A Good Yarn

A Good Yarn is an project by artist Luke Jerram commissioned for UK City of Culture Bradford 2025.

In collaboration with local creatives, Bloomin’ Buds and Raven Staging, the team created a giant three meter yarn ball which was rolled through the streets of the city. A Good Yarn is a sculptural, playful, participatory artwork which utilises Bradford’s creativity, craftsmanship and local pride.

A plaited rope, more than a kilometer in length, was first created from second-hand clothing and fabric by over 2,500 members of the public working together towards a common goal. The rope was then wound into a gigantic yarn ball, three meters high and three meters wide.

During the process of gathering fabric and making the rope people were encouraged to share their textile related memories, stories and feelings – from what a young person’s favourite item of clothing is and how it makes them feel, to stories about working in the local mills decades before. The project wove together physical and metaphorical yarns with a soundscape, created by The Broken Orchestra, from stories and memories of the region’s textile heritage, recorded during public rope-making workshops.

The sculpture was then rolled around the streets of Bradford in a series of playful large-scale public events. The first location for A Good Yarn was the BD10 postcode on 12th July, followed by another in Bradford city centre, as part of BD:Fest, on the 26th July.

The sculpture is now on display at Bradford Industrial Museum.

Artist Luke Jerram says:

“I’m very proud to create this new artwork for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. It’s been wonderful to hear all the interesting stories that have emerged about the fabric that’s been donated.”

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