1. What exactly is yarn bombing?

 Yarn bombing is a street art, a form of graffiti using textiles instead of paint. Yarn bombers might add tags, put up murals, leave messages or cover parts of or whole inanimate objects. It has other names too, Guerilla Knitting and Yarn Storming for example. Any technique using yarn to add colour and life to an object is recognised as yarn bombing.

2. Some of your events seem organised, do you ever do random yarn bombing?
Lately all the projects I have been involved with have taken months to produce and assemble, an international event, some commissions and an art trail. The last yarn bombing project I knitted independently took quite a lot of time and organising too. I sought permission from the owner of the land where the trees I planned to cover grew. I wanted to be sure the land owner knew I would remove the knitting after a month. I haven’t done any totally random yarn bombing.

3. If it’s not organised is it seen as wool graffiti and can you get into trouble? 
As far as I have seen, Melbourne is very accommodating when it comes to accepting wool graffiti however it is considered polite to ask for permission before graffiti is put on private property and to remove it in good time.

4. Yarn bombing a tree looks complicated. How do you go about that? 
A detailed list of measurements needs to be made before yarn bombing a particular tree. If the tree cosy fits well with stripes or patterns lining up and all joints between branches and main trunk covered it will look its best. If you have a strip you would like to put on a tree and you find a branch or stem the same size or smaller then your strip that would work too.

5. How long does it stay up for?
Six weeks is probably the optimal length of time a yarn bombing can be left in place. Depending on the location, time of the year and exposure to the elements yarn bombing can stay up, relatively clean and neat looking, for as many as two or three months. For the sake of their health yarn bombed trees should be uncovered after six to eight weeks at the most.

6. Do people have yarn bombing clubs? If so how would you recommend you start one?

Search social media and you will find yarn bombing groups, large and small, public and private. If you would like to start one of your own you could ask your knit and crochet loving friends to join you, put together a group on Facebook or meet up. Find a spot in your area that could do with some colourful decoration. Think up and plan the size and time frame of your project, what you will cover, how much of it, the colours and patterns you will use and when and how you will install it. Start small, document your progress and share your results if you like. #yarnbombing

July 25 2020