Humans aren’t the only ones who enjoy cozy knits. Any member of the Dallas Yarn Bombers will tell you that trees appreciate the warmth too.
“Yarn is actually good for the trees — especially in cold climates,” says Sally Ackerman, a.k.a. K Witta, co-leader of the group.
March 9-10, Ackerman and crew packed up their needles and yarn and headed to Dallas Heritage Village, where they wrapped trees, buildings — even a wagon — in their colorful knitted creations.
Recently the group livened up Klyde Warren Park with a garden-themed installation for the grand opening.
Ackerman has been knitting since she was 12, and she meets a group of fellow knitters at the Lakewood branch of the public library every week. She says the yarn bombing began at DISD headquarters two years ago. At the time, the district was experiencing many cuts and layoffs, so she wrapped the lamps in purple yarn.
“[Someone] told me that when she saw the yarn, she said that she felt like she had been hugged,” Ackerman says. That’s essentially the goal of yarn bombing — to make people smile and have fun.
Ackerman and Ronda Van Dyk, owner of The Shabby Sheep, lead the Dallas Yarn Bombers projects. In 2011 they were approached by the Winspear Opera House to create an outdoor installation during the debut of the Broadway musical Hair. More recently, the group livened up Klyde Warren Park with a garden-themed installation for the grand opening in the reading and games room.
Despite the rain this past weekend, a group of knitters and crocheters brightened up the historical Dallas Heritage Village, which welcomes thousands of schoolchildren each year for a hands-on history lesson on late 19th-century Texas. All of the buildings onsite — doctor’s office, church, schoolhouse, saloon — came from North Central Texas to the village, which was actually Dallas’ first park.
The group set to work wrapping trees, yard posts, rocks and lamps throughout the site. There are even knit chickens on the coup.
Most of the pre-knitted or crocheted pieces that currently decorate the village have been recycled from previous projects. Ackerman also assures us that arborists have approved all the yarn installations.
Visit the yarn explosion through April 27.
Sally Ackerman, also known as K Witta, is the co-leader of Dallas Yarn Bombers.
