Plans for International Yarn-Bombing Day 2011

Have you got any?! Yarny plans, that is. . .

It's just over a week away - Saturday 11th June. International Yarn Bombing Day (I.Y.B.D.) even has its own blog: here, and the best news it is doesn't involve any actual bombing (terrorists need not apply!) - it just refers to brightening up the urban (or rural!) landscape with a few warm fuzzies!

You don't need to be a great crocheter or knitter or weaver - anyone who can get their hands on some yarn can take part and help brighten up their local area. Don't believe me? Well, is there a chain-link fence anywhere in your area? There are certainly a few around here! For a really simple yarnification, all you need is a chain-link fence and a few meters of yarn (plus a big-eyed needle like a bodkin if you have one). Armed with those supplies, you could create something like this:

Hearts on the hospital fence

You just get the yarn doubled or tripled and wind it around two diagonal squares a few times, until the space is filled up, then wind it around again on the other side of the heart, et voilà! Takes 5 minutes at the most. One heart or a hundred - they are sure to give someone a smile!

If you are a beginner knitter or crocheter you could make a square or rectangle and sew it onto a handrail or drainpipe as a cosy, a bit like this (but without the words!)

Handrail cosy

If you can knit, weave or crochet a scarf, you could tie it round the neck of a local statue, and if you can knit i-cord, you could make a car aerial cosy and add it to someone's car in a local car park:

Rainbow aerial cosy

If you are a "black belt yarny" then you can just let your imagination run wild! Just have a look at some of the blog links down the right side-bar here to see some amazing ideas other people have come up with. . . 

Whatever you do, put it in place for I.Y.B.D. on 11th June and don't forget to share your adventures! Post a comment on here to say what you have been doing, or "like" the I.Y.B.D. page on Facebook and add your photos. . . I've just been over there to check it out and see someone has just added some photos of chain-link fence hearts they put up at their son's school.

As for me, I have a few plans afoot, but not sure how many of them I will manage to get completed in  time! Watch this space ;-)

Accomplice ahoy!!

It's official! As of today, I have a part-time accomplice to help with a few of my Yarnificationz exploits! My accomplice does not wish to be named, or to take part in attaching any knitting/crochet, but is happy to help with the actual production of aforementioned yarnification! A very accomplished back room accomplice she is too. Yay! Watch out Nelson!

On that topic, I am delighted that my woven cotton "yarnificationz" labels have arrived from up north. Now to re-visit the scenes of my yarnification and tag with these labels which will point people in the direction of this blog if they are interested. The New Zealand-owned company who made the labels is called "Name It" and here is their website link. I highly recommend the company. I placed an internet order last Monday, they gave me excellent customer service on the phone half an hour later when I wanted to slightly alter my order, and the labels arrived last Friday. Here's a pic of the labels - as yet unused. . .

WWW.YARNIFICATIONZ.BLOGSPOT.COM

As I think I said in my last post, my concentration has been all over the place since the big earthquake last week.  However, after lots of trial and error, I eventually discovered that I had retained my ability to knit i-cord. Over the weekend, I put one of those pieces of i-cord into action. It's now an aerial cosy!!

That little rainbow aerial cosy brightens my day even when the sadness that grips the whole country seems overwhelming. . . it's a small thing, but maybe it is a first step in finding some reasons to smile?