A few years ago I came across a stunning crochet project, the crochet coral reef project started by two amazing Australian sisters, Christine and Margaret Wertheim. They were inspired to do something about climate change and the destruction of coral reefs around the world. Combining hyperbolic geometry with crocheting, they created huge coral reef installations made out of yarn and types of plastic. These beautiful installations are in many places around the world. And at https://crochetcoralreef.org/ you can see stunning examples. This is now known as hyperbolic crochet which is incredible to do, so simple and so addictive. Beautiful twiddle items are made to put on twiddle muffs, cuffs and mats.
I am definitely addicted. I make these whenever I sit down, watching grandchildren at sport, travelling in buses, trains, trams and aeroplanes. These coral flowers are beautiful, like coral so I call them my twiddle coral flowers. As I crochet away in public, I have generated many discussions about the coral reef project and project twiddles, and how to crochet. Once you are aware of these coral flowers you begin to spot them in exhibitions. I hope you will join me in making these simple, amazing items for twiddle mats, muffs and cuffs.
So let’s begin. Use double knit yarn, size 3.5 or 4mm hook, and chain 3. Join with a slip stitch make a circle.
Row 1: 8 single crochet (sc) into the circle.
Row 2 & all following rows, 2 sc into each stitch.
Keep doing this until you have the coral flower as big as you want.
Watch magic happen.
Fasten off.
Note that you don’t need to worry about row or stitch counting, just keep going round and round, 2 stitches into every stitch. And you can vary the stitch: try half double crochet or even double crochet stitches. Then vary your pattern: try 1 crochet stitch followed by 2 crochet stitches into 1 stitch; or put 3 crochet stitches into 1 stitch. As your confidence grows, try different weight yarns and even multiple colours in one flower.
An alternative style is to chain 20 stitches, the number does not matter. You can place 2 stitches in every stitch on both sides of the chain.
Or you can work only on one side of the chain and make an interesting chain.
Experiment! Have fun with lots of combinations. Join in new colours. Finish off with a decorative edge: chain 3 (start wherever you want) slip stitch into the next stitch, then chain 3 in the next stitch. And there you have the twiddle coral flower. The ideas are endless but trust me, it is a very meditative activity for the maker. Enjoy.
Happy creating everyone.
Sandra @ Project Twiddles.
