Imagine walking into the ’62 Center for Theatre & Dance and finding yourself underwater surrounded by waves of vibrant coral, not in glass tanks, but crocheted by hundreds of hands across the Berkshires. This isn’t a fever dream. It’s the Berkshires Satellite Reef project, and it’s growing one loop at a time.
Worldwide Crochet Coral Reef
Williams College is diving headfirst into the worldwide Crochet Coral Reef project, a global, art-meets-science extravaganza designed by sisters Christine and Margaret Wertheim of the Institute for Figuring. This isn’t just art for the sake of beauty (though trust me, it’ll be stunning). This is art with a purpose, spotlighting climate change, celebrating mathematical forms, and building community all at once.
What’s a Satellite Reef, Anyway?
Participants working to craft the reef.
Glad you asked! The Berkshires Satellite Reef is our community’s personal contribution to this worldwide coral constellation. Over the next year, students, faculty, staff, and neighbors will come together to crochet corals of all shapes, sizes, and textures, using yarn, plastic bags, fabric scraps, and whatever else we can loop together.
In Spring 2026, these tiny textile ecosystems will unite as one immersive installation right here at Williams. Picture it: a fiber-optic reef you can wander through, crafted by hundreds of hands, from campus crochet circles to weekend workshops across Berkshire County.
No Crochet Experience? No Problem!
Instruction on how to crochet.
Whether you’re a seasoned stitcher or someone who’s never touched a crochet hook (hi, that was me), we’ve got you covered! Join one of our Coral Crochet Workshops and learn the basics, no experience required. You’ll get a free kit with yarn, a hook, and instructions (and maybe a super cute bag to hold it all). Or drop in for one of our Coral Crochet Circles and stitch alongside fellow reef-makers.
It’s low-pressure, high-reward. You’ll learn something new, meet great people, and contribute to something way bigger than yourself (literally, it’s life-size!). And your name will be in the credits for the installation.
Sustainable Stitches: Crafting with Care
All yarn was either donated or purchased as upcycled materials from the Old Stone Mill Zero Waste Maker Space
Here’s where it gets even cooler: this reef isn’t just about raising awareness, it’s about doing something. We’re experimenting with sourcing materials that are eco-friendly or upcycled (think yarn remnants, old plastic bags, strips of sheets, even industrial shrink wrap from commercial pallets). Our Makerspace and FabLab are testing out how to turn industrial shrink wrap, police caution tape, and packaging tape, and bulk sized cereal bags into crochet-ready materials. Who knew that caution tape and shrink wrap could become sea anemones?
Get Involved: Be Part of the Reef
- Learn to Crochet: Join a workshop and get your free kit.
- Crochet at Your Own Pace: Make corals at home, in circles, or with friends.
- Donate Materials: Yarn, hooks, plastic bags: we’ll take ‘em!
- Drop Off or Mail Corals: Send your creations to campus by March 1, 2026.
For specific details, please view our Berkshires Satellite Reef website, this instructional video (How To Crochet A Hyperbolic Plane), or these PDFs: