Yarnbomb Project at The Arts Village takes off

Knitters (from left) Jenny Wilson, Luck Dowdey and Enid Trower spinning a colourful yarn for the Yarnbomb Project. Photo/Stephen Parker

An explosion of vivid colours, and equally dexterous digits, has helped ignite the inaugural Yarnbomb Project at The Arts Village.

Under the watchful eye of tutor Miriam Ruberl about half a dozen skilled knitters enthusiastically set to work with needles to connect strands of brightly coloured acrylic wool together at the first series of workshops held at the arts centre on Thursday.

The workshops have been designed to produce tens of metres of woollen yarn patterns which will eventually be used to wrap a large tree outside The Arts Village in April, said project co-ordinator Annette Bates.

It was the first time Rotorua has hosted a Yarnbomb Project which has previously proved successful in other centres including Waiheke Island, Devonport, Napier and Tauranga.

The concept, described as "guerilla graffiti", wrapped large objects - buildings, buses, tanks, trees - in a colourful woollen design transforming them into public sculptures, Annette said.

"The focus of the workshops is to learn how to knit as well as introduce knitting and crochet as an art form. Knitting a garment takes a while so there is a lot of love used."

One of the group of workshop knitters, Enid Trower, 95, said she had been knitting since she was a teenager.

Another member of the group Jenny Wilson said she had knitted jerseys and socks for all her family when they were younger.

The workshop will be repeated on February 8, and every Tuesday during the month, at Rotorua Library between 10am-2pm, and at the Art in the Park on February 23.

There are also 'knit stations' at the Arts Village, Cottage Flair and the Creative Yarn and Wool Shop for any knitters to sharpen up their skills.