Stealth Art

Photo credit: Linsey Rendell

Yarn bombing is the stealthiest art form around, taking off in cities all around the world. It captures people’s attention, and if you have ever seen a yarn bomb, you’ll know it puts a smile on your face.

Bali is a Melbourne-based yarn bomber who was given a book on the art form and quickly realised it could really bring the community together.

“Arts and crafts have a way of bringing people together and I wanted to be at least a small part, if not larger, of seeing yarn bombing grow in Melbourne,” she says.

Though yarn bombing sounds like a hobby groovy grannies take part in, the public art form attracts people from all walks of crafty life who want to try something new, develop their own style and share their art.

“Above all though, nothing compares to a stranger on the street coming up and thanking you for your hard work and telling you that you gave them a moment of happiness in their day,” Bali says.

The avid yarn bomber remembers learning to knit with her mum when she was young, but found it “incredibly frustrating” at the time. To this day, she prefers crochet and although the majority of yarn bombers are knitters, Bali says the number of artists who use crochet is increasing.

Bali founded The Yarn Corner - a collective of artists who take part in yarn bombing projects, both individually and as a group. Some meet in real life to talk projects, but the majority of organising is done over facebook.

“We welcome everyone, even those just starting out with yarn bombing.”

You can read more about Bali and yarn bombing in Seam's The Start-Ups Issue.