Take your fiber art to the streets – bus stops, benches, light posts, car bumpers, gardens, playgrounds, bike racks – you get the idea! (Local ordinances vary, so if you want to yarn bomb in a public space, check your community’s guidelines before you begin! In some areas, yarn bombing carries hefty vandalism fines. That part would NOT be fun!)
It’s sometimes referred to as knit graffiti or crochet graffiti. No matter what, yarn-bombing installations are colorful displays.
What is yarn bombing?
It’s a form of street art by temporarily covering an object with knitted, crocheted, woven, stitched or wrapped yarn. Who removes it? Sometimes the artist, sometimes an anonymous person, sometimes a local authority. It started as a fun way to bring fiber-y smiles to a community. Some say it started with a local shop stitching a cover for its door handle, then the practice took on a life of its own. Everything from sign posts to trains can (and have) been yarn bombed.
We interviewed Susie Nicholson who enjoys embellishing our world with her yarn bombs. Read through her amazing story of bringing joy to people with her crocheting. Here she is doing a yarn installation on a tree trunk.
How to make a yarn bomb?
Artists create yarn bombs for unique situations or locations, or they may upcycle a creation from a thrift shop to decorate a tree, fence, building – even a mailbox! Do ask permission before yarn bombing public or private property.
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It’s a great way to use up scraps of yarn to make this type of street art adding a splash of color to an urban environment.
Here are some great ideas to embellish your world with a bit of yarn and color.
Yarn Bombing Inspiration
Whether you knit or crochet, take your needles and hooks to the streets with some yarn bombing street art! Stitch colorful creations with your yarn talents to be enjoyed by all.
Crochet groups get together to plan their form of street art. It’s so much fun to bring the bright colors to a public place.
Yarn Bomb a Stair Rail
Are you a more private yarn bomber? Blog a la Cart has you covered! She created a Yarn Bombed Stair Rail to brighten her home. She doesn’t have to worry about what will happen to her art when it rains, and it adds fun on the home front.
Yarn Bomb a Pole
This Yarn Bombed Pole from Twilight Taggers is an easy beginning to your yarn bombing career. Not only are there fun tuts for projects, but Twilight Taggers also guides you through the etiquette of yarn bombing, then how-to tips for installation and take-down.
Yarn Bomb Tree Sweater
Vintage crochet potholders piece together to make a funky Tree Sweater! Maggie Overby Studios makes creative use of a thrift store collection that reminds us of a time when handmade potholders such as these could be found in every kitchen. Oh, the chocolate chip cookies that these beauties brought out hot from the oven!
Mailbox Monster Feet Yarn Bomb
Knits for Life is a collaboration of two yarn bombing street art sisters who take their fabulous fiber creations to public places. Much of their art is full of humor, such as their series of Monster Feet on mailboxes and bus stops. So, are they creating whimsy? You bet!
Flower Yarn Bombs
Love these little Grow Flower Bombs from Julie Measures! Mounted on sticks, you can “plant” the fluff-ball blossoms just about anywhere to brighten a landscape!
Flowery Fence Yarn Bomb
Attic 24 has bunches of yarn bombing ideas, including this Flowery Fence. This would be a great group project – everyone makes some flowers, then gather to string them together!
Finger Knitting Yarn Bomb
Start ’em out young! So easy a 6-year-old can do it! Finger Knit Yarn Bombs are easy for kids to learn, and there are no pokey needles to get in the way. Zing Zing Tree’s instructions are very clear with step-by-step photographs (of small hands at work!) to get the kids started with a quiet indoor or under-a-shady-tree activity.
Community Yarn Bomb Project
Have you heard the expression, “Go big or go home”? Five Points Gallery in Torrington, CT, staged a community-wide Torrington Yarn Bomb Yarn Bomb with over 200 locations! But for folks not quite up to yarn bombing a bridge, there were plenty of smaller projects available.
Do you need permission to yarn bomb?
It’s a good idea to check with whoever owns the property that you plan on yarn bombing. If not, they might take all of your hard work and art down soon after you install your colorful yarn decorations.
What’s the point of yarn bombing?
Yarn bombing started to bring attention to fiber arts and how knitting and crocheting is more than making clothes, hats and gloves. Fiber art can decorate our towns and communities, as well as our bodies.
Does yarn bombing damage trees?
Generally, the yarn stretches with tree growth or rots away over time and doesn’t damage trees. Just like all outdoor art installations, yarn bombing needs maintenance to keep its fresh and colorful look.
How do you wrap the yarn pieces around the trees?
This is a project best suited for two or more people, unless the tree is fairly small in diameter. Prepare your knitted or crocheted piece. You can sew together several pieces or make one large piece that fits around the diameter of the tree or pole. Then, holding the ends together, stitch or crochet the piece around the tree.
Are you now hooked (Ha! See what I did there?) on yarn bombing?
Check out all of our knitting projects and inspiration on Create Whimsy!
