Crafting group creates unique homage to Olympics dubbed ‘Yarnlympics’

Around 100 members of the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters spent months knitting, crocheting and crafting 37 postbox toppers.

A crafting group in Hertfordshire is celebrating the forthcoming Olympic Games in Paris by crocheting and knitting sporting events to decorate local postboxes.

Around 100 members of the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters spent months knitting, crocheting and crafting the 37 postbox toppers which will appear in Hertford and Ware.

Yarn figure skateboarding — Sky Brown has been made in yarn form (The Secret Society of Hertford Crafters/PA)

The decorations, made of mostly recycled materials, pay tribute to different events and aspects of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, with spectators, athletes, flags and medals making up the pieces.

Yarn figures playing a sport with rackets — One of the toppers made by the group (The Secret Society of Hertford Crafters/PA)

“It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you have made someone happy.”

Yarn figures doing acrobatic moves — So many sports and events have been replicated in yarn form by the group (The Secret Society of Hertford Crafters/PA)

Ms Ellis said the creations took “months and months” to craft, adding “We just generally follow patterns. Some of us, some very, very clever ones can make them up.”

Mini yarn monuments — Famous monuments in Paris have been replicated in yarn form (The Secret Society of Hertford Crafters/PA)

Another piece, which Ms Ellis worked on, shows knitted figurines of the group with “TEAM YB” (Yarnbomber) written on their tops, with some engaging in sports, others knitting and two figurines placing yarn and needles on top of a postbox.

Yarn figures moving — Members of the group have been replicated in yarn form (The Secret Society of Hertford Crafters/PA)

“The people who know us can identify each one of us… I’m on a ladder putting the basket of wool on the top and I am the one with the straight blonde hair.”

Synchronised swimming yarn figures — Synchronised swimming topper (The Secret Society of Hertford Crafters/PA)

Ms Ellis said faces are the hardest things to create and, while some people are very good at them, they are “really really tricky”.

Yarn figure moving — The group said it was important for them to honour the Paralympics too (The Secret Society of Hertford Crafters/PA)

“They were doing the faces because we wanted them all to be more or less the same.”

Yarn people fighting and yarn people watching — Yarn spectators watching a boxing match (The Secret Society of Hertford Crafters/PA)

To find out more, visit: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/yarnbombing2024