I saw this online image of a cozy, little fire hydrant all tucked up in a knitted hydrant sweater. I thought it was one person pulling an isolated prank. It turns out I was wrong; yarn bombing is a “thing.”
It is quirky and makes me laugh. It is subversive in its association with graffiti, but it is cute and mostly harmless. No property is damaged, but a mark is definitely left behind.
I suppose it could get even more subversive depending on the things referenced by the graffiti artists.
Would I ever yarn bomb?
I think I wouldn’t. It seems like a lot of work that I would be leaving behind. Maybe I am more attached to my product than I realize.
Prain, L., & Moore, M. (2009). Yarn bombing: The art of crochet and knit graffiti. Vancouver, BC: Arsenal Pulp Press.