What is Yarn Bombing?

What is yarn bombing – or graffiti knitting, urban knitting, guerilla knitting, kniffiti? Why do people do it? How can you do it safely?

Some consider it a beautiful art form while others consider it graffiti, but one thing yarn-bombing does do is attract the attention of every passer-by, and when done with care, it could raise a smile and brighten somebody’s day.

Yarn bombing has become really common around Europe, North America, and Australia. Have you ever noticed anything yarn bombed around your own neighbourhood? The most common yarn-bombed items are post boxes, lamp posts, and trees.

The purpose of yarn bombing is to reclaim and give life to sterile and cold public places that lack personality. In many cases, it’s a form of self-expression from groups of individuals who want to revitalise their community.

The practice of yarn-bombing is thought to have originated in the US in the 1990s or 2000s, when Texan knitters wanted to find a way to utilise their leftover and unfinished knitting/crocheting projects. Now a worldwide phenomenon, over the years people have yarn-bombed all sorts of items from stop sign poles and trees, even tanks! While some people yarn-bomb to spruce up their community, others have used it as a means of voicing their political statements. One resident of Dresden, Germany decided to yarn-bomb a tank in front of a military museum to voice her anti-military statement.

Unlike graffiti, yarn bombing pieces are not classified as permanent as they can be easily removed if necessary. That being said, yarn-bombing can be considered illegal in some places. If you’ve been considering adding some colour to your local area, make sure to seek appropriate permission from your local government authority first.

If you’ve seen some yarn-bombing in real life, why not share it on Instagram and tag Crafty Llama so we can check it out?