Photos: Knitting fools yarn-bombed Dallas Heritage Village

Now through April 27, barnyard animals made of yarn are making an extended visit.

Photo by Alexandra Olivia

The vegetable garden behind the Gano-Log House gets bombed with yarn carrots, potatoes, and bunches of radishes.

DALLAS — Walking onto the site of a yarn-bomb installation is like visiting a carnival for the first time. There's a sense of intrigue, mysticism, and suddenly a goofy smile creeps across your face.

Folks who visit the Dallas Heritage Village between now and April 27 will find it bombed last weekend by the Dallas Yarn Bombers. About 70 volunteers worked for 10 hours over the weekend to decorate the historic space in a modern way.

Photo by Alexandra Olivia

Lurline Russle has been familiar with knitting since high school, but didn't pick the hobby back up until a little over a year ago when she discovered the Dallas Yarn Bombers group. She knits the water fountain on Main Street at The Heritage Village in Dallas on Sunday, March 10, 2013.

"Working out here, I'm used to seeing the juxtaposition of the village against the new downtown," said Kathy Ericson, a long-time volunteer at Dallas Heritage Village. "Knitting and crocheting is such an old art form, but it's done in a totally new way."

Artistic Director of the Dallas Yarn Bombers Sally Ackerman said the installation — which includes decorations climbing several trees, colorful coverings on the playground rides, and a tree full of original kites — took about six weeks of preparation, though the team did not knit everything from scratch. Some of the articles were new, such as the crocheted horses tied up to posts around town, but many were repurposed from the Klyde Warren Park opening and the Winspear Opera House installation.

While yarn-bombing is relatively new to Dallas, Ackerman said the trend has been expanding worldwide for about six years.

Photo by Alexandra Olivia

The Bombers don't just create beautiful works of art on trees; they also knitted horses at The Heritage Village in Dallas.

"It's contemporary urban art that's been sweeping the world," Ackerman said, adding that this installation serves to gussy up three spring events at Dallas Heritage Village.

Elizabeth Dry, founder of the Promise of Peace Community Garden who was on-site Sunday, said it is strictly an act of love. And rightly so: Their work could be hurt or destroyed by weather, and their labor is unpaid.

"It's pure love of doing something that delights the community and showcases the talent these ladies have for knitting," she said.