Yarn, Stars & Smiles: Re-Spinning Van Gogh’s Starry Night!
Step into the studio, and you’re met with a table that looks like a rainbow exploded with navy, sunflower yellow, emerald and cream skeins piled high beside print-outs of Starry Night. Scissors, glue and paintbrushes sit at the ready, while the purple “Arcade Room” sign overhead reminds us creativity can and should feel like play.
Why yarn? Turning paint strokes into fibre is a brilliant exercise in slowing down and tuning in. Each swirl of royal-blue thread demands steady hands and laser focus, transforming the familiar masterpiece into a tactile puzzle. Patience grows stitch by stitch, and every successful curve sparks a tiny bolt of pride.
The room hums with quiet concentration. One participant, headphones on, traces the night sky’s famous spirals before pressing navy yarn along the wet glue. Across the table, teammates clip miniature coils of yellow to form glowing stars while another pair carefully “builds” the village below with neat beige snippets. It’s mesmerising to watch the scene emerge, layer by textured layer.
Of course, there’s plenty of laughter, too. A rogue ball of yarn escaped and rolled the length of the table before being cheered back into place. High-fives erupted when the first complete sky finally clicked together; phones came out for an impromptu photo shoot of our woolly galaxies. These shared wins turn a simple craft into a team-bonding powerhouse.
Beyond the finished artwork, the real victory lies in the skills sharpened along the way. Fine motor control, colour matching, spatial reasoning and collaborative problem-solving all got a subtle workout. Most importantly, everyone walked away a little more confident in their ability to turn patience into something beautiful.
Feeling inspired? We’d love to see your fibre-art masterpieces. And stay tuned for more workshops that will take these new skills to the next level!
