yarn bombing

I'm a little late to yarn bombing, I walk past a fine example on Darling Street, Rozelle all the time and have often wondered how it came to be. On further investigation I realised there are already numurous blogs, websites and books dedicated to the art - even an International Yarn Bombing Day (oops I missed it). Amazing what people get up to in their spare time! If like me you missed the beginning of the global, yarn bombing movement here's a little bit of info and a few tips if you want to have a go. I have a frangipani tree in my backyard just crying out for some hot pink stripy leggings.

Yarn bombing in Rozelle

Yarn bombing, yarnbombing, graffiti knitting or yarnstorming is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted cloth rather than paint or chalk. While yarn installations – called yarn bombs or knit bombs – may last for years, they are considered non-permanent, and, unlike graffiti, can be easily removed if necessary. The practice is believed to have originated in the U.S. with Texas knitters trying to find a creative way to use their leftover and unfinished knitting projects, but it has since spread worldwide.

Due to the nonpermanent nature of yarnbombing there are some suggestions we make for your work.

1. Have fun! Since it is a form of grafitti, you may choose to do your yarbombing undercover. Think Ninja knitting….. Many have tagged before you in masks, ski caps, costumes. You may choose to do the same or rather by cover of night or early morning. There are others of us who are happy to tag in public. Either way, have fun.
2. Take an alias……If you choose to be an anonymous yarnbomber.
3. Leave a note. Do you have a message for those that find your art work? Do you want to lead them to the online gallery where all the work will be displayed? Maybe there’s another fiber artist out there that wants to join our ranks. Feel free to attach a note. I suggest having it laminated to protect it from the rain.
4. Take a picture. There is no way to guarantee that your work will not be removed. Take a picture that day or come back the next to photograph your work. You can download your photos to our Facebook page (Rebel Yarns), blog (rebelyarns.wordpress.com) or online gallery (http://www.galleryandstudio.org/). Many of these pictures will be used in our final gallery exhibit.
5. Drop off swatches. Any size, any color, any shape. There will be a box located at the Framing Mill where you can continue to drop off swatches until the spring. We will sew these together for our final yarnbombing project, an installation artpiece for the G.A.S. Gallery.
6. Spread the word. Tell your friends & family, start a knitting circle, teach your kids , their classroom, their scout troop. Yarnbomb alone, in a group, as a neighborhood. The more tags there are the more fun we’re having, the more our community has to look at. Post to MOL, keep up with the Facebook page and blog. Start a yarn swap. Be creative. Look around your neighborhood, what needs more color, a greater sense of humor, a touch of beauty, a simple statement.
You don’t even need to know how to knit or crochet to join in the art action. You can weave, wrap or tie your yarn. Or take the opportunity to learn to knit or crochet. There will be plenty of classes, knitting circles or new friends to learn from.

Source: Wikipedia

Photos: Street Art Utopia, Illusion Now