Knitting

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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.]

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?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.