Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti [Paperback]

Mandy Moore (Author), Leanne Prain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

As seen in The New York Times and The New Yorker

On city street corners, around telephone posts, through barbed wire fences, and over abandoned cars, a quiet revolution is brewing. "Knit graffiti" is an international guerrilla movement that started underground and is now embraced by crochet and knitting artists of all ages, nationalities, and genders. Its practitioners create stunning works of art out of yarn, then "donate" them to public spaces as part of a covert plan for world yarn domination.

Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti is the definitive guidebook to covert textile street art. This full-color DIY book features twenty kick-ass patterns that range from hanging shoes and knitted picture frames to balaclavas and gauntlets, teaching readers how to create fuzzy adornments for lonely street furniture. Along the way, it provides tips on how to be as stealthy as a ninja, demonstrates how to orchestrate a large-scale textile project, and offers revealing information necessary to design your own yarn graffiti tags. The book also includes interviews with members of the international community of textile artists and yarn bombers, and provides resources to help readers join the movement; it's also chock full of beautiful photographs and easy step-by-step instructions for knit and crochet installations and garments.

Join the yarn bombing revolution!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is part coffee-table book, with color photographs of creative bombs, and part tutorial, with tips like wearing 'ninja' black to avoid capture. The book borrows from the vernacular of street graffiti and half-jokingly positions yarn bombing as an illicit alternative for knitters bored making yet another Christmas sweater. It asks readers to get off their rocking chairs and 'take back the knit.'" —New York Times

"Great photos, stories, and instructions." —Utne Reader

"In Yarn Bombing, beautiful full-page photos illustrate the unique visual balance of street art and traditional stitching.... After reading it you may well be inspired to pick up your needles or obtain your first crochet hook: Novices are welcome, and full chapters are devoted to tutorials." —Bitch

"Yarn Bombing extends Stitch 'n' Bitch's approach to knitting, appealing to hipster knitters with attractive photography and irreverent patterns, reclaiming knitting as an act that is both feminist and anarchic."—Quill and Quire

"An inspiring and unforgettable look at the world of knit graffiti and the creative folks behind it, Yarn Bombing deserves a place on any hip crafter's bookshelf." —Debbie Stoller, editor-in-chief of BUST magazine and author of the Stitch 'n Bitch books

About the Author

Mandy Moore is the technical editrix of popular online knitting magazine Knitty.com, and of various other knitting and crochet books and publications. She blogs about her life at yarnageddon.com. She lives in Vancouver, BC. Leanne Prain co-founded a stitch and bitch called Knitting and Beer in order to expand her skills while knitting at the pub. A professional graphic designer, Leanne holds degrees in creative writing, art history, and publishing. She lives and knits in Vancouver, BC.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551522551
• ISBN-13: 978-1551522555
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Crafty since childhood, Leanne learned to sew at an early age. She has a passion for handmade work of all sorts, but in particular: stitch-work, silk-screening, knitting, and textile design.

Introduced to the subversive DIY movement in the early 1990's, the political and cultural aspects of modern handicrafts have turned into a downright obsession for Leanne.

Leanne co-authored the subversive knitting book Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti with knitting editrix Mandy Moore (published by Arsenal Pulp Press) in 2009. Yarn Bombing has been distributed throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. It has also been translated into German by Droemer Knaur.

As a communications designer, Leanne is equally fascinated with street art, publishing, social media, and technology. She enjoys investigating how handmade skills can flourish and be taught in the internet age.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing and Inspirational!, September 10, 2009

By 

10-Year Mom (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti (Paperback)

If you knit or crochet, you have to see this book! It's full of photos of "yarn bombing", which is adding knit and crochet touches and accents to public places, sort of like graffiti with yarn (my words). It also has photos of some amazing knit and crochet public art projects. There are also a few patterns to get you started doing your own part to beautify the world with knit and crochet. Even if that's not your thing, this book is still fun to look at.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BOOM!, November 16, 2009

By 

Haley Mathiot "Haleyknitz" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti (Paperback)

Yarn Bombing--the art of crochet and knit graffiti by Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain
Genre: craft/art
Rating: 4/5

Yarn Bombing is an extremely inspirational and creative book. It got my knitting juices flowing and made my hands itch for the needles when I saw pictures of colorful yarn knit into... beautiful graffiti?

Yes, yarn graffiti. Yarn Bombing is a rather large thing in big cities and even other countries where knitting is prominent, especially Sweden (see links below).

Yarn Bombing has many fantastic pictures, ideas for bombing, some basics for getting started, points and tips, advice on what to say if you get caught in the act (either by passer-bys or police), interviews with yarn bombers, and some patterns.

Here is my favorite pattern:
this pattern is for chain-link fence weave:
1. Cast On 12.
2. Open a bottle of wine.
3. Knit every row until sober.
4. Bind off
5. Repeat 1-4 seven more times...

I find this hilarious, though some people who aren't knitters may not. By the way, the real pattern for the chain link fence weave is written in the book right under that ;)

There are patterns in the book for knitting items for yourself, such as arm warmers, hoods that cover your whole face except your eyes (so you can be a ninja-yarn-bomber!) sweaters, and some other stuff. Some of the bombing patterns include treesweaters, knit tulips and mushrooms, Knit sneakers to hang over wires, Bolo balls, Elf Stockings, and more.

I give it a 4/5 because, considering that graffiti is illegal and I'm perusing Criminology... let's just say that I'm being gracious(and I'm actually considering giving this a try... I'll keep you posted on that one ;). Also, it was laid out a little odd and it was a bit hard to find some things. Lastly it didn't have quite as many patterns as I expected. But, all in all, it was an awesome craft book!

Recommendation: knitters and Crocheters of any age, anyone interested in graffiti or contemporary art.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorilla Knitting's Perfect Companion!, May 19, 2011

By 

Pete M (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti (Paperback)

I bought this book for my super hip mom for Mother's Day and she and I both LOVE it! Living in Houston I was able to watch first hand as local knitting group Knitta exploded onto the street art scene quickly spreading across the country and globe spreading their positive (and non-destructive) knitted vibes. Mom, being an avid knitter on her own, has always loved the idea of using knitting in more unconventional and creative ways and as a result has always loved when I share with her the expanding world of knitted street art. This book provides tons of great images and tips for fun projects small to large that one can do, or if you're like me, you can just admire the playful ways in which people all over the world have adapted their knitting skills. After thumbing through the book the first time my mom was already telling me about the ways she was excited to get creative herself, and pull away from the typical knitted hats and scarves!