Yarn bombing- how this fun craft is taking the world by storm

Yarn bombing is a method of covering any object into a colourful gay object, by covering it in yarn.

It looks like a forest of colours. Some experts say that there is an international guerrilla movement revolving around yarn. It really looks like this forest has been attacked by colourful handiwork.

Yarn graffiti or yarn storming, as this art form is called is an amalgamation of various craft forms like installation art,( which of course is used largely to install these pieces), needlework( to sew the pieces around and make them fast), and of course crochet or knitting to make the pieces.

As you can see it would be difficult for one person to install each of these on to the trees. Obviously a group of people must have made these. Thats what makes yarn bombing so much fun. People who are unknown to each other are drawn towards the creation of these pieces, with a strong sense of camaraderie, love of the craft and for the fun of it. Communities of friendship have been built around yarn.

What would your reaction be if you happen to see one of these objects ” tagged” as is the yarn bomber’s jargon for installing a piece on an object ?

I would be taken by surprise, because I wouldn’t have expected this, in the first place. Then I would smile and examine it in great detail and if I was an expert at crochet or knitting, I would try to find out what stitches had been used. And finally I would take photographs.

Sociologists argue that people are going ” back to a basics” culture all over the world. They want to do things themselves. Creating works of craft and art by ourselves, gives us a sense of satisfaction and confidence in ourselves.

Any object can be chosen to be ” bombed”- it can be your pen, a door knob, a tree, a street lamp post, a park bench, you name it, it can be done. The Bull at the New York Stock Exchange is one of the famous street fixtures that has had the privilege of being yarn “bombed.”

Yarn bombing is a method of bringing out the creativity within a person.

I am a crocheter myself and am vastly interested in this craft. I wonder how the yarn bombers have the guts to bomb public fixtures.

I would like to try it though-I am going to start small- may be my cell phone or my pen or a door knob or may be even my cat – what do you think ?