“Yarn bomb” project brings community together

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

 

Two vintage bicycles are receiving unconventional updates at the current community project classes at Hope Bridges.
The bicycles are becoming “yarn bombed:” yarn is wrapped, crocheted and knitted, then weaved around the bicycle’s frame and other parts, thus turning the bicycles into pieces of art.
“This is our first yarn bombing project,” said Wanda Reinholdt, coordinator at Hope Bridges. “It is a community project that was done with our upcycling group as well as our knitting and crocheting community.”
The idea came about after a Hope Bridges facilitator stumbled upon a beautiful yarn-bombed bike during a trip to Norway.
“We thought it would be a fun, unique and different project that Hope Bridges could do with the community,” said Reinholdt, who added that everything the non-profit organization does is to bring adults from the community together to connect and create.
The two vintage bikes were purchased last August from Good Life Bike Shop in Calgary, and since then they have been undergoing a remarkable transformation. After the bikes were deemed to be in good working order, they became the community project that they are today.
Signs are currently being created to identify each of the two bicycles: the blue bike is named Go with the Flow and the red bike titled This is my Hot Rod and Keep it Spicy.
As this is the first yarn bombing project Hope Bridges has done, there have been many challenges and learning opportunities about the type of project that community members can participate in. For instance, a person’s dexterity plays a major role in their ability to learn how to crochet, knit or weave.
“If we do another yarn bombing project we must make sure we can set it up so that everyone has something they can do, because not everyone can do the parts that require more dexterity,” said Reinholdt. “We have to make sure that the community that does another project like this is well-rounded in skills and that there is something for everyone to do.”
The bikes will be auctioned off separately at the fourth annual Wine and Art Auction hosted by Hope Bridges in late April. The proceeds from the bikes will be put back into Hope Bridges to bring more inclusive workshops to willing participants.
Before that happens, however, the bikes will be available for hour-long rentals for the community to enjoy the art and to ride around town.
Toonie rentals will take place in March and April from Hope Bridges, where $2 can buy renters an hour-long ride upon the yarn-bombed and weatherproof-sealed artwork.
Until then, the enjoyment of the bikes is with the individuals who are aiding in their creation. “I have not knitted for ages. Now I’m knitting most nights,” said participant Margaret Kros. “(This project) has helped me get back into it.”