Yarnbombing Blooms in Columbia, South Carolina: A Colorful Community Movement

On a cold winter morning in late 2025, Kerry Duncan and her daughter Sarah Rotureau surveyed downtown Columbia, South Carolina, assessing lampposts, trees, and traffic lights. Their activity, though potentially appearing unusual, was intentional and permitted. They are yarnbombers, artists who adorn public spaces with colorful crocheted creations.

The Rise of Yarnbombing

Yarnbombing, as well known as guerilla knitting or yarn graffiti, transforms ordinary urban landscapes into vibrant public art displays. While major cities like London and New York are well-known yarnbombing hubs, Columbia is gaining recognition within fiber arts communities. Interest in crochet is experiencing a resurgence; sales of crochet hooks and knitting needles grew 44% between 2021 and 2024 [1], mirroring a nationwide trend that Columbia locals are enthusiastically embracing.

Yarnbombers of Columbia: A Collaborative Effort

Kerry Duncan is a key organizer for Yarnbombers of Columbia, a group that collaborates with the City of Columbia to showcase their work on trees, traffic lights, and poles in the downtown area. The group’s installations are not clandestine; they operate with the city’s approval. The group resumed regular activity in late 2025 after pandemic-related disruptions. Duncan partnered with her son, who is involved with Columbia Pride, to revitalize the city’s fiber art scene last October.

“He got me in touch with the city, and asked me to find some people to help,” Duncan said [1]. “I contacted people in the group, and a few rallied. And we got two blocks done, and then they really liked what we did.”

Expanding Installations and Community Engagement

Since then, the Main Street District commissioned a holiday installation encompassing Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Local restaurant Villa Tronco also requested a yarnbombing display. Currently, the yarnbombers have adorned five trees around the Five Points fountain, numerous traffic lights, and other structures throughout the area, coinciding with the St. Pat’s in Five Points festival.

A particularly notable project involves “Fritz,” the 1,200-pound robot head created by artist Clark Ellefson, recently installed near the Five Points fountain. Duncan crocheted a scarf for the sculpture.

A Craft for All Skill Levels

Yarnbombing welcomes crocheters of all abilities. Duncan learned to crochet from her grandmother and now relies on YouTube tutorials to learn new patterns. The group includes skilled artisans, such as one member who created a stunning Kwanzaa piece featuring intricate fruit designs.

“There’s some ladies who are particularly talented,” Duncan said [1]. “We had a lady who did a Kwanzaa piece, and it was absolutely stunning. It had fruit, and it had all kinds of things on it that I never would have been able to to create myself. So there’s some talent in Columbia for sure.”

Generational Tradition and Personal Connection

Crochet has deep generational roots in Duncan’s family. Her daughter, Sarah Rotureau, is also a yarnbomber. Duncan’s mother passed down the craft and gifted handmade blankets to family members for significant life events—marriages, home purchases, and births.

“Crocheting is something I love to do because it is nostalgic, and it feels like home,” Rotureau said [1]. “Tradition is really important to me, and I like that I’m carrying on a tradition that goes generations back.”

Rotureau once surprised her family by crocheting a blanket for her grandmother, reversing the usual gift-giving dynamic. “I had just said something like, ‘I wanted to make you a blanket before I request you to make another one for us,’” Rotureau said [1]. “My whole family kind of went silent for a second and then erupted.”

The Joy of Community and Spreading Smiles

Duncan has grow the family’s “yarn matriarch” since her mother’s arthritis made crocheting difficult. Rotureau’s first yarnbombing piece debuted during the holiday installation, and she is currently working on a piece for this year’s Pride event.

“Yarnbombing is something that brings a more social aspect to the hobby,” Rotureau said [1]. “When we install items, people stop in the street and just say the nicest things.”

Deborah Yerkes, a retired university librarian and member of Yarnbombers of Columbia, was drawn to the group after admiring one of their installations. “People are going to walk by for two weeks or a month and glance at these things, and they’re going to smile,” Yerkes said [1]. “That’s part of it. You know you made somebody’s day.”

Yerkes enjoys the reactions from passersby. “People come by saying, ‘I love what you’re doing’ or, ‘Thank you for doing this,’” she said [1]. “Occasionally someone asks if we have permission, but of course we do.”

A Pandemic-Fueled Hobby

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many to explore new hobbies, including crochet. Jessica Dugita, a former college student, discovered a passion for crochet during this time and launched Funky Fiber Studios, an online business selling her creations. Annabel Voskuil, president of the Carolina Crochet Club at the University of South Carolina, has observed a surge in the craft’s popularity since the pandemic.

“Even though some of those people have slowed down, we still have a lot of new people joining just because it became so popularized after that,” Voskuil said [1].

Accessibility and Relaxation

The accessibility of crochet—requiring only a hook and yarn—contributes to its enduring appeal. Rotureau describes it as a “purse project,” easily portable for short bursts of creativity. The repetitive nature of crochet can also be mentally relaxing.

“It’s very repetitive, so you can just do it and turn your brain off and just relax,” Voskuil said [1].

Looking Ahead

The Yarnbombers of Columbia have ongoing installations planned, and the tradition of handmade blankets continues within the family. The group’s work exemplifies the power of fiber arts to bring joy, community, and color to public spaces.