Stop the Violence Yarn Bomb

I began this piece in November 2021 for my high-school senior project. I wanted to explore yarn bombing as a form of non-destructive street art and use crochet to address youth violence in my community.

The finished work was installed across a wire fence outside a community basketball park, near one of the locations where a community shooting had occurred. It remained there for more than two years before it was eventually removed because of weathering.

The work is built on a large crocheted net. Crocheted words spell out “Stop the Violence” and “We Need You Here,” surrounded by hearts, figures, flowers, and other handmade details.

This was one of my first experiences using crochet to say something rather than only make something. It brought together the playful, approachable nature of yarn with a message I cared deeply about.

I documented the project in the video below, published January 6, 2022.