In the spring of 2018 I was asked to do another yarnbomb project in a Primary School; this time Loanends PS and their P6 class. These turned out to be hugely enthusiastic and talented young people and they quickly developed a wide range of skills. At first they wanted to yarnbomb the principal’s office but were persuaded that then no one else would get to see it, so they yarnbombed the assembly hall instead. One of the Mum volunteers – who had never held a crochet hook in her life – took to crocheting like an artist to paint, went on youtube to teach herself more, brought a crocheted butterfly to the second session and by the end of the 7 week programme had made a crocheted 5 foot banner saying Loanends Primary School and decorated with crocheted ladybirds and butterflies. It immediately went up in the school’s entry hall to greet everyone who visits. And one of the girls sent a postcard from her skiing holiday telling everyone how she had crocheted flowers and yarnbombed a structure in the grounds of their hotel inviting people to take the flowers home as souvenirs. Several of the boys learned how to knit and one knitted a duck. Another boy exuberantly crocheted meters long chains saying ‘Crochet is addictive!’ All fabulous individuals. In the month after the project they shared their skills with the P7 class. As Picasso said, ‘Every child is an artist!’.
And big credit to Mrs O’Neill who threw herself in with such infectious joy.
