Community Yarn Project

Our project was inspired by yarn bombing, a type of street art in which colorful displays of yarn pieces are wrapped around objects in public spaces to bring awareness to causes in a fun and creative way. Thought to have started in 2005, this has grown into the yearly celebration of International Yarn Bombing Day held in June.

At Longwood Public Library, we transformed this idea into a more sustainable community project. As a community, we created vibrant tapestries of art from donated materials that we will display through the summer. In the fall, the tapestries will be carefully transformed into blankets and scarves that will be donated to those in need, ensuring our project continues to spread warmth and love throughout the community.

 

Donations

In January, we asked our community for donations of materials to get our project started and the response was overwhelming! In one month, we received over 900 balls of yarn!

 

Yarn Squares, Birds, and a Mural

From February through the end of April, we invited community members of all ages and skill level to join us in creating our projects.

Adults: patrons of all skill levels crocheted and knitted 4x4 squares during library programs and at home. By the end of April, they created and donated over 3,500 yarn squares!

 

Teens: Our talented teens joined in, working on their own rendition of the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Their creativity and effort added another layer of depth to our project.

 

Children: Our young artists added their own unique touches with delightful yarn birds. These charming additions were crafted during our children’s program and have brought extra life and color to the installation.

 

 

Stitching Together

From May through June, the community came together for several stitching sessions. Volunteers worked tirelessly to assemble the squares into beautiful tapestries. The process was a true testament to teamwork and community spirit!

 

Art on Display

From June through September, the completed tapestries, along with the children’s yarn birds and the teens' Very Hungry Caterpillar, will be on display on the Mezzanine and Terrace. They stand as a vibrant illustration of what we can achieve together.

 

We are thrilled to share this journey with you. Each piece of yarn, every knot, and every stitch tells a story of our community’s unity and creativity.

Thank you for being a part of this heartwarming project!