The History and Logistics of Yarn Bombing

Yesterday we shared pictures of the recent Yarn Bombing in Dallas for the Opening of the Rock Musical Hair which were sent in by my friend, SAHM and author, Susan Hamm.

I was curious as to how widespread the phenomenon is and where it got started. Susan sent some press clippings as well.

The Lakewood Advocate says yarn bombings are very popular in Europe but may actually have started in Texas. The Pegasus News says the fad originated in Houston in 2005.

Looking a bit further, I found a short article in O Magazine and another in More. Oprah’s staff writer attributed the phenomenon to Austin, TX knitter, Magda Sayeg, and dubbed her The Yarnbomber.

Magda Sayeg is considered to be the mother of yarn bombing.

Magda has:

• Knitted/crocheted a cover for a full size bus in Mexico City;
• Worked on commission for companies such as Absolut Vodka, Madewell, Insight 51, Mini Cooper, and Smart Car;
• Adorned a huge stairwell in Sydney;
• Hung a massive needlepoint banner below Brooklyn’s Williamsburg Bridge; and
• Exhibited in Rome at La Museo des Esposizione, Milan's Triennale Design Museum, Le M.U.R. in Paris, and the National Gallery of Australia, among others.

It all started on a slow day in 2005 at Magda’s quirky clothing boutique, Raye, in Austin. She was merely looking for a way to brighten the view of steel and glass from her store windows.

"Suddenly magic happened", she said. People loved it; though there have been some logistical and permitting hurdles.

Yarn bombing is also known as yarn graffiti and is prohibited in some places.

In planning a yarn bombing, the organizers need to consider all the items which they want to cover and determine whose permission might be needed.

For instance, in the recent Dallas bombing, the organizers needed permission to wrap tree trunks but first had to establish that the yarn "sweaters" would not overheat or smother the trees.

The knitting started in May for the October bombing. Planning the actual nighttime incursion to install the yarn art must have been like planning military maneuvers.

What fascinates me most about yarn bombing is the height and length a craft or art form can be taken to … if one has the imagination to think BIG!

Tags: Dallas yarn bombing, crochet, yarn craft, yarn graffiti