Marissa Gallant
Youth Education Manager

Whether you know it as yarnbombing, yarnstorming, guerilla knitting, wool bombing, or urban crocheting, this form of street art is sure to impress. Yarnbombing features brilliant colors and textures and can be found in cities, parks, and botanic gardens, covering benches, trees, lamp posts, statues, and more. Grab your yarn, knitting needles, and pom pom makers, and get ready for an explosion of color. Tune in and read on to learn more about yarnbombing, embark on a behind the scenes virtual tour of the exhibit, and create your own Yarnstorm inspired craft.    

Yarnbombing 101
Yarnboming is a type of street art that combines fiber art, graffiti art, and activism, and features colorful displays of knitted and crocheted yarn and fiber instead of paint or chalk. The motivation behind this art form is to bring life, warmth, hope, and a sense of community, but it is also used to send a message and spread awareness. Yarnbombing is especially popular in urban cities where artists try to create warmth and comfort in an environment that can seem cold, sad, or unfriendly.  

History of Yarnbombing
The origins of the art of yarnbombing are unknown, and many different artists have been credited with its start. Early examples date back to 2002 and the movement started to gather steam around 2005. One of the earliest known artists is Magda Sayeg from Houston. Sayeg coined the term ‘yarnbombing’ after knitting a cozy door handle for her boutique. Over the years, the movement has spread widely and rapidly. Some artists of note are Lauren O’Farrell (Deadly Knitshade) from the UK and her group, Knit the City, the Twilight Taggers from Australia, and Joann Matvichuk from Alberta, who founded International Yarnbombing Day which was first observed on June 11, 2011.  

Although yarnbombing started small and began in large cities, projects have exploded in size and popularity and the art form has spread to cities around the world, national parks, and even your local botanic garden. One of the biggest yarnbombing projects called Knit the Bridge, was completed in 2013. This project brought together diverse artists from Southwestern Pennsylvania to yarnbomb the Andy Warhol Bridge in Pittsburg. Over 1,000 knitters worked to cover the bridge with over 600 colorful blankets. From Barcelona to Boylston, new projects are sprouting up all around us! 

Yarnstorm at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
The Yarnstorm exhibit at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is on display from January 16th to March 31st, 2021. During Yarnstorm, New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill’s trees, benches, statues, and more will be decorated with bright, fantastical fiber artwork. The exhibit features over 25 unique pieces of art created with the help of over 40 local artists and includes over 2,500 colorful pom poms. Each artist found inspiration at the garden and used nature and imagination to create their one-of-a-kind pieces that spread messages of hope, peace, and wonder.  

Stop by to find your favorite piece before they disappear! When you arrive at the garden, take a photo of our large outdoor exhibit map or download it here. Be sure to print our yarnstorm scavenger hunt for an added challenge. 

Tune in below to learn more about Yarnstorm and listen to an exclusive interview with our Exhibitions Coordinator, Trisha Danforth.  

Next, join Youth Education Manager, Marissa Gallant on an adventure to check out some of our favorite pieces and get a sneak peek of the exhibit.  

Yarnstorm Craft 

Bring the magic of Yarnstorm to your neighborhood and try your own fiber arts project. Follow the simple steps below to create a woven ornament to brighten up your home or yard.  

 You will need: 

  • Assorted yarn 
  • Two 4” to 8” sticks 
  • Scissors 


Gather your supplies and begin by choosing your yarn colors and arranging your sticks to form an ‘x’ shape.

Next, wrap your yarn around the middle of your sticks where they cross over each other. Wrap diagonally, five times in each direction.  

Loop your yarn once around each stick and across to the next stick. Continue to loop around and across each stick until you finish your first piece or color of yarn.  

Tie the second piece of yarn to the end of the first color and trim your knot.  

Continue to loop around and across each stick until you are within an inch of the end of your sticks. 

 

Finish by tying off your piece of yarn. Tie a knot around one stick to secure in place and trim your knot.  

Put on your finishing touches by wrapping the ends of your sticks with yarn, adding beads, or pom poms. Hang your finished creations indoors or out and bring a splash of color to your neighborhood.  

 

Happy yarnbombing!