ICYMI: Yarn Display Raises Environmental Awareness In Port

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Yarn bombing.

It's an increasingly popular form of street art — in which crafters decorate public spaces with knitted and crocheted fabric. And fiber artist Allison White is bringing it to Port Washington to highlight an important cause: protecting our environment.

White has partnered with the nonprofit Residents Forward to put together "Yarn Arms Around Port," a community-wide public art project that will decorate up to 50 trees on Main Street with crocheted arms. The project will launch this winter and all the trees will be decorated by April 2022, just in time for Earth Month.

The goal, said White, is to highlight environmental awareness, reflect Port Washington's diverse population, and attract visitors to Main Street's commercial district.

"We hope to make beautiful public art as a community, and to highlight the importance of trees and of caring for the environment and one another," she said, adding that a local arborist says the yarn arms will pose no risk to the trees.

"We are very excited to partner on this project," said Trish Class, executive director of Residents Forward. "It's an exciting and new way to highlight Earth Month and we look forward to this added opportunity for environmental education."

Volunteers are being sought to crochet the arms and assist with other aspects of the project. A Port Washington yarn shop, The Knitting Place, will donate the yarn to make the hands. Additional yarn for the arms can be purchased.

Each yarn arm will be made up of individual granny squares, which — according to a press release — is a well-known beginner crochet pattern that even children can learn to make. Crafting the hands and assembling the squares will be completed by more experienced crocheters.

White plans to hold "Crochet 101" lessons in the community, as well as crafting events at the Port Washington Public Library.

The library will serve as a central collection point for completed granny squares and hands.

The kick-off for the project will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. To register, visit the library's event calendar at http://pwpl.org/events.

Facebook group "Yarn Arms Around Port" will provide updates about the project, including information about patterns and volunteer opportunities. Donations to cover the cost of crocheting and other supplies can be made to Residents Forward. For more information, contact Allison White at alliwhite@gmail.com or (917) 848-4861.