Stitch and Unwind

  • About
    • Find Us Online
  • Knitting
  • Crochet
    • Afghans
  • Full Patterns
  • Videos
  • Newsletters
  • Giveaways

Yarn Bombing: Crazy Knitters Take up a Rebellious Art Form

July 3, 2014 by AllFreeKnitting 9 Comments

Yarn Bombing Hits Logan Square

If you happen to be looking for yarn bombing ideas, it’s probably best to start with a cozie pattern (but you didn’t hear it from me– yarn bombing is illegal, you crazy hooligan). You can find inspiration on the All Free Knitting Pinterest Board for Yarn Bombing Ideas. We’ve had some important discussions raised on our blog posts Yarn Bombing with a Cause and Yarn Bombing: Would You Do It?

 

These rabble-rousers choose to deface property and then tag their work. They stealthily move through the night with ninja-like precision. Some use this guerilla art form as a political statement or a call to action, while some just do it for kicks. Nothing can compare to the shock of witnessing public property covered in… yarn! Who knew knitters could be so rebellious?

 

Paris Sidewalk Cracks from Juliana Santacruz Herrera

Paris Sidewalk Cracks from Juliana Santacruz Herrera

 

Yarn Bomb Squid Tree from The Dapper ToadIn all seriousness, “yarn bombing,” sometimes referred to as yarn graffiti or guerrilla knitting, has taken the world by storm. Departing from the usual grandma sweaters and knit tea cozies, knitters take handcrafted pieces and cover poles, bike racks, trees, sculptures, and even public transportation. These eye-catching knit cozies usually appear in bright and unusual colors (like this wild yarn bomb from The Dapper Toad). People usually remove the pieces quickly because they deteriorate in inclement weather. When yarn bombing had its public heyday in 2011, it appeared to be a popular and impermanent yarn trend. However, this rebellious art form has stood the test of time since its invention in 2005 and continues to maintain popularity throughout Asia, Europe, Canada, and the United States.

 

Jessie Hemmons: Street Artist & YarnbomberMany knitters use yarn bombing to make social and political statements. As seen in a New York Times article, artist Agata Oleksiak covered Wall Street’s famous “Charging Bull” in a pink and purple camouflage sweater. The fuzzy sculpture has since earned the title “Wolly Bully”. Jessie Hemmons (pictured) covered the Rocky Statue in a bright pink sweater saying “Go See the Art,” urging Philadelphia visitors to see the (often ignored) art museums near the tourist trap. Many yarn bombers want to juxtapose the impersonal, industrial, and manufactured structures of the urban streets with personal and colorful handicrafts. Others want to make a decidedly feminine mark in an urban landscape characterized by masculinity

 

Yarn Bomb Chair from Jessie At HomeHowever, the practice started as a whimsical idea by Texan shop owner Magda Sayeg. After seeing how much the public enjoyed the knitted doorknob cozy on her boutique, she took to the streets of Houston to cover other structures in yarn. Citizens loved the surprise of seeing a cozy knit on an unexpected fixture. People have been covering light polls, bus stops, and bike racks ever since.

Recently, yarn bombing has taken an interesting turn– instead of covering structures on the street, people have brought the art back into their homes. Now thrift store finds and cheap plastic chairs don colorful yarns and fluffy pom poms. We love this example from Jessie At Home.

Whether on the street or in the living room, for a bold political agenda or for a wacky idea, knitters put their personal stitch on an impersonal structure and bring joy to others. And isn’t that what knitting is all about?

 

Culebra Simple Shawlette KitBONUS! Culebra Simple Shawlette Kit
Gifted by: Bijou Basin Ranch

We are giving away one Culebra Simple Shawlette Pattern Kit–including both the pattern and enough yarn to make the project–to one lucky winner. The deadline to enter is July 09, 2014 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time.

As a knitter, one of the things that I love most is experimenting with new yarns and fibers. Wool is a stand-by favorite, don’t get me wrong, but there’s nothing quite as exciting as seeing what you can make a new yarn do for you. When I discovered the Bijou Basin Ranch line of yarns, spun from yak down, I was absolutely delighted, and, naturally, couldn’t wait to get it on my needles.

 

 

What would you yarn bomb and why?

 

 

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Follow Us
AllFreeKnitting
Editor at AllFreeKnitting
AllFreeKnitting is dedicated to the best free knitting patterns, tutorials, tips and articles on knitting. From easy knitted afghan patterns to complex lace knitting patterns, we find and deliver the best free knitting patterns from all over the web. Plus, we feature free product reviews and giveaways of all the latest and greatest products including yarn, knitting books, totes, and more. AllFreeKnitting is a wonderful online resource for knitters of all skill levels.
Follow Us
Latest posts by AllFreeKnitting (see all)
  • Blissful Blankets: 11 Knit Afghan Patterns - January 21, 2021
  • How to Knit a Baby Blanket for Any Nursery - January 14, 2021
  • For the Lazy Knitters: 25 Simple Knitting Patterns - January 13, 2021

Share and Enjoy !

0Shares
0 0

Filed Under: News Tagged With: allfreeknitting.com, Ashley Alfirevic, yarn art, yarn bombing, yarn trends

Comments

  1. Char55 says

    July 3, 2014 at 11:27 am

    What gives yarn bombers the right to deface other people’s sculptures? Would they be “amused” if someone covered their car with a yarnbombing project and they come out to discover it in the morning when they’re already late for getting kids to school and getting to work? To me it shows an utter disregard for other people’s property. While it might look good (to them) for a day or so…what happens after several days of rain, dust, litter, bird poop and dog pee? What if birds or other small animals get caught in the strands?

    Reply
    • Jodi DeGeorge says

      July 4, 2014 at 9:24 am

      I don’t think I have ever seen or heard such a negative comment about yarnbombing anywhere. I respect your feelings, but I do not agree . As far as defacing, I think that takes it a bit too far, it is not permanent like spray paint or breaking anything. After a few days it might get dirty or dusty sure, but even flowers lose their blooms after a few days, right? They are artists statements more than anything, meant for us to take pause in our busy day and look at the whimsical side of life.

      Reply
  2. Elane says

    July 4, 2014 at 3:26 am

    First off I would like to say wonderful blog!
    I had a quick question in which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.

    I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear
    your thoughts prior to writing. I’ve had difficulty clearing my thoughts in getting my
    thoughts out. I do enjoy writing however it just seems like the first
    10 to 15 minutes are lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips?

    Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Mireya says

    July 4, 2014 at 12:49 pm

    It’s an remarkable post in support of all the internet
    visitors; they will take benefit from it I am sure.

    Reply
  4. Char55 says

    July 4, 2014 at 12:50 pm

    Do the yarn bombers come back and remove their art after a few days, or are other people left with no choice but to clean up after these “artists”????

    Reply
  5. move to hawaii or california says

    July 25, 2014 at 7:50 am

    I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours as of late, but I never found
    any interesting article like yours. It is beautiful price sufficient for me.
    In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made excellent content material as you did, the net can be much more helpful than ever before.

    Reply
  6. Joan says

    August 22, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    Check out Wall Street in Asheville. They covered street posts and the famous gigantic Flat Iron in front of the Flatiron Bldg. Courtesy of Purl’s Yarn Emporium and their creative knitters! BTW they do take them down later! They are really entertaining and fun to walk among them!

    Reply
  7. Ellen says

    August 23, 2016 at 1:14 am

    I live in Kamloops, BC. Three years ago our city’s Main Street was yarn bombed. First time I had seen or heard of such a thing. It was charming. And obviously sanctioned by the downtown merchants.

    Reply
  8. Paula says

    August 23, 2016 at 1:19 am

    Hi myself and a few parents are yarn bombing my sons school fence with the permission of the head teacher of course in green because they are having a coffee morning for macmillan cancer at the end of September.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Email Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube RSS

Subscribe to the Stitch and Unwind Newsletter.

Categories

Knit & Crochet Magazines

I Like Crochet: Five Glam Projects that Dazzle

How to Crochet a Bavarian Rectangle from I Like Crochet

Free eBook Download

Homemade Mother's Day Gifts eBook

Homemade Mother’s Day Gifts: Free eBook!

The weather is starting to get consistently warmer, the birds are chirping more and more, and the flowers are starting to bloom - spring has sprung, … [Read More...]

Tutorials

Blissful Blankets: 11 Knit Afghan Patterns

This winter weather has been pretty crazy where our offices are located. Temperatures have been both in the 40s and nearing zero in the same week, and … [Read More...]

Archives

Afghan Tutorials

19 Jaw Dropping Crochet Afghans

Crochet Tutorials

The Cutest Kitchen: 12 Kitchen Crochet Patterns

Knitting Tutorials

You Knit That with What? + 9 Free Patterns

Holiday Projects

Twelve Crochet Christmas Carol Patterns

Yarn Stash Organization

Get Organized: Tips to Sort Your Stash

Free Full Patterns

Free Pattern: Crochet Wrap Pattern from Red Heart!

Prime Publishing Craft Group
Copyright © 2021 · Stitch & Unwind - A Prime Publishing LLC property. All rights reserved.

About Us Advertise Contact Us FAQs Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Personal Information Subscribe Terms of Service Unsubscribe

Copyright © 2021 · Tidy Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in