Plate Corals /  by CHRISTINA HARKNESS

I believe I discussed plate corals a few months ago in the context of how I made them for my small fiber art projects. I have recently been figuring out how to make them for display in our reef.

This is a fingering weight yarn that I have been crocheting held double so a single strand of sport or Aran weight yarn would probably give you a similar feel. I simply single crochet a circle until I get it large enough to make me happy and then I alternate using single crochet for some sections and double crochet for other sections which gives it a wavy edge.

I am then sewing it onto plastic canvas to make it flat and sturdy and crocheting a tube for it to stand on. I then sew the tube onto the plastic canvas. The tubes will then be stuffed and once I complete five or more, I will put them all together and sew them onto a base. I want to keep their edges overlapping so the tube height has to be variable.

I know that it can be cringe worthy to use plastic canvas but I always source my plastic canvas from resale shops. Recycling it is the best way to go.

Bleached /  by CHRISTINA HARKNESS

Along with my effort to make taller healthy coral pieces, I have been working on and off on my tall bleached piece for a few months now. I still have a little bit to fill in but it is coming along nicely.

The tall structure is two PVC pipes that I crocheted a tube to cover. The base is two blocks of recycled Styrofoam that I also crocheted a cover for. The PVC pipe is embedded into the Styrofoam and sewn in place. I must admit that it is a little rickety and in the future I will create a larger base for these taller corals.

The black piece lying separate is a mailing tube covered by rug loops which I looped together to form a chain and then crocheted into a tube to create a feeling of an abandoned hawser which might be found in the sea. (The large white coral on the bottom left of the first picture is also made of crocheted rug loops).

Each of the separate pieces on the bleached reef structure is created separately and sewn onto the covering for the PVC pipes or Styrofoam blocks.

I must admit, I find myself packing ALL OF THE STUFF I come across, mailing tubes, packing materials, a plethora of ridiculous items, into my closet because I JUST MIGHT USE THEM IN THE REEF!!!


Gaining Height /  by CHRISTINA HARKNESS

Once again, time has wooshed past me and I haven’t updated here. It’s not that I haven’t been busy or been making corals, in fact, I have been working on some larger pieces.

Recently we had a donation of several skeins of pink yarn and I have been thinking of ways to gain height on the reef. This pink coral (which I have lovingly named “Audrey 2”) is 22 inches tall and stuffed mostly with polyfill. The base is a circle of cardboard with two bags of rice taped to it. On the very bottom is a circle of plastic canvas which I have sewn to the bottom edge of the coral.

This is an entirely free form shape in which I crocheted a big tube and then divided that tube into three branches. By increasing in one side of the tube and decreasing into the opposite side of the same tube, I could make the tubes curve and curl. I then crocheted separate smaller branches and sewed them onto the larger branches.

I feel the addition of other coral forms on top will help to connect it to the corals which will surround its base once it is placed in the actual coral reef.

I have also been working on taller bleached pieces. More on that next time!

Fiber Festivals Ahoy! /  by CHRISTINA HARKNESS

Fingers crossed…shhhh…don’t tell Covid….

I have been working on getting a place at a few different fiber festivals for the PNW Community Coral Reef. I will be traveling to Shepherds Extravaganza in Washington on Saturday, April 23 starting at 10 AM in the demonstration area, Building J.

Next? Fiber Fusion NW in Washington on Saturday June 4. I will have a scheduled time to talk and demonstrate some pattern ideas for the PNW Community Coral Reef. I will announce the time when I learn it.

Even better? Black Sheep Gathering which is very close to home! The festival runs June 24-26 and I believe we will have a table of our own with reef exhibits and pattern ideas.

I am beyond thrilled to be able to get back into the swing of fiber festivals, not only after Covid but after moving back to the PNW. There are more fiber festivals out here than where I was in the Midwest and it is wonderful!

Hitting The Road /  by CHRISTINA HARKNESS

The presentation to the Salem Millstream Fiber Guild today was very fun! It was the first time that we have brought so much of the reef parts together in one room and it made me very happy to see it all together and to have such a positive reaction from folx who are ready to create and donate. We now have a new donation site at Teaselwick Wools in Salem. The Guild also put up a page on their website with knitting and crocheting patterns and info on the project.

I’m also reaching out to fiber festivals throughout the PNW to see if I can get an informational table and bring some reef bits along to inspire people. It’s a case of “be careful what you wish for”. Since all but a couple of them are out of town, it would mean getting some hotels and spending some long weekends. We’ll see how it goes.

The lovely folx in Salem also donated a huge box of yarn to the cause so if anyone is in need of some yarn, first come, first served! Just let me know. If you are in the Lincoln City area, you can stop in to the Lincoln City Cultural Center and help yourself to donated yarn there.