Roving Crochet Reporter: Our Very Own Crocheted Satellite Reef

Here's a report from two of our members, Judith and Kathy, about an exciting community project that is being exhibited through November 21, 2015.

Presented by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Mia), the Minneapolis Satellite Reef-- a part of the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project created by Margaret and Christine Wertheim for the Institute For Figuring in Los Angeles--debuted on Sunday, August 23rd. The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) held a thrilling pre-opening event for the contributors and their family and friends. The entire lobby of the beautiful new MWMO building has been transformed into a gallery showcasing the Minneapolis Satellite Reef in a sensory delight of fantastical crocheted coral pieces in all imaginable designs, shapes, sizes, and brilliant colors. But at the core of the project are hyperbolic shapes, best demonstrated by these crocheted forms. The reef is art, an exploration of topology, and at its heart an urgent plea for humanity to stop pouring poisons and trash into our seas.

The 1300 individual pieces are mounted in undulating sections, including a magnificent center focal point of corals in orange and multiple other colorways, an elegant bleached white coral reef showing the tragedy of dying corals, and a trail of brilliant blues with hanging green "kelps" dangling from the ceiling next to a rising mound of yellow corals. A blazing sea-wall of red corals meets the viewer at eye level and above.

Also included in the gallery are other manifestations of sea-life. Not far from a group of hanging jellyfish, a video monitor runs continuously to show the installing of the Satellite Reef from Day 1 through completion, followed by the TED Talk by Margaret Wertheim, co-founder of the IFF, explaining how the concept of a crocheted coral reef first came about in 2005. There’s a chalkboard explaining the mathematical principles of the non-Euclidian shapes that the hyperbolic crocheted forms represent. Finally, a large wall plaque credits each individual contributor to the Satellite reef by name, honoring this exceptional community of crocheters of all ages and skill levels who came together to create the Minneapolis Satellite Reef.

List of contributors

Since January, Mia has invited the community to participate in the making of a Minneapolis Satellite Reef, part of the Institute For Figuring’s ongoing Satellite Reef program. Citizens of the Twin Cities and beyond were encouraged to create crocheted corals to contribute to the reef through the end of July 2015. More than 400 people attended crochet workshops during that time, with over 180 contributing works, including some mailed in from Hawaii.

Plarn - plastic yarn

Organized by Mia and created by the community, the Minneapolis Satellite Reef will be exhibited at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Community Facility, 2522 Marshall Street NE Minneapolis (http://www.mwmo.org) from August 24 to November 21, 2015.

All photos are personal photos of the Minneapolis Satellite Reef, a part of the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project created by Margaret and Christine Wertheim for the Institute For Figuring in Los Angeles, made by over 180 individual contributors.

Thanks for the very information report, Judith and Kathy. And thanks for the pics Judith, Kathy, and Lisa. We hope everyone takes time to see the satellite reef before the exhibit ends - click here for a google map to the MWMO facility.

Fifth Saturday: No event on October 31

It's been a busy month with lots of activities for Crochet Twin Cities members. Since this fifth Saturday is Halloween we decided not to have a special event or outing. So enjoy your own trick or treating with family and friends and we'll see you in November!

4th Saturday meetup: October 24

Time flies; we're nearing the end of this month, and that signals Fourth Saturday meetup. If you're new to the group, meetups are held at rotating locations around the metro where we can grab a cup of coffee and sit and crochet and chat. It's all very informal - but lots of fun! You can drop in any time and stay as long as you're able.


There's no charge to attend a meetup so it's a great way to meet us and ask questions about the group, particularly if you're new to crochet. We'd love to meet you!


This month's meetup is Saturday, October 24 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Bruegger's Southtown (Bloomington, 494 & Penn).

We hope you can join us!

(And, yes, it does seem earlier than usual this month - that's because October has five Saturdays!)

Crochet tools review: Rowenta Ultrasteam Hand-Held Steamer

At our next meeting we'll be talking about blocking techniques. Several of our members use this tool for blocking so we asked if they would give a product review.

How did you find out about this tool and where did you purchase it?
Maxine: I first read about steam blocking acrylic in this blog article - the before and after pictures are pretty impressive - so I looked for a steamer and found this model at Target.
Thersa: I found out about it at a CTC meeting and purchased mine online - from amazon.


How often do you use it and what do you use if for?
Thersa: I don't use it that often - but when I do, it works great - especially when I have a project that won't lie flat. I wish I had taken it with me on my last business trip - I could have used it for a pair of pants that I had to press!
Maxine:  I really became a believer in this steamer when I used it for the Purple Majestic Vest. True to my nature,  I finished this project on the way to work one morning (as rider in my car pool) and it was very puckered and sad-looking. I'd packed the steamer but I was not very hopeful that it would help. Wonder of wonders, it make a huge difference in the look of the garment - smoothed out all the puckers and uneven edges. So now it's my go-to blocking tool for everything I can - motifs to completed projects.

What are the strong points of this tool?
Maxine: I think the brush attachment is one of the strong points (and I leave mine on the tool at all times). If you put the brush on the piece you're blocking, you're just the right distance for the steamer to be concentrated but you don't damage the fabric. A friend of mine has a different hand steamer without a brush and she says hers doesn't really do the job.
Thersa: It's simple to use, it's inexpensive, it works really well. For what I do, there's was no sense in getting an expensive floor-model steamers that cost four of five times the cost of this tool.

Are there any are flaws or weaknesses in the tool that others should be aware of?
Thersa: You might have to refill the water container several times for a larger project. I always use distilled water just so there isn't a chance for build-up - I just keep a container of distilled water nearby so that I'm prepared.
Maxine: Same here. - not really a complaint because the container is the exact right size for the tool.

Would you recommend this tool to other crocheters?
Maxine: Oh my goodness yes - it's one of the most important tools I own.
Thersa: Yes!

Thanks for the tips!