What Is Yarn Bombing?

Intro to Yarn Bombing

I was first introduced to yarn bombing when I was a senior in college. I was taking an art class that focused on Punk Art and the DIY Movement. We had Inga, a.k.a. Rockpool Candy, and Andy from MyTarPit come and talk to us a bit about their art and, in particular, art bombing, as we were planning to do our own guerrilla art movement on campus.

Before I met Inga, I knew some crocheting basics, but I had never thought of using it for anything more than hats and scarves--which I wasn't entirely interested in making. So, at that point, crocheting was a pointless skill for me to have.

Then I saw her beautiful artwork and learned how crocheted and knitted things could be made into so much more than just hats, scarves, and sweaters, and I was hooked (literally, haha). Inga is the one who taught me how to crochet in the round, and soon after, I discovered amigurumi, and there has been no turning back for me since then.

Anyway, for our on-campus art bombing, we planned to create mini canvases to hide around campus for other students to find--like Andy and several other students who worked with Inga to yarn bomb trees on campus. It looked amazing, and it was a lot of fun to participate in. After Inga and Andy left, we completed another guerrilla art bombing in our library with sewn objects. Love it or hate it, the whole school buzzed about it. And isn't that just awesome? What is the purpose of art, after all, if it doesn't spark something?

After I graduated, Inga and Andy returned for "ELEMENTALS Birds"; so bummed I missed that one!

History of Yarn Bombing

Yarn bombing goes by many names; yarnstorming, guerrilla knitting/crocheting, urban knitting/crocheting, and graffiti knitting/crocheting--to name a few. I prefer yarn bombing or yarnbombing, though, because it can be knit or crocheted works, and...that's the name I was taught, so it kind of just stuck. :)

Yarn bombing is a type of street art or graffiti. Like graffiti that comes from a spray can, it can vary greatly in style, aesthetics, and meaning. The big difference between yarn bombing and graffiti, however, is the purpose behind it. While spray painting or tagging is typically meant to claim a place or vandalize (as well as display art and beautify), yarn bombings' main motivation is to bring life, warmth, and a feeling of belonging and community.

Yarn bombing is a fairly new phenomenon in the street art world, with the earliest examples of it dating back to as early as 2002, though the term didn't really start to catch on until around 2005. It started out as cozies over objects or sewn together knitted/crocheted materials. Gradually, over time, artists have developed custom designs, created amigurumi-like creatures, and incorporated characters into their work. There is a wide range of techniques and styles now that make up yarn bombing.

Thanks to the internet, the movement has been able to spread rapidly worldwide as groups have come together to yarnbomb their cities and share their work over the web. Some artists of note are Lauren O'Farrell (a.k.a. Deadly Knitshade) from the UK and her collective, Knit the City, the Twilight Taggers from Australia, and Joann Matvichuk from Alberta, who founded International Yarnbombing Day, which was first observed June 11, 2011.

Beautifying Urban Environments With Yarn

While yarn bombing can be used to make deep, meaningful statements about the world around us, in most cases, the purpose is simple--to create something fun and beautiful just because it might make someone else's day.

While fibre artists will often yarn bomb trees and other natural objects, the yarn bombing pieces that appeal to me the most are ones found in urban settings. This is not just because they are so unexpected but because of the unlikely pairing of the organic craft world with the inorganic urban world.

Alone, urban environments tend to feel cold, unfriendly, hard, nonchalant, and extremely robotic. There is no life or colour. On the other side, the very nature of knit objects is to create warmth, love, and comfort. When these two worlds are combined, something magical happens. Our mundane, everyday routine is suddenly transformed into something more. The average passer-by's goal stops being simply to get from point A to point B, like some sort of machine, and they feel--at least for a moment--like a human being again.

Whether that is to admire the work or criticize it is actually irrelevant. The important thing is that for a moment, however short it may be, the passer-by is thinking of something other than what's next on their busy schedule. They have taken a breath second just to simply be alive.

Yarn bombing and other creative street art used to bring people together and allow us a moment to live is not, in my opinion, something that should be odd or uncommon. I believe that, especially in this time where everyone in "plugged in" it has become necessary for us to be reminded that we are not machines, but living, breathing creatures capable of emotion and critical thinking.

Growing up in New York City, I know how depressing a place it can be. When I think of the city, the first thing that comes to my mind is the colour gray, followed by dust, dirt, car pollution, and monochromatic buildings. Stumbling upon yarn bombing in such a place like this is like finding buried treasure by accident.

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Making a Statement

While it isn't necessary for yarn bombs to have a specific purpose or thing to stay, it is still street art, and graffiti has been used in many ways throughout its history to make political comments and force people to re-evaluate their ways of thinking and living. Don't let yarn bombing's cuddly exterior fool you; it could also be just as powerful a tool for getting the word out.

Ask yourself: what is important to you? What needs to change in your community? How can you use yarn bombing to get the message across?

When it comes to making statements with yarn bombing it is best to go big or don't even bother!

Drawing Attention to the Unseen

Yarn bombing is a great way to draw attention to something that otherwise goes unnoticed, like a tree, a statue, or some random street post. Drawing attention to these things can make a statement, tell a story, tell a joke, show the beauty in something not considered attractive, or--could even be used as a business strategy to draw in curious customers. Again, the purpose here is to stop passers-by in their tracks and get them to break their routine for a moment to think about something unexpected.

If you're thinking about yarnbombing ask yourself: what story would you like to tell? What neglected, ignored place could you create something incredible and beautiful?

Turning Something Old Into Something New

Like drawing attention to something unseen, yarn bombing can bring new life to something old and unwanted. I have seen whole dining sets transforming through yarn bombing. Couches, bikes, beds, cars, pianos, you name it, and I bet someone has yarn bombed it. It's amazing and a really unique way to add flavor to your home without having to replace all your furniture.

This is actually what sparked my recent interest in yarn bombing once again. I have these old wooden chairs that were given to my husband and me when I first moved in with him. They aren't really my taste, but they are not damaged or junky, so it felt a shame to just toss them. Then I started thinking about yarn bombing and got the idea to give these old chairs new life by yarn bombing them. With us moving, taking care of my son during the day, and preparing for yet another baby--I haven't exactly had much time to yarnbomb a doorknob, let alone four dining chairs--so the project is currently on hold. When it gets done, I'll be sure to add pictures here!

Useful Yarn Bombs

Utilitarian types may not be so fond of yarnbombing. After all, what's the point of it anyway? Ugh! If you can't use it for something, it must not have any really purpose.

Setting aside my ideals that anything that can make you smile and feel happy serves a well enough purpose, I'd like to point out that there are ways to create useful yarn bombing installations. I have seen yarnbomb planters for flowers, yarnbombed patches for holes in fences and cracks in the pavement, and yarnbombed book covers. Even cozies for electronics and devices could be considered a kind of yarn bombing...in a way.

The point is, yarn bombs can be useful--if you are creative enough to think of ways to make them useful!

How to Yarn Bomb

If you can knit, crochet, or even just sew, you can yarn bomb. I hope what I've already talked about has given you some ideas on how you might be able to go about doing it, but here are some tips on the actual process.

3 Methods of Yarn Bombing: Freestyle, Semi-Freestyle, and Planned

Decide the look you're going for. In my experience, there are really three types of yarn bombing; freestyle, semi-freestyle, and planned out.

• With freestyle, you could literally just grab a bunch of random pieces of knitted or crocheted material, piece them together over something like puzzle pieces, and stitch it all together. This way of yarnbombing would work best if you have a collection of swatches sitting in a box, a bunch of knitted sweaters you don't know what to do with, or if you only know how to sew because you can just sew found materials together. In this scenario, you have no idea what you'll end up with.
• With a semi-freestyle, you might have a little idea or plan for what you'd like to do. Maybe you know what colours you'd like to incorporate or have an idea of how the end result is going to look. You still wing most of the project, but there is at least a little planning. People who only know how to sew may benefit from this method as well.
• With planned yarn bombs, start with sketches and measurements and drafts. You know exactly what you want the piece to look like when it's done. For amigurumi artists and knitters/crocheters that are very interested in certain aesthetics, this method works best.

Permanent or Not?

Public yarn bombs are really not meant to be permanent pieces. Eventually, they will get disgusting and filthy and need to be removed. Think about this as you plan your yarn bombing. How long will you keep it up? How will you take it down? What materials can you use to help the piece last longer?

Vandalism

Incredible as it is, yarn bombing public places is still considered graffiti, and you can get charged for vandalizing if caught. It is best to do it in places where you've gotten permission, this is also a good way to set up a set timeframe for the installation of your piece. Of course, the risk is all yours, and depending on where you live, the punishment may not be so harsh—so try it if you dare.

Other Forms of Art Bombing

Yarn bombing isn't the only way to bring art, life, and community into an environment. You can use just about any art medium to achieve the same results.

• Spray Paint - the more "traditional" form of graffiti and the most heavily prosecuted, so watch out. You could also use art deco pens and stencils.
• Paint - Murals are a go-to way of beautifying a community. You could paint other things as well to make a statement. For example, a high school friend of mine was motivated to paint trash cans in the community to encourage people to keep the streets clean.
• Wheat Pasting - wheat pasting is made up of drawings or designs of some sort that are put up the same way you would put up wallpaper or billboard posters.
• Moss Graffiti - This organic graffiti will live and grow after you have applied it to a wall or wherever you put it. It's a perfect medium if you are trying to make a statement about nature.
• Sculpture - Altering existing forms or creating sculptures from reclaimed materials are great ways to art bomb.
• Sewing - You can achieve a very similar feel to yarn bombing from sewing, especially if you use knitted fabrics.
• Paper - Origami and other paper sculptures can be used to decorate or art bomb your home or a venue.
• Recycled Materials - One great way to really get people to take notice is to use recycled materials in your art piece. I, for one, am always amazed when I see artwork that turns trash into treasure.
• Mosaics - I have seen several lamp posts around NYC decorated in mosaic tiles, as well as some beautiful murals on walls.

These are just a few ideas of other materials you can use to art bomb. If you have any other suggestions feel free to recommend them in the comments!

Comments

Thomos Max on March 07, 2017:

Thank you soooooo much for such beautiful designs --very nice! Hello ...

RTalloni on April 14, 2016:

Congrats your Hub of the Day award for this on yarn and art bombing. Reminds me of those choirs that step out the crowd in a mall to sing to shoppers. :)

Virginia Kearney from United States on April 14, 2016:

My students have written about graffiti art before but I had not heard about yarn bombing. I love this idea and will have to share it.

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on April 14, 2016:

Samantha, this sounds fun and pretty cool to yarn bombing. (I could picture this as the center theme for a future cozy mystery idea for authors.) It's pretty creative as well. Thanks for sharing and congrats on HOTD!

Elaina Baker from USA on May 16, 2013:

I have never heard of this. What a neat way to perk up an area that is otherwise mundane, industrial, depressing, or in need of inspiration! Very cool.

Samantha Harris (author) from New York on March 18, 2013:

Thanks! Greatly appreciated :)

Suzanne Ridgeway from Dublin, Ireland on March 17, 2013:

Hi Sam,

How interesting, love how you got into yarn bombing. I used the chair in an earlier hub but love all the different ways you have shown here. Never knew about it so thanks for sharing this interesting art form!

Voted up, Useful, Interesting, Shared Pinned!

Thelma Raker Coffone from Blue Ridge Mountains, USA on March 15, 2013:

I had never heard of yarn bombing. Thanks for educating me about it. It looks really great!

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on March 15, 2013:

Thanks to this introduction to yarn bombing. It looks so much more positive than it sounds. I bet it produces purposeful bonding between hose who engage in it. Voted Up.

Samantha Harris (author) from New York on March 14, 2013:

Haha no it's not really legal unless you have permission or if its your property, of course.

Priyanka Estambale from United States on March 14, 2013:

This looks and sounds exciting. I was scanning through the web when I saw a whole car shaped crochet object.

I wonder how cool it would be if I walked down and saw a tree covered in crochet decorations.!! I should probably try once although I am not sure if it would be legal.