Infinitude is a really easy cowl great for knitters both experienced and less-so. A few years ago we made it in a solid colour of Drops Air, and it’s been so popular that I figured it was worth punching up with some colour. We made the smaller size of this cowl with one ball of Berroco Wizard (see our Ravelry notes for dimensions, etc), and while we used the recommended 5.5mm/US9 needles, I think you could go up to a 6mm/US10 with Berroco Wizard. The fabric is light and airy, incredibly soft, slightly textured, and above all else dazzling to the eye (and don’t your eyes deserve something resplendent to rest on?)
After we made our Bente Throw we had some leftovers, and I hate seeing leftovers going to waste (not that yarn goes bad), so we played yarn chicken to see how far our Berroco Wizard bits would go …. it turns out FAR! Our hat weighs just 42g, which means you should be able to make TWO hats with one ball (as long as you buy a pom-pom or go without) or one hat and on pair of mitts (see below).
I used a natural raccoon fur Pom-pom, but you can also opt for synthetic if you like (for this hat I’d go any size natural raccoon pom-pom or a MEDIUM-sized synthetic pom-pom, since the fabric is light and won’t hold the weight of a large or extra large synthetic pom-pom).
The pattern is one size, but the fabric is very stretchy and comfortable fit a 24″ head (including ponytail) – I love magic yarns!!!
Materials
Berroco Wizard: 1 ball (we used 42 g for our hat, colour 2933 Apatite)
I was doing some teaching last week and cast-on for a sock using more of the leftovers (although I’m really running low now) and the free Rye pattern from Tin Can Knits (I have left out the garter stitch detail). If you’ve never made socks before this is an excellent pattern!
Rico Creative So Cool So Soft is a 100% cotton bulky-weight cotton yarn is made up of a fine thread wrapped around a stand of soft as a cloud cotton. It knits up exquisutely soft and with a bit of texture to keep things casual, interesting and easier to work with (to see the texture better check out some finished projects). It has a pretty, matte surface texture, with zero shine. It’s Ideal for knitting oversize sweaters, cozy blankets, shawls, and crocheting baskets.
A cropped little top is the prettiest thing when paired with a summer dress or loose skirt/pants. It gives you just enough coverage with tons of casual, easy to wear style. This tops is knit at a loose, comfortable tension on 8mm/US11 needles, so you’ll whip it up quickly and it’ll breathe nicely!
Ursa is constructed from the top-down with raglan shaping for the sleeves and optional horizontal bust darts in 3 cup sizes. The pattern includes directions to try it on as you work and notations to help you tweak the size (including the length, if cropped isn’t your thing!) according to your preference. Also included in the pattern are links to custom video tutorials that will walk you through the techniques for half brioche stitch and German short rows.
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate
Size
To choose your size, measure the circumference around the fullest part of your bust, then add 2-6” (depending on how much ease you want) and choose the closest size. If you are between sizes, you can size up or down depending on whether you want more or less ease in the bicep (see full schematics illustration in the photos to the left).
If you want to make the project in a light, airy, fuzzy style, try holding 1 strand of Drops Air (3, 4, 4) [4, 5, 5] {5, 6, 6} balls, with 1 strand of Drops Kid Silk (2, 3, 3) [3, 3, 4] {4, 4, 5} balls. Use the needles recommended in the pattern.
For a linen summer version, use Quince & Co Kestrel: with Long Sleeves – (6, 7, 8) [8, 9, 10] {11, 12, 13} … for a top with short sleeves you can probably omit at least 2 skeins of yarn.
Column is worked seamlessly in circular from bottom up. The hem begins with preferred method CO, then it is worked in rib or stockinette stitches for your choice. The pieces of body and sleeves are worked together in the round after joining. The shape of yoke takes unique hybrid raglan with single and double decrease. Toward end, the neckline is formed by german short rows.
If you want to make the project in it’s original light, airy, fuzzy style, try holding 1 strand of Drops Air 5 (5, 6) balls, with 1 strand of Drops Kid Silk 4(4, 4) balls. Use the needles recommended in the pattern.
The Gallant sweater in aran weight yarn is an advanced beginner, top down, raglan sweater knitting pattern. You will need to be familiar with basic top down sweater construction in order to make it. Its simplicity is what makes it so special. It is cropped and it features a simple mock neck. Worked in the round in stockinette stitch all the way through.
If you want to make the project in it’s original light, airy, fuzzy style, try holding 1 strand of Drops Air 4(4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) balls, with 1 strand of Drops Kid Silk 3(3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5) balls (use needle sizes suggested in pattern).
Erikka Slipover is worked seamlessly top down. First, the slipover is worked in rows while the shoulders are shaped with short rows. Thereafter, the body is worked in the round. Front and back are then divided and are finished separately. Decreases are worked at the front piece for a better fit. You pick up stitches for the ribbing around the slipovers neckline that is worked in the round. Erikka Slipover can be worked in 3 lengths, which result from the different lengths of armhole openings and 2 neckline variations. The short version can only be worked with a narrow neckline.
If you want to make the project in it’s original light, airy, fuzzy style, try holding 1 strand of Drops Air 4(4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5) balls, with 1 strand of Drops Kid Silk. 2(2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) balls.
Midsommar is a crescent-shaped shawl that requires no counting — just follow along with the easy set of drop stitch, eyelet, stockinette and garter stitch sections.
This shawl would be absolutely gorgeous knit in an aran weight linen like Quince & Co Kestrel (you’ll need about 7 skeins, and 6mm/US10 needles are recommended).
The shawl starts with a single stitch and gradually increases by one new stitch on every right side row, until it’s the size you’d like, or you run out of yarn. When you’re done with the knitting just bind off and add a fringe!
This is a really simple project which makes for perfect comfort knitting. It’s easy enough for a novice and the side-to-side construction means you can simply bind off whenever you want – you’ll have the perfect triangle shape. Because of this ‘bias’ construction, the fabric is stretchy and will wrap and drape beautifully.
Skill Level:Beginner Friendly
Materials
Rico So Cool So Soft Cotton: 7 balls {A (blue) – 1 ball, B (grey) – 2 balls, C (yellow) – 1 ball, D (coral) – 3 balls}
7mm/US10.75 – 32″ or 40″ circular needles (for a loose tension use 8mm/US11 needles)
If you want to make this wrap but don’t want to use cotton, Berroco Vintage Chunky is a great alternative (you’ll still need a total of 7 skeins, and 6mm/US10 needles are recommended).
The 15th Street Wrap is a simple scarf but larger than life! Worked in bulky yarn, this wrap is the epitome of classic minimalism, combined with comfy coziness that every knitter dreams of in the middle of winter. This wrap is wider and longer than a regular scarf , which makes it perfect for looping around your shoulders while reading a book or wrapping up snugly against the winter weather. The simple construction and stitch pattern make the 15th Street Wrap perfect for both new knitters and experienced knitters looking for a relaxing project.
If you want to make this wrap but don’t want to use cotton, Berroco Vintage Chunky is a great alternative (you’ll still need a total of 10 skeins, and 6mm/US10 needles are recommended).
This will be the last project with Berroco Summer Sesame, I PROMISE! I just finished a new iteration of our Beach Wrap, this time made with some COLOUR to brighten things up. I was playing around with combining two multi-coloured yarns to see if I could take it to a greater depth, make it even more interesting, and of course knit the project up faster on larger needles. I held two strands of complementary colourways together, and just let them do their thing. You can also try holding two strands of the same colour but starting at different parts of the colourway.
Please see the notes below for a bit of strategy to help keep your colours consistent. When I started I was in a rush and I didn’t pay attention to where the yarn was in the colourway … when it was time to start the second balls of yarn my project evolved from a shawl into an exercise in letting go of expectations/the outcome/control and surrendering to the flow. Can you see in the picture above where things kind of shift? I like to think of it as a shawl of multiple possibilities, different paths and choices. When things just don’t want to go the way you wanted, the best thing you can do is let go and lean into the faith that life is working for your highest good (and maybe find the humility to accept that you may not know what that is).
The Beach Wrap has been a super popular project since its debut, and it makes a great canvas to paint on. It was created with accessibility in mind – I wanted it to be simple to knit, and incredibly wearable. The simple welted texture is random, completely reversible, and creates a classic, timeless look. The pattern is knitted on the bias, increasing in width as you go, so you can make it any size you like and you never have to worry about running out of yarn. We’ve written the pattern with a line-by-line chart, to help you keep track of your rows (a beneficial thing for everyone, but especially helpful for people with learning disabilities, brain fog, mommy brain, COVID brain, messy brain, etc). And the final bonus – it’s a FAST knit on 6.5mm/US10 (think quick gift)!
Notes
On this version we did three full pattern repeats, then worked 43 rows on the 4th repeat, then bound off. Our goal was to work until we ran out of yarn, which we did.
When you choose your yarn, try to choose skeins that start at or around the same point in the colourway.
When you start your project note whether you are taking the yarn from the inside or the outside of the skein, so you can do the same with the second ball.
If you want your dominant colour muted/toned down pair it with colour 5250 Sand
I’m in the Dominican Republic this week … but I promise I’m still thinking of you! While I’m gone, here’s a popular favourite ….. the four points blanket is a great project all year round. It’s available in both knit and crochet, and you can make it in a baby blanket size or as a throw. It’s a simple composition and can be made in a number of different yarn options. The patterns are free, so you can read them over and see if they work for you without committing. If you want something a bit more jazzy, try the Easy Puzzle Blanket, which uses 6 colours.
MODIFICATIONS
use 3.75mm/US5 to 4mm/US6 needles
for a crib (throw) size cast on approximately 140(204) sitches. You will pick up & knit the same number of stitches.
Berroco Vintage Baby is a new yarn that just cam out this spring. It’s very similar to it’s sibling Vintage DK, but it has a slightly silkier texture and comes in 50g balls. It’s soft, easy to work with, machine washable, reliable and is generally great on both the skin and the wallet. The yarns in the Vintage line are a blend of wool and synthetic, and generally work well for people with sensitive skin. We carry this yarn all year.
KNIT 4 Points Baby: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours ($59.64)
KNIT 4 Points Throw: 5 skeins in each of 4 colours ($99.40)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw: 7 skeins in each of 4 colours ($139.16)
Berroco Vintage DK is a staple around here, we sell tons of it for every kind of project for babies, grown-ups, and everything in-between. It’s soft, easy to work with, machine washable, reliable and is generally great on both the skin and the wallet. The yarns in the Vintage line are a blend of wool and synthetic, and generally work well for people with sensitive skin. We carry this yarn all year.
KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($159.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.76)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($159.52)
For several years Cascade Ultra Pima has been the go-to yarn for these projects. Its silky soft texture is seductive, and it’s ideal for babies as it’s machine washable, allergy-friendly and excellent for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), and comes in a bunch of great colours.
KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($95.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($191.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($95.76)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($191.52)
Berroco just launched an adorable new capsule collection of vintage & retro-inspired designs, the Vintage Baby Collection. The collection features 6 sweet designs made with the poplar Berroco Vintage Baby, a soft hand, washable, and affordable yarn. If you like the other yarns in Berroco’s Vintage family, then Vintage Baby will please.
Berroco Vintage Baby
Berroco Vintage Baby features an even softer blend of machine washable fibers than the other yarns in the Vintage line, in a DK weight. The two-ply yarn has a slight sheen and is perfect for all your projects that need a gentle touch. It comes in a smaller, 50g ball and lots of baby-happy colours. It’s great for just about everything: babies, kids, men, blankets, hats, afghans, socks, etc. It’s soft, easy to work with and comes in a spectrum of great colours – great for colourwork! It’s a blend of wool and high-end synthetic fibres, but it isn’t shiny (or squeaky), and doesn’t feel acrylicy. This yarn is also available in a DK weight, Berroco Vintage DK , a worsted weight, Berroco Vintage, and a chunky/bulky weight Berroco Vintage Chunky.
Harper the Elephant – the newest member of the stuffy family! Harper is a darling elephant ready to take on the days events! Pattern includes sweater for Harper.
Size
Approximately 12″ / 30.5 cm long x 9″ / 23 cm around body
Materials
Berroco Vintage Baby(50 grs): 2 balls #10023 Orange (C1) for elephant and 1 ball #10006 Ballet Pink (C2) for sweater
Ray Bonnet is a simple and darling striped bonnet with contrasting pom-pom. Ray Socks are a simple and quick baby socks pattern worked from cuff to toe, with two cuff options. You won’t be able to make just one pair!
Size
Bonnet: Approximately 8″ / 20.5 cm around neck edge x 12″ / 30.5 cm across (measured from one neck edge, across head, to the other neck edge).
Socks: Approximately 4″ / 10 cm around leg and foot x 4″ / 10 cm long (foot)
Sized to fit approximately 3–6 months.
Materials
BONNET – Berroco Vintage Baby(50 grs): 1 ball each #10071 Pepper (C1), #10002 Pearl (C2), and #10020 Sunflower (C3)
SOCKS – Berroco Vintage Baby(50 grs): 1 ball (Version 1 shown in #10002 Pearl, Version 2 shown in #10006 Ballet Pink, #10021 Turquoise, and #10023 Orange)
Approximately 37” / 94 cm wide x 44” / 112 cm long
1 square = 7” x 7” / 18 cm x 18 cm
Materials
Berroco Vintage Baby(50 grs): 1 ball each #10020 Sunflower (C1) and #10023 Orange (C2), 3 balls #10005 Haze (C3), 2 balls each #10002 Pearl (C4) and #10021 Turquoise (C5), and 4 balls #10035 Navy (C6)
Colors flow from stripe to stripe in this ombré mosaic stitch blanket. Made in crib size for perfect snuggle. For throw size, see the Fern Lake blanket.
I love how a simple one row chevron lace repeat can look in a fun stripe pattern in Baby Eden. Made in a crib size. For throw size see the Eden Blanket.
The four points blanket is a project we have a lot of clients coming in to get yarn for all year round. It’s available in both knit and crochet (see below), and you can make it in a baby blanket size or as a grown-up throw. The pattern is all knitting in garter stitch, and they provide a video tutorial for the single ‘fancy’ technique, picking up stitches. We’ve got lots of suitable yarns included in our SUMMER SALE, there are lots of options to advantage of for a baby or an adult blanket.
Berroco Remix Light is soft, easy to work with, machine washable, eco-friendly (it’s recycled), allergy friendly and great for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), comes in a bunch of great colours, and is ever so affordable (especially on sale)!
Kelbourne Mojave is soft, easy to work with, machine washable, allergy friendly and great for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), comes in a bunch of stunning colours, especially baby friendly brights, and is a great deal on sale! Use 3.
Quince & Co Sparrow is a linen that turns silky smooth once it’s washed. It’s eco firendly (100% organic linen), machine wash and dryable, allergy friendly and excellent for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), comes in a bunch of great colours, and is a great deal on sale! If you live in a hot climate or are making a blanket for someone who does, this yarn is remarkable, as it has something of a cooling effect. This yarn would make a very special blanket.
Quince & Co Sparrow: 4 Points Blanket CombosQuince & Co Sparrow: 4 Points Blanket CombosQuince & Co Sparrow: 4 Points Blanket Combos
KNIT 4 Points Baby: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $89.82, Reg. $119.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $179.64, Reg. $239.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $134.73, Reg. $179.64)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw: 6 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $269.46, Reg. $359.28)
BC Garn Bio Balance is soft, a pleasure to work with, eco-friendly (it’s GOTS certified organic), and comes in a bunch of great colours. It is NOT machine washable, but would make a stunning throw! It;s unique blend of wool & cotton make it great for temperate climates or people to run a bit warm.
BC Garn Bio Balance: 4 Points Blanket CombosBC Garn Bio Balance: 4 Points Blanket CombosBC Garn Bio Balance: 4 Points Blanket Combos
KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $77.82, Reg. $103.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $116.73, Reg. $155.64)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $77.82, Reg. $103.76)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $155.64, Reg. $207.52)
If you didn’t catch it, Berroco just published a new free pattern, a darling colourwork kids tee made with Berroco Vintage DK. Worked from the top down in one piece, it’s a perfect next step for less experienced knitters who want to expand their skills, or a simple yet effective knit for more advanced knitters. Since it’s knit from the top-down, you can also lengthen the sleeves and make it into a full pullover.
The yarn, Berroco Vintage DK, is soft, machine washable, easy to work with, knits great in stranded colourwork, is long wearing, and is very affordable … ie. great for projects for kids! See below for a couple other yarns that are equally perfect for this project.
Skill Level: Intermediate
For tutorials for stranded/fair isle knitting see our Skills Page under “Colourwork”. For a full online course, check out the fair isle knitting classes on Craftsy, like Tanis Gray’s Fair Isle Fundamentals.
Size
Directions are for children’s sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.
Remix light is prefect for warm weather or people who can’t tolerate any animal fibre. It it has a slightly tweedy texture which makes it great for stranded knitting and comes in a palette or really pretty colours.
1(2, 2, 2, 2) balls of Main Colour and 1 ball of Contrast Colour
The Ontario Science Centre is looking for contributors to their Satellite Crochet Coral Reef Project! Read below for all the details, instructions, and informations (and I mean ALL … I went to town with the ‘copy-cut-paste’). We have a donation box at the store where you can drop off your crocheted corals. I think it goes without saying that this is a super fun collaborative project, as well as a great way to use up bits of leftover yarn. It’s a great opportunity to explore colours and textures, and just play around with being creative – kind of like sketching with yarn.
I think it may be especially good if you’re just learning to crochet or teaching someone (you can find Crochet Tutorials HERE), because the wonkier the results are the better. When it comes to perfection, I always say that there are no straight lines in nature (or life), even the horizon is really curved:
Nature, however, does not stick to mathematical perfection and just as there is nothing in nature that is perfectly spherical, so in nature there are no perfect hyperbolics. Living forms result from imperfection, deviation and aberrancy.
The Crochet Coral Reef is an exhibition rooted in environmentalism. It calls attention to the devastation of living reefs due to climate change while exploring the beauty, science and vital importance of reefs through a community crafting art project. Crocheting corals could be a craft that engages both kids and adults, possibly a teachable moment for us all.
Photo Credit: Coral Forest, by Christine and Margaret Wertheim and the Institute For Figuring. Image by Stephanie Veto for Lehigh University Art Galleries.
The Ontario Science Centre is currently seeking contributions to a province-wide community art project, the Ontario Satellite Reef. Help them create a colourful coral reef—made entirely from crochet! The Ontario Satellite Reef is part of Margaret and Christine Wertheim’s Crochet Coral Reefendeavour, an international initiative inspired by art, science and environmental activism. Since the Wertheims started the project in 2005, nearly 20,000 people from around the world have participated in crocheting 40-plus Satellite Reefs.
Create colourful pieces of coral, then send your work to the Ontario Science Centre (we are a drop-off point)! Your crocheted coral will be displayed at the Science Centre as part of the Ontario Satellite Reef. Plus, upload a pic of your work to social media to contribute to the virtual satellite reef.
How can you participate?
Follow these steps to contribute to the Ontario Satellite Reef:
Share a pic of your work on Instagram with the tag @OntarioScienceCentre and the hashtag #OntarioSatelliteReef.
Tell them about yourself and your coral creation! On a small piece of paper or index card, write the following information: Name, age, location and any details about your creation you would like to share. Attach it to your coral before you drop it off.
Bring your coral to a designated drop-off spot, or contact the Ontario Science Centre to arrange a drop-off.
Once the science centre receives your coral, they will add your work to the Ontario Satellite Reef. They will also add your name to the list of contributors on display.
Photo: Instagram #OntatioSatelliteReef
Contribute to the virtual satellite reef
To contribute to the virtual satellite reef, upload a photo of your work to Instagram with the tag @OntarioScienceCentre and the hashtag #OntarioSatelliteReef. Your photo will automatically be added to our online gallery.
Want to keep your coral creation? No problem! All crafters are welcome to contribute to the virtual reef. For more details on this project, check out these pages:
The Ontario Satellite Reef is composed of five sections, each with a different theme. Before you crochet your coral, check out the themes below for inspiration. If you don’t have a particular section in mind for your work, we’ll decide where it fits best in the Ontario Satellite Reef.
Tropical Coral Reefs
Tropical reefs exist in shallow, sunlit waters because the microscopic plants that live inside this coral rely on sunlight to produce food. These reefs form some of the mostdiverse ecosystems in the world, providing food and shelter for an estimated 25% of all ocean species. Suggested crochet materials: Any smooth or textured yarns in vibrant colours.
Cold-Water Coral
Canada has coral, too! Cold-water coral and sponges occur in coastal and offshore waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. These slow-growing corals consume plankton to survive and live in very cold water without sunlight. Suggested crochet materials: Smooth white yarn; textured orange, bright pink or purple yarn.
Photo Credit: The Ocean Agency;
Bleached Coral
Under stressful conditions—such as temperature increases, overexposure to sunlight and pollution—coral expels the symbiotic algae living within its tissues, causing it to turn completely white. Although coral can survivebleaching events, continued stress causes coral death. Suggested crochet materials: White or beige yarn in any shade or texture.
The Impacts of Consumerism
Millions of tons of plastic waste, which contains harmful microorganisms, enter our oceans each year. This plastic waste also blocks sunlight from reaching the coral, which can cause coral death. Suggested crochet materials: Cut-up plastic bags (to create plastic yarn); old T-shirts; other recycled materials.
Solutions to the Coral Crisis
Around the world, scientists and activists are working torestore and protect coral reefs. Use your imagination to create coral that lends us hope for the future. Plastic-eating coral, lab-grown coral, 3D-printed coral and more—we want to see your creative ideas for addressing threats to reef survival. Suggested crochet materials: It’s up to you!
Photo Credit: Pod World – Plastic Fantastic, by Christine and Margaret Wertheim and the Institute For Figuring. Image by Francesco Galli for 2019 Venice Biennale.
Environmentalism meets crafting with Crochet Coral Reef
Crochet has an amazing ability to model the mathematically distinct geometry found in coral reefs (see below for a video on geometry in nature), all while bringing together crafting communities and science education. That’s what inspired science writer Margaret Wertheim and artist Christine Wertheim, twin sisters from Australia, to create the Crochet Coral Reef project.
Residing at the intersection of mathematics, marine biology, handicraft and community art practice, the Crochet Coral Reef responds to the environmental crisis of global warming and the escalating problem of oceanic plastic trash through a process of collective creativity. The endeavour highlights not only the damage humans do to Earth’s ecology, but also our power for positive action.
The Wertheims’ collection of Crochet Coral Reef sculptures has been exhibited worldwide, including at the 2019 Venice Biennale, The Andy Warhol Museum (Pittsburgh), Hayward Gallery (London), Science Gallery (Dublin) and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Washington, D.C.). It will be at the Science Centre until the end of October 2021.
The project also encompasses a community-engagement program in which nearly 20,000 people around the world have participated in making 40+ locally-based Satellite Reefs. The Ontario Satellite Reef is the latest addition to this ever-evolving collection.
Photo Credit: Pod World – Hyperbolic, by Christine and Margaret Wertheim and the Institute For Figuring. Image by Francesco Galli for 2019 Venice Biennale.
The Story Behind the Crochet Coral Reef project
Global warming is destroying the ecology of living reefs. That’s what drove science writer Margaret Wertheim and artist Christine Wertheim, twin sisters from Australia, to create the Crochet Coral Reef project in 2005. They realized crochet has an amazing ability to mimic the mathematically unique forms of reefs while bringing crafting and science education together.
The Crochet Coral Reef calls attention to the devastation of living reefs due to climate change while exploring the beauty, science and vital importance of reefs through a community crafting art project. The Wertheims’ Crochet Coral Reef travelling exhibition has been presented around the world, inspiring community activism, environmental awareness, and math and science learning.
Margaret and Christine also founded and co-direct the Institute for Figuring, a non-profit organization that hosts the continuing evolution of the Crochet Coral Reef project.
Through a participatory program the sisters designed, more than 20,000 people have crocheted more than 40 community-based Satellite Reefs—from Chicago, New York, London and Melbourne, to other sites across England, Ireland, Latvia, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. The Ontario Science Centre is currently building Ontario Satellite Reef—the latest addition to the ongoing global network of Satellite Reefs.
The Crochet Coral Reef project was created by sisters Margaret Wertheim and Christine Wertheim, who are also co-directors of the project’s host organization, the Institute For Figuring, in Los Angeles. The Wertheims have created Crochet Coral Reef exhibitions for more than 20 museums and galleries internationally, and together they are the authors and editors of the Crochet Coral Reef book.
About Margaret Wertheim
Margaret Wertheim is an internationally recognized writer, artist and curator. Focusing on the interconnected relationships between science, art, culture, crafting and community STEM engagement, her honours include the Scientia Medal for Science Communication (Australia), and the American Association of Physics Teachers prestigious Klopsteg Award for “conveying the excitement of physics.”
Ms. Wertheim is the author of six books, including a trilogy about the cultural history of physics, and has written for publications ranging from The New York Times to New Scientist. Before moving to the USA in 1991, she conceived, wrote and co-directed Catalyst, a six-part television science series aimed at teenage girls.
Christine Wertheim is a poet, performer, artist, critic, curator and collaborator. She has a PhD in literature and semiotics and is a faculty member at the California Institute of the Arts in the Department of Critical Studies, where she teaches courses on art+feminism, pataphysics, nonsense and rubbish.
Christine has authored and edited eight books, including three poetic suites and three literary anthologies. She is a former director of the CalArts MFA Writing Program and has written for many magazines, including X-TRA and Jacket.
Photo Credit: Coral Forest, by Christine and Margaret Wertheim and the Institute For Figuring. Image by Stephanie Veto for Lehigh University Art Galleries.
This simple wrap combines two fundamentals of knitting to create a reversible, welted texture: stocking stitch and reverse stocking. It is knitted on the bias, increasing in width as you go, so you can make it any size you like and use any tension of yarn you like – it’s a great stash-buster! The pattern may look long and complicated, but it isn’t, it’s just written with detail for inexperienced knitters and people with short attention spans. The pattern repeat is long, so a chart is included to guide you and help you keep track of where you are in the pattern. You can use any yarn you like, which makes it a great stash buster (see amounts below).
Its called the cottage wrap because it’s a great thing to wrap around your shoulders on a cool night, but maybe especially at the cottage. It is a freebie, from us to you. Please enjoy this pattern as we all emerge from our nests with joy and trepidation.
approx 82”/205cm long (from tip to tip) & 20”/50cm deep (at longest point)
Yarns
The amount of yarn you use is flexible and depends on the type of fibre you choose and the thickness of the yarn – you’ll probably need 2 scarves worth of yarn. Yarns that are knit as a looser fabric will go further, yarns knit tighter may require some extra, especially bulky to super bulky weight yarns. Use a needle size that works for your yarn.
This pattern has been percolating for a long time … it was a victim of a bit of “scope-creep“, the result of some underlying issues with perfectionism (and the sundry crud that that springs from). I’d like to say thank you to my sample knitters Tessa and Adrienne, who made the wraps in the pictures and helped edit the pattern. Thank you to Erica, Noel and Rosie for just putting up with me. Thanks to Judit who helps me clear the blocks. Thanks also go to everyone whose been so patient and waited for me to finish the pattern. This pattern was far from being my dissertation and definitely not my life’s work, but it was a bit of an albatross. I’d like to raise a toast to letting go of our tethers and stretching our wings: may it be the first of many similar experiences for us all. In the words of my then eight year old nice: “You watch this girl go!”
