Ever walked down the street and noticed a tree wrapped in vibrant yarn, or a bike rack decked out in crochet? If you have, then you’ve already seen yarn bombing in action!
Yarn bombing is street art—except instead of spray paint, it’s all about using yarn to cover public spaces in colorful crochet (or knit) pieces.
It’s a playful and creative way to bring a bit more color and personality to the world around us.
Now, what exactly is yarn bombing?
And, if you’re eager to create your own yarn art, how can you get started?
After contributing to my first ever yarn bombing project, I’m here to break the concept down for beginners and share some helpful tips to make your yarn bomb a total blast!
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Table of contents
What is Yarn Bombing?
Yarn bombing, also known as crochet graffiti, is when you cover public objects (think: trees, benches, lamp posts) with crochet.
Unlike traditional street art, which often involves paint or chalk, yarn bombing is all about using yarn to transform a boring or dull object into something exciting and beautiful.
One of the best things about this kind of art is that it’s usually temporary and easy to remove.
Yarn bombing should not damage the objects it covers—it should just add some crochet charm for as long as it lasts.
While yarn bombs can sometimes stay up for months (or even years), I think they are generally meant to be enjoyed for just a short while before they are removed or deteriorate with the elements.
Yarn bombing has become a fun, creative way to brighten up public spaces, spark conversations, and turn ordinary objects into art.
To give you some examples of yarn bombing out in public, check out this board on Pinterest, and a few pictures of yarn art I’ve spotted.
Why Yarn Bomb?
What is the purpose of yarn bombing?
Here are a few reasons so many people are picking up their crochet hooks and joining the fun:
Community Connection: Yarn bombing often brings people together.
Whether you’re working with a group to create a larger piece or simply chatting with people who admire your work, it creates moments of connection in the community.
Self-Expression: Want to show off your creativity?
Yarn bombing lets you take your crochet or knitting beyond the couch and into the world, where your art can be seen by anyone passing by.
Gentle Protest: Some yarn bombers use their art to make a statement—about sustainability, urban environments, or social justice.
It’s a subtle, peaceful way to draw attention to important causes.
Just for Fun: Yarn bombing is simply fun!
It’s a way to spread a little joy and add color to spaces that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Plus, who doesn’t love seeing a giant tree wrapped in crochet (like this selfie I took in front of Wool Town Bend)?
My First Yarn Bombing
After decades of crocheting, I realized I’d never tried yarn bombing before—until now!
Here’s the story of my very first yarn bombing adventure, where I helped to cover a bench in crochet.
It all began just a few weeks ago…
I host a weekly crochet corner at Fancywork Yarn Shop here in Bend, Oregon.
We usually just gather, chat, and crochet together, but one of our members who’s involved in local theater brought us a super cool project a few weeks back.
She was asked to yarn bomb a bench for a musical production called Voiceless.
Yep, a yarn bombed bench that will be part of a real theater production!
We jumped at the chance to get involved.
Because I host crochet corner, I offered my garage for our bench-bombing headquarters.
Now, the clock was ticking because we only had a few weeks to cover this entire bench.
This was when I realized that all my swatch hoarding was finally going to pay off.
I had a massive box of crochet motifs and practice stitches that I’d been holding on to (like, years’ worth of random projects that didn’t have a purpose).
Turns out, they were perfect for this job!
We had more than enough to cover every inch of that bench: the seat, the back, the legs—everything.
There were about six of us who came together to make this happen, and we divided up the tasks to keep things organized and manageable.
“You join the motifs for the seat, you sew in those ends, you work on the arms, and you get those leg covers done!”
Having that big stash of ready-made crochet swatches was a lifesaver because, let me tell you, the sewing and seaming part?
It’s no joke—it takes time, patience, and a whole lot of energy.
But with everyone chipping in, we managed to get it all together after just a few sessions.
It was such a collaborative, creative effort—and now, people will get to see our yarn-bombed bench as part of this awesome production.
Yarn Bombing Tips
I’m definitely not an expert in this area, but with one yarn bomb on my crochet resume I want to share what I learned.
If you’re inspired by my yarn bombing adventure and want to start a project of your own, I hope these tips will make your project a little easier and a lot more fun.
Get Creative With What You Have
You don’t need to crochet brand-new pieces for every yarn bomb—get creative with what you’ve already got!
I had years worth of random stitch swatches and small fabric pieces I didn’t know what to do with, and they saved us tons of time.
So, keep all those little bits handy!
If you’ve got extra yarn or small projects piling up, don’t toss them—stash them for future yarn bombing.
While we could have worked entirely with the motifs I already had, we opted to crochet only a few new pieces just to add more vibrant colors.
Overall, mixing and matching swatches in different sizes and colors made our yarn bomb bench look totally unique.
And if you’re short on this kind of stash, don’t hesitate to reach out to others in the crochet community – you might find someone willing to donate their swatches or motifs to your yarn bomb project.
Delegate Tasks
It can be tempting to do everything yourself, but trust me, yarn bombing is a team sport.
With six of us working on this bench, dividing up the work was key to finishing this project in such a short time.
Everyone had a role, from sewing in ends (nobody likes this, but someone’s gotta do it!) to piecing together parts of the bench.
This made the project not only more manageable but also more fun!
Plan for Seaming Time
Here’s the real deal: creating the crochet pieces might be the easiest part.
But the seaming, sewing, and attaching those pieces of crochet to your yarn bomb target is what will take the most time.
This process requires patience and teamwork, so build that into your timeline.
While parts of our bench could be made and joined anywhere, the most time consuming part was adding those elements to our target – the bench.
I particularly had a difficult time sitting, squatting, standing, kneeling and bending to do my part.
And so, be prepared for seaming to take longer than you think.
You can crochet or sew pieces of fabric together, and I have 9 techniques (complete with video tutorials) to help you get familiar with each one: 9 Easy Ways To Join Crochet Pieces Together
Get Permission To Yarn Bomb
Do you need permission to yarn bomb?
I say yes, you should get permission before adding your crochet around objects and spaces that you do not have ownership of.
While yarn bombing might be seen as harmless and fun, it’s still considered street art—so slapping your crochet on a tree or lamppost without asking could get you in trouble.
Many places (especially art-friendly establishments) love a good yarn bomb and may be totally on board with the idea.
With that in mind, always ask permission, whether it’s from local authorities, business owners, or even neighborhood groups.
You might even find business owners that will commission your yarn bombs!
Getting paid to crochet? Yes please!
So, before you go full-on crochet ninja, just make sure to check in and get the green light.
That way, you can stitch away with peace of mind and maybe even a little extra support!
Have Fun with It
This might just be the golden rule for yarn bombing: have fun!
At the core, crochet is about getting creative, learning, growing, connecting, and adding joy to the world around you.
Whether you’re tackling a project solo or rallying your own crochet corner, make it an experience.
It’s not about perfection, but about spreading a little whimsy and wonder.
I think the best part of this experience was working as a team—laughing, crocheting, and watching our idea come to life stitch by stitch.
The joy isn’t just in the finished piece—it’s in every stitch along the way.
Yarn Bombing Crochet Patterns
Looking for some fun crochet patterns to fuel your next yarn bombing adventure?
I’ve got you covered!
Granny squares are a yarn bomber’s best friend—they’re quick, colorful, and perfect for covering just about anything.
Want to make some?
Check out this beginner-friendly granny square pattern on our website (instructions, chart, video), and you’ll be churning them out in no time: Granny Square Pattern
You can also build your yarn bombing stash while you build your crochet skills!
Follow along with our stitch tutorials on YouTube, and save all your practice swatches for your next yarn bomb masterpiece.
It’s like recycling, but way more fun and creative!
You can find 30+ classic and unique crochet stitch tutorials on our YouTube channel.
Ready to Yarn Bomb?
Yarn bombing is an exciting, creative way to share your love of crochet with the world.
Whether you’re looking to make a statement or just spread a little crochet cheer, all you need is some yarn, your crochet hook, and a touch of imagination.
So, get out there and start turning everyday objects into crochet art!
Peace + Love + Crochet
Salena
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