Yarnbombing in Rowntree Park, York

Yarnbombing Area in Rowntree Park

Deborah New (textile artist & teacher), the Friends of Rowntree Park & the City of York Park Rangers & I are organising a Yarnbombing event in Rowntree Park, York this summer (date for your diary - Saturday 13 July 2013 from 2-5pm - Rowntree Park's 92nd Birthday Party).  So dust off your needles, grab your yarn and get knitting - or find your sewing kit and get stitching - either way, it'll be great!

 

Knitting on Catbells near Keswick

I've found you can incorprate some creative activity in the most challenging places.  Here I am knitting bunting up a mountain. So that leads me on to say that there is an "official" bunting pattern if you want to use it - it's not too tricky. 

You can find it here: http://rowntreeparkblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/knitted-bunting.pdf 

But you can knit squares if you'd rather - we're asking for 15cm squares so we can join them together.  
 

Knitted Squares & Bunting

I've been testing out the bunting pattern with different yarns and different size needles and here are some results.

Bunting in the Wind

Don't feel constrained though, you can let your imaginations run riot.  In fact we'd like you to - a bird or a flower would be just as good!  Or you may have a wild and wacky idea to try.  


Here's a link to the guidelines for the event:
http://rowntreeparkblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/guidelines-for-yarnbombing-event2.pdf

And here's some ideas from the yarnbombing at York Art Gallery earlier this year:
 

Knitted Pigeons

Knitted Umbrella

Knitted Flower

Yarnbombing Workshops

We've also got some workshops planned - come along and join in - meet fellow makers, become a maker! You don't have to have any crafty skills to join us but if you have that's great too! Everyone's welcome.  All materials will be provided.  You can try your hand at weaving, knitting, pompom making and finger knitting. 

Finger Knitting & Pompom

(I've used finger knitting to hold my bunting, and pompoms to decorate the ties.)

Then, leave your makes behind to be used for the yarnbombing event.


We've had some great yarn & fabric donations from local York craft shops:

(We're hoping to have some bird patterns for you to try with the donated fabric.)

Boyes, 35 Goodramgate , York, YO1 7LS
http://www.boyes.co.uk/

Castaway Yarns, Haxby Shopping Centre , Haxby, York, YO32 2LU
http://www.castawayyarnsyork.co.uk/

Craft Basics, 9 Gillygate, York, YO31 7EA
http://www.qype.co.uk/place/470270-Craft-Basics-York#reviews

Gillies Fabrics, 2 Peter Lane, York YO1 8SW
http://www.gilliesfabrics.co.uk/

Grace & Jacob, 1 Barleycorn Yard, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TX
http://www.graceandjacob.co.uk/

Hobbycraft, Monks Cross Shopping, York, YO32 9GX
http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ 

Knit & Stitch, 11 Colliergate, York, YO1 8BP
http://knitandstitchonline.com/ 

Ramshambles, 46 Shambles, York, YO1 7LX
http://ramshambles.co.uk/ 

Viking Loom, High Petergate, York, YO1 7EH
www.vikingloom.co.uk/ 


(& Oxfam, 7 Goodramgate, York, YO1 7LJ also Oxfam Books at 69 Low Petergate, York, YO1 7HY & 46 Micklegate, York YO1 6LF
http://oxfambookspetergateyork.wordpress.com/).

If you want to donate any yarn, fabric or leave any finished items for the project you can leave it at any of the above shops (except Oxfam & Boyes) or the Rowntree Park Cafe.  

If you're local or visiting York go check out the shops in person and say hello and tell them how great they are!


After the event all the yarnbombing is going to be taken down and donated to Oxfam for sale so there's a great charity to help too.  Check out the good work Oxfam does here: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/ 

So here's your chance to get involved, meet people, have fun, (eat cake - especially at the workshops in Rowntree Park Cafe which sells the most wonderful cake!), help make the yarnbombing display fabulous and support a great charity.  It could be a life changing experience - don't miss out!