Yarn bombing, also known as knit bombing, guerilla knitting, yarn graffiti, yarn storming, yard bombing, or wool bombing, is a wonderful form of street art designed to tickle a smile or spread an idea. Installations usually appear in public places, on trees, gates, benches or post boxes around annual celebrations like Christmas, Halloween, and St. Patrick’s Day.
But before we dive straight in…
What is yarn bombing?
The Cambridge Dictionary describes yarn bombing as:
The activity, often done secretly, of covering parts of buildings, etc., with decorative items that have been knitted as a form of art.
What about crochet bombing?
Crochet bombing, also known as guerilla crochet, is very similar to yarn bombing. Knitters create woollen installations using the crochet style, then leave them for members of the public to find.
What is sweater bombing?
Interestingly, yarn-bombing street art is no longer contained in the streets. Today, this extends to wearable garments like sweaters… Think, personalised three-dimensional Christmas and Easter jumpers.
Popular yarn bombing artists
Today, people all around the world enjoy making woollen creations, but it all started with Magda Seyeg back in 2005. Scroll down to meet the mother of urban knitting street artists…
“When I started this, over 10 years ago, I didn’t have a word for it. I didn’t have any ambitious notions about it. I had no ambitions of grandeur. All I wanted to see was something warm and fuzzy and human-like on the cold, grey, steel fasade that I looked at every day. So, I wrapped the door handle.”
Magda Seyeg, TED Talk, March 2016
There’s also London Kaye, a Los Angeles-based yarn and crochet bomber, who began knitting aged 13.
5 tips for a successful yarn bomb
1. Start small
Don’t overwhelm yourself by making your first project too large or complex. Instead, get to grips with knitting and fitting techniques by covering a book, plant pot, picture frame or teapot.
Top tip: When you’re ready to scale up your artwork, a simple way to do this is by knitting a series of modular panels. Then, you can arrange them in position and sew them together.
2. Plan your piece
Will it be a nice piece of knitting left in a random location? Or a site-specific piece adhering to a chosen theme, which requires exact dimensions and installation permission?
If it’s a site-specific piece, visit your location in advance and measure your area several times – just to be on the safe side. Yarn is known to stretch, so once you know your measurements, create your piece slightly smaller to give a snug fit.
Top tip: If your installation will be displayed in a public area, it’s always best to get approval from the relevant authorities. You may even want to look into getting public liability insurance (it’s cheaper than it sounds).
3. Making your creation
Whether you plan to make your installation alone, with a group of friends or as a community project, it won’t be finished overnight. So, give yourself plenty of time to make your installation. In fact, consider doubling the time frame you give yourself.
Top tip: If you have a big idea, consider reaching out to local knitting groups and see if anyone would like to join you – you may be pleasantly surprised by their responses. If you do this, be prepared to share knitting patterns suitable for a range of abilities.
4. Attaching your piece
Once you’ve bribed a handful of friends into helping, get ready for some fun. Often, the quickest and easiest way to attach your artwork to its final destination is with cable ties – just trim the long ends, and they’ll be barely visible among the wool. But you can also use string, the same colour wool, or try sewing your piece in place.
Top tip: There are a couple of things you’ll want to bring for your installation:
- A step ladder
- Cable ties
- Scissors
- Yarn
- Needle
- Wire
5. Leaving your artwork
While installing your artwork, passersby will likely ask you what you’re doing, so arm yourself with a couple of answers around ‘what’ and ‘why’ questions.
So, when you’re ready to leave your artwork, consider attaching a small laminated card around eye level with a short explanation of your artwork and include your name, website, and social media handles.
Top tip: Photograph your installation and share them, along with a location, on social media. Then, set yourself a deadline to collect your artwork – it will fade, gather dirt and begin to sag over time, so try to remove it before this happens.
That’s all for now ✌️
Your paint-pal
Hi there; I’m Rebecca, a British artist and copywriter, and I’ll never be ‘ready enough’ to write a bio in the third person. I’ve been practising my crafts ever since the day I picked up my first pair of scissors in primary school and glued my fringe to a collage. Tasteful, eh?
When I’m neither painting nor writing, you’ll find me gardening, snowboarding, baking cinnamon buns or practising Muay Thai.
Frequently asked questions
What is the point of yarn bombing?
Yarn bombing, also known as knit bombing or guerilla knitting, began as a creative way to reclaim or personalise public spaces. Its primary purpose is to reintroduce warmth, life and a sense of community among its residents. The official yarn bombing day occurs annually on June 11th.
How do you do yarn bombing?
Begin by locating an area or object you wish to cover. Measure it well (several times). Design your creation. Knit or crochet your design. Fix it in place.
Is it illegal to yarn bomb?
Technically, yes. While yarn bombing is only a temporary art installation, it is still considered to be graffiti and, as such, punishable by law for vandalism or littering. With that in mind, you should always request permission before installing your piece.
What are the best yarns for yarn bombing?
You can use pretty much any yarn to get started. Acrylic yarn is cheap, cheerful and brightly coloured; however, decomposition can take up to 200 years. While natural yarns are slightly more costly, will sag when wet and can degrade in as little as five months when left outside.
