Yarn bombing is one of the newest trends in street art. A yarn bombing artist chooses a plain structure and uses it as a canvas to display a beautiful work of yarn-based art.  Most yarn bombs are created through knitting and crocheting, but technically, any form of street art that uses yarn can be considered a yarn bomb. This includes pieces made with latch hook, cross stitch, or simple wrapping techniques. The phenomenon started in the Netherlands in 2004. Since then, it has spread across the world, but has mostly been limited to big cities. If yarn bombing is big in your city, you can get inspiration from the work of local artists. If you don't see much yarn bombing where you live, though, you can still get ideas by looking for yarn bombing photographs online. Some of the most popular large objects include trees, signs, statues, fences and benches. For something on a smaller scale, you could yarn bomb stones or pine cones. Keep an eye out for simple, plain objects that might benefit from a bit of yarn bombing artwork. You can start in your own backyard, or you can venture out into your neighborhood.  Look close to home. Notice the objects you pass on the street during your daily routine and pick from among those. Yarn bombing close to home will make it easier to plan the project and to keep an eye on the finished work after installing it. Choose something manageable. If you're just starting out, you probably should avoid yarn bombs on statues with intricate parts or any other major endeavor. Start with something simple. If you have success with that, you can gradually work your way up to more challenging projects. For larger yarn bombs, frequently a knitting or other fiber arts circle will plan a larger yarn bomb as a project, with each person either creating a certain number of pre-sized squares to be assembled quilt-style on the object being bombed, or with each person being responsible for one part of the bomb, i.e. an arm for a sweater for a statue, or one sign post covering for a group of signs.  In this way, the amount of work doesn’t become overwhelming for one person and can be a fun project to share with your knitting or fiber arts compadres! Make sure that you will be able to secure the yarn around the object well enough to prevent it from falling down, though. On a tree, horizontal branches can prevent the work from slipping down the trunk of the tree. On a street sign, however, you would need to figure out a way to attach extra strings through holes in the post or around the sign to prevent the yarn bomb from slipping down the pole. If you plan to yarn bomb something on your own property, you won't need any permission to do so. For objects on others' private property or on public property, however, you'll need to get permission to create your piece from the appropriate sources. The element of surprise can make the experience more fun, but you should make sure that anyone who needs to know about it knows about it beforehand.  Ask your neighbor before yarn bombing his tree. Get permission from the property owner or your boss before yarn bombing the parking signs in your company parking lot. Ask the local art council or city council before yarn bombing a bench in a local park or a city parking meter. Yarn bombing is not meant to be a permanent form of artwork. When you plan the creation of your work, you'll also need to plan on taking it down.  Even the best yarn bombs have a limited life span. Rain, wind, and dirt can quickly strike the object, causing it to become grungy and frayed within a few short weeks. To maximize the beauty of the work and avoid complaints, it is best to plan on removing the yarn bomb before this happens or before the destruction gets too bad.

Summary: Understand yarn bombing. Get ideas. Find an object to yarn bomb. Get the permission you need. Plan on taking it down later.


Set your oven to 350ºF (175ºC) and wait for it to preheat. This method is gentle on pasta and sauces, but may not be practical for a single serving. Spread the pasta across a shallow dish. A deep pile of pasta may heat unevenly. If the pasta is dry, add a splash of milk or extra sauce to keep it moist. This is especially important for lasagna. The pasta is usually ready in 20 minutes, but check after 15 just in case. The foil should help trap moisture, slowing the drying process. Optionally, add a sprinkle of Parmesan under the foil 5 minutes before the pasta is done. Stick a metal fork into the center of the pasta dish and wait for 10 to 15 seconds. If the tip of the fork is hot to the touch, the pasta is ready. If not, return the pasta to the oven.

Summary: Preheat the oven. Add the pasta to a baking dish. Cover with foil and bake. Check the pasta.


Start with the ball in both hands, straight in front of you.  Hold the ball between both palms.  Keep your elbows straight, but somewhat loose. Some people toss the ball differently when jump serving. Some use their dominant hand, some use their non-dominant hand, some use both hands. The important thing for a jump serve is the effectiveness of the toss, not the toss method.

Summary: Set up the ball.


In Senet, you play on a board consisting of 30 squares, referred to as houses. The houses are arranged in 3 rows, with 10 houses in each row. The object of the game is to move through the board, eventually getting all your pieces off the board.  To move, you move your pieces down the first row. The way you move down this row is with the hieroglyphs on your side, you move left. Once you reach the end of the first row, you turn a corner and proceed the opposite way down the second row. Once you reach the end of the second row, you once again turn a corner. You then proceed the opposite way down the third row. Once you reach the end of the third row, you move your piece off the board. The number of squares you move at a time is based on how you throw the senet sticks. Senet does not use dice like a traditional board game. Instead, senet uses what are called senet sticks. These are usually popsicle sticks with one side painted black and the other painted in a different, brighter color. When it's your turn, you'll throw the sticks in the air. How many sticks land with the black side facing up determines your move.  If you have three black sides and one color side, you can move one house and toss again. If you have two color sides and two black sides, you move two houses and then lose your turn. If you have three color sides and one black side, you move three houses and lose your turn. Four color sides means you move four houses and toss again. Four black sides means you move 5 houses and toss again. Senet is a two-player game. Each player gets 5 game pieces at the beginning of senet. You must move all these pieces off the board to win. Pieces are usually rocks but you can also use pennies or other coins. Any small, movable object can be used on a senet board. There are some basic rules when it comes to playing Senet. You should familiarize yourself with these rules before beginning the game.  Only one piece can be placed in each house at a time. At the beginning of the game, you must place your pieces on the first row. Player 1 will place his or her pieces on the first, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth houses. Player 2 will place his or her pieces on the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth houses.
Summary: Move through the board. Use senet sticks. Play with 5 game pieces. Read the basic rules.