Over the past few years, and particularly throughout the lockdown, yarn bombing, the creation of colourful images and figures through knitting or crocheting with yarn, has spread across West Wales.
It is described as a kind of street art using wool, to make a statement or change the way we look at things. Yarn bombing has become so popular that there is now a national Yarn bombing day on June 11th. Much like the stone snakes mentioned in the last issue of Lifeseeker, these colourful creations have been popping up all over West Wales and spreading joy throughout the community while encouraging people to connect with each other.
In Bury Port Harbour, a local knitting and crochet group began encouraging locals to get knitting for a community project. The new group is called Balls of Fun, and is made of a handful of members who knit and crochet. They would meet weekly at the Red Lion in Pembrey before the pandemic. The group have been asking the local community to join them in yarn bombing in their local towns of Pembrey and Bury Port to create a colourful and uplifting display as Wales moves out of coronavirus restrictions. A seaside scene was created for Bury Port Harbour, which is celebrating becoming the town of culture this year. The town council has supported the project, hoping the display will benefit locals and visitors to the area.
Carmarthen Yarn Bombers have been working on a display in honour of Keyworkers, which has been on show in Carmarthen Park, next to the tea shop, throughout August. They say they want to say thank to the key workers who have worked so hard during the pandemic to support the local community. The display was created and launched on 2nd August.
Nicola Kelly, of the group, told In Your Area,
“Alongside the yarn bombing display, we will be promoting Cooperate. This is an online community centre that has been created by our community, for our community.
It is all about co-operating for a fairer world and it is for people who care about their communities and want to join forces to get things done.”
The yarn bombing group has also partnered with Connected Communities Sir Gar – a celebration of everything that makes Carmarthenshire great.
Nicola added
“As part of Connected to Communities Sir Gar, we asked the artists of Carmarthenshire to celebrate the kindness, volunteering and support that communities have given each other and we thank them for capturing forever the spirit of Carmarthenshire communities during one of our most challenging times. Their artwork can be seen in various locations across Carmarthenshire and at the yarn bombing event in Carmarthen Park.”
Find out more about yarn bombing here. Get inspired on Pinterest. Try joining a yarn bombing group in your local area. Haverfordwest Yarn Bombers have a thriving community too!
