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Check Out This Amazing Yarn Bomb

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arkansas yarn bombThis is about three hours from my house, and I ,ay just have to make a trip so I can see it in person. A bunch of knitters and crocheters have yarn bombed the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock, covering more than 1,200 square feet of the building, surrounding walls and tress with knitting.

Louise Palermo, education director at the center, saw one yarn-bombed tree last year and was inspired to develop the project with the help of Chelsye Garrett, an art student at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock.

They say the size of the project makes it the second-largest yarn bombing ever, second only to the recent covering of the Andy Warhol Bridge in Pittsburgh.

It’s pretty amazing regardless. Not sure how long it’s going to be up, so if you’re in the area you should go check it out soon!

[Photo by Gavin Lesnick via Arkansas Online.]

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Comments

  1. Hi! I’m Chelsye, the artist that designed the Arts Center bomb. I’m so glad you like it! I just wanted to say thanks for mentioning us and the yarn bomb will be up until Oct 21.

Have you read?

Knit a Spiky Balaclava

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]