Bay Meadows

What Is Yarn Bombing? Yarn bombing is a new type of street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted fiber rather than paint or chalk, and the concept spreading rapidly across the world.  If you’ve been downtown San Mateo recently, you’ve certainly noticed all of the whimsical, fun yarn art scattered throughout the city including everything from a big lollipop to snakes slithering along bike racks to mailboxes that sprouted feet and parking meters wearing tube socks.

The maven behind the marvelous yarnbomb designs downtown is one of our favorite neighbors, Lorna Watt, founder of Knits for Life and San Mateo’s resident yarn bomber (partnered with sister Jill Watt).  Thanks to The Watt sisters’ crafty creativity, San Mateo has become an early adapter of this art form.

In a previous interview, Lorna gives us the goods on how Knits for Life was born. ‘Mine is the well-known Silicon Valley story of a brainiac changing course to follow their passion. While working on my doctoral research in the evolution of plant biodiversity, I picked up crochet as a stress-relieving activity. Within a year, I switched to a Masters, finished, and moved back home to the Bay Area to follow a new path as a knitting and crochet designer. I love my job!’

Watt partnered with the City of San Mateo and the Downtown San Mateo Association in the Downtown Clean-Up event and led a group of volunteers that strategically placed numerous colorful yarn bombs throughout the city.

‘Yarnbombing is a new counterpoint in street art culture. My yarnbombs transform objects with an aim to delight and inspire.’ – Lorna Watt, Knits for Life.com

If you haven’t had a chance to explore the clever creations in San Mateo yet, click here to open the yarnbomb map and head to downtown for a self-guided tour. Be sure to snap some pics while on your scavenger hunt and tweet photos to @cityofsanmateo to have your photo with the yarnbombs retweeted. Also use tags:  #knitsforlife #sanmateoart to share your appreciation to the artists. If you use #baymeadowslife, you’ll have a chance to win our monthly photo contest. How many of the creations can you find while on the hunt?

For a sneak peek of the San Mateo yarnbombing you can check out a slideshow of some fun works of art here. If you’d like to get social with the artist, you can find Lorna on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Strike a pose! As we develop community, we want to see how you live or play at Bay Meadows. Share your fun lifestyle photos with our community by using #baymeadowslife in our Fame x Frame Photo Contest. You could WIN $50 or our Grand Prize of $500 at the end of 2014 and be featured in a live pop-up photo gallery exhibit. Click here for official rules. Each month, Bay Meadows will select one photo to WIN a $50 gift card at Whole Foods Market San Mateo. Simply hop on instagram or twitter at tag us using #baymeadowslife or submit up to 10 photos per month to photos@BayMeadows.com .

Be sure to follow Bay Meadows on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. We’ll be sharing your Bay Meadows story!