Created by Elliot McWilliams, YarnBomb Zine is an art collective magazine created for the sole purpose of uplifting small artists, bands, musicians and writers of all kinds; giving them a free and all-inclusive platform to share their work publicly, network/meet/discover new artists, gain publicity, and engage in the simple joy of sharing art.
With the absence of submission/location guidelines, restrictions, and fees; artists are able to submit work that may not have otherwise been shared due to the harsh restrictions and high entrance fees put on by other galleries, print publications, etc.
Since its start in 2022, YBZ has seen exponential growth in interest, enthusiasm and revenue - going on to gain a substantial following on social media as well as the introduction of merchandise, pre-orders, inquiries for selling/donating on a larger scale, as well as opportunities for interviews with highly regarded artists and musicians.
Some of these artists include Elwood Francis of ZZ Top, Jeffrey Lewis, Joel Kirschenbaum, and Fishboy.
Iss. 1
Iss. 4
Iss. 2
Iss. 5
Covers of 1-6
Iss. 3
Iss. 6
YBZ has also broken personal records for highest turnaround/quickest beginning of profit to be seen in a print zine of this nature.
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With digital media becoming the widespread default form of media, the print industry - and interest in print as a whole - has suffered greatly over the past decade. This decline in print popularity has made it difficult for print artists, writers, publishers, etc. to become recognized as a brand/gain an interested audience - with most magazines not seeing a profit until years into its making.
(Samples from the 6th issue, created spring 2025)
(Samples from the 5th issue, created spring 2024)
In June of 2023 (roughy a year and a half after its initial creation), YBZ released its
fourth issue - featuring over 85 artists (the most in one issue yet!) and saw its first profit. Since then - audience interaction & interest has nearly doubled, and the magazine has gone on to create/sell merchandise and receive numerous donations in support.
Merchandise - created & sold 2023
YarnBomb; Volume 6, released in the early months of 2025, included over 130 artists and was donated to over 60 libraries as well as sold at five different stores across the US & online.
Each issue - as well as promotion flyers, social media content, shipping, donations, print selling, merchandise creation/selling, and overall organization - is entirely created, orchestrated, promoted and run solely by Elliot / Smelly Dog.
See the "About Me" page to find out more about the creator!
Below is an updated record of all the libraries/locations YarnBomb has been donated to as of 2025;
UNITED STATES
WEST
Hangover Cafe Collective Library
Portland, OR
​West Los Angeles Regional Library
Los Angeles, CA
Edendale Branch Library
Los Angeles, CA
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Cypress Park Branch Library
Los Angeles, CA
Gleeson Library
San Francisco, CA
LV Zine Library
Las Vegas, NV
Long Haul Infoshop
Berkeley, CA
PNCA Library
Portland, OR
Outlet Zine Library
Portland, OR
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UCLA Arts Library
Los Angeles, CA
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Timberland Regional Library
Trumwater, WA
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Seattle Public Library
Seattle, WA
KSL
Chico, CA
IPRC
Portland, OR
Oakland Public Library
Oakland, CA
Denver Zine Library
Denver, CO
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University of Montana
Missoula, MT
MIDWEST
University of Michigan Library
Ann Arbor, MI
Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center
Urbana, IL
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Bowling Green State University/Browne Popular Culture Library
Bowling Green, OH
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Jerome Library
Bowling Green, OH
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NONMACHINEABLE
Minneapolis, MN
BLD Studios Library
Columbus, OH
Heights Libraries
Cleveland Heights, OH
Books for Bums
St. Louis, MO
Community Arts & Media Project
St. Louis, MO
Neither/Nor Zine Library
Kansas City, MO
EAST
The Word Distro
Jersey city, NJ
ABC No Rio
New York, NY
Trenton Free Public Library
Trenton , NJ
Anarchist Archives Project
Cambridge, MA
Charm City Art Space
Baltimore, MD
Brooklyn College Library
Brooklyn, NY
Flywheel Zine Library
Easthampton, MA
Tufts University/ SMFA Library
Boston, MA
Printed Matter
New York, NY
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Mass Love Distro
Beverly, MA
Library of Congress
Washington, DC
Barnard Zine library
New york, NY
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Lesbian Herstory Archives
Brooklyn, NY
Papercut Zine Library
Cambridge, MA
Pittsburgh Zine Library and Archive
Pittsburgh, PA
SOUTH
Austin Public Library
Austin, TX
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UT Austin Library
Austin, TX
Crescent Wrench Infoshop & Library
New Orleans, LA
University of North Texas Special Collections Library
Denton, TX
RGV Zine Mobile
Weslaco, TX
BeWitched Denton
Denton, TX
San Antonio Public Library
San Antonio, TX
SCAD Library/Jen Archives
Savannah, GA
Watauga Public Library
Watauga, TX
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Safe Haven Zine Library
Austin, TX
Das Yutes Free Library
Little Rock, AR
Duke University Libraries
Durham, NC
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Civic Media Center
Gainesville, FL
INTERNATIONAL
Youth Zine library
Hamilton, UK
Cowley Club
Brighton, UK
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Salford Zine Library
Manchester, UK
Sticky Institute
Australia
Small Zine Volcano
Australia
University of Portsmouth
United Kingdom
Edinburgh Zine Library
Edinburgh central library
Edinburgh , UK
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Edward Murphy Library
Dublin, Ireland
Dorothy H. Hoover Library,
OCAD University
Toronto, Canada
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ZINES OF THE ZONE
France
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As well as sold to
(for the purpose of reselling):
Recycled Books, Records & CDs
Denton, TX
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Doc's Records & Vintage
Ft. Worth, TX
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Quimby's
Chicago, IL
With a feature in:
Top 10 Records
Dallas, TX
Teaching Circulation at Duke University
Durham, NC