‘Yarn bombers’ bring splash of color to tree-lined street
Print Edition
TREES in front of a primary school on Nanchang Road are all set for winter, wearing colorful crocheted and knitted scarves and sweaters thanks to the latest craze to hit the city — yarn bombing.
The new form of street art is thought to have originated in the United States but has since spread worldwide.
Shanghai’s wrapped-up trees, and their winter finery, are now a popular attraction with residents.
“I think it’s adorable as they light up the street in winter,” local resident Yao Lei told Shanghai Daily.
The city’s greenery authority also seemed to welcome the practice. It told the Shanghai Morning Post that it wasn’t against it as long as there was no damage to the trees.
“We crocheted for the project for a month and a half,” one of the yarn bombers, Natalie Cradick from the UK, told Shanghai Daily. “We wanted to do this because it’s simple and it makes people smile.”
Cradick and colleague Mae Rudillas, from the Philippines, both 28, organized the project. Both teachers at an international kindergarten in Shanghai, they launched a studio, Craft’d Shanghai, in February last year for people interested in learning craft skills that included knitting.
Cradick said yarn bombing was popular in the UK and she had always liked it when she saw it.
“I thought it would be a good idea to have it in Shanghai,” she said. “It’s also a good practice for beginners as you don’t have to worry too much about pattern or size.”
Knitters at the studio welcomed the idea and 14 people, 12 of them expats and two Chinese, opted in for the project. They ranged in age from their 20s to 70s and all were knitting and crocheting beginners and first-time “yarn bombers.”
But while knitting for trees is easier than knitting for people, basic measurements were still required.
In October, they scouted the area to find suitable trees and measured them to determine how much material would be needed. They estimated they would need just over a square meter of material for each tree to be made up of small individual pieces.
“Everyone went home and knitted their own piece. We met twice later, bringing what we’d already done and putting them together,” Cradick said.
Last Thursday all the pieces had been assembled and the group met on Nanchang Road to dress the trees.
Cradick admitted they did have concerns. “Our worst expectation was it would be taken down straight away,” she said.
Cradick and the rest of the group have more yarn bombing exploits in mind. “Not only trees — lamps or signposts are also in consideration. We are open to anything!”
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