Knitting graffiti

Knitting graffiti (also known as Yarnbombing) is a phenomenon that has been in the press a lot recently. It is thought to have started in the US in August 2005, when a group of knitters called Knitta Please were becoming frustrated with their unfinished balls of coloured wools, half-knitted jumpers and scarfs etc and so decided to 'tag' their city with wool with their 'art'. This 'tagging' craze has spread like wild fire and has even reached our side of the pond. There are hundreds of guerrilla knitting groups popping up everywhere, so here is a small snippet into the fad.

These images of urban knitting, are creations of the guerrilla knitting group called Knit in the City, where they covered a classic London telephone box in their stitched art.

These next images come from several sources, from top left - a knitted handrail cover near Tullikamarinaukio Square, Finland by Knit Sea. Top right - a tagged guard chain in Stockholm left by the Prolific Masquerade crew. Bottom left - a mooring ring tagged in Stockholm, again by the masquerade crew. Bottom right - a grateful and warm lamppost in Houston, Texas dressed by members of Knitta Please.


This tree - entitled 'tree cozy', is an incredible crocheted outfit by Carol Hummel and took her 500 hours from start to finish. It was up in Cleveland heights city hall for 3 years until just recently.


These sign posts are territorial knittings, an unauthorised project by Lauren Marsden. Her aim was to cover the signs of every street on which she has lived in Victoria, British Columbia, with knitted replicas. all fonts and dimensions are exact and there are/were 6 of the signs in total.


And lastly, here is an old abandoned gas station in Syracuse, New York, which was knit graffitied to within an inch of its life after a worldwide effort was initiated by artist Jennifer Marsh. Over 3'000 panels were stitched together to cover the building and not even the pumps were left uncovered. more info here.

Also check out: Knitted Landscape; Ladies Fancywork Society and Yarnbommbing.