Posted by Rachel Westall on 14 July 2026
High streets across England have been “yarn-bombed” with woolly World Cup postbox toppers, as a tribute to and celebration of the England World Cup squad, ahead of the tournament. Popping up across London, Manchester, and Sheffield – three cities with rich football traditions and passionate fan bases – the crocheted toppers created by Hobbycraft feature Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford, alongside a goal net, football and "COME ON ENGLAND!", turning iconic everyday street fixtures into attention-grabbing fan art.
The activation comes as new data from Hobbycraft shows a surge in football fans getting creative, with searches for "football" on its website jumping by 67% month-on-month as the brand has a range of DIY projects and products. In particular, the "8 Fantastic Football Projects to Make" page has had an 262% uplift in visits over the past three months - from personalised clothing ideas to a table football game that's perfect for kids, the crafty projects focus on ways to keep people entertained, especially during late kick-off times due to time differences.
Face paint sales are also up 87% month-on-month as supporters gear up for match days.
Hobbycraft's Knitcraft expert Natalie Beard @sewing_the_seeds_of_love, who handmade the designs, said the aim is to encourage creativity and community participation during the World Cup excitement. She said: "These postbox topper designs are all about capturing the buzz of the World Cup and celebrating the England squad in a fun, creative way. We hope they inspire fans across the country to get involved and show their support in a crafty way or however they choose to cheer on the team."
Members of the public are being encouraged to share their own football-themed craft projects on social media using the hashtag #MakeWithHobbycraft, with a £250 voucher offered as part of a competition.
At the end of the tournament, the postbox toppers will be donated or auctioned to raise funds for sporting-related charities, according to Hobbycraft.
