rio.
We will have to wait and see whether the association is indeed a world record holder. With Guinness World Records, the adjudication process can take up to twelve weeks to complete, but don’t worry – we will keep you up-to-date with the final result in the coming months.
While we await the official results, I’m sure you will join me in crossing our fingers and toes in hopes that this local charity has finally won the record they set out to achieve over six years ago! Who knows, Monchique could well be named in one of the most famous books in the world and give the Associação Espiral de Vontadesthe recognition they truly deserve.
For more information about the Associação Espiral de Vontades, visit: www.espiraldevontades.com
Main photo: Maior Bota do Mundo final piece
