{"id":3063,"date":"2025-10-16T21:53:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T01:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/?p=3063"},"modified":"2026-04-23T15:15:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T19:15:03","slug":"stitch-by-stitch-building-an-ocean-in-the-berkshires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/makerspace\/projects\/stitch-by-stitch-building-an-ocean-in-the-berkshires\/","title":{"rendered":"Stitch by Stitch: Building an Ocean in the Berkshires"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine walking into the \u201962 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\u2019t a fever dream. It\u2019s the <\/span>Berkshires Satellite Reef project<\/span><\/a>, and it\u2019s growing one loop at a time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Worldwide<\/a>

Worldwide Crochet Coral Reef<\/p><\/div>\n

Williams College is diving headfirst into the <\/span>worldwide Crochet Coral Reef<\/span><\/a> project, a global, art-meets-science extravaganza designed by sisters Christine and Margaret Wertheim of the Institute for Figuring. This isn\u2019t just art for the sake of beauty (though trust me, it\u2019ll be stunning). This is art with a purpose, spotlighting climate change, celebrating mathematical forms, and building community all at once.<\/span><\/p>\n

What’s a Satellite Reef, Anyway?<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Participants<\/a>

Participants working to craft the reef.<\/p><\/div>\n

Glad you asked! The Berkshires Satellite Reef is our community\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

No Crochet Experience? No Problem!<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Instruction<\/a>

Instruction on how to crochet.<\/p><\/div>\n

Whether you\u2019re a seasoned stitcher or someone who\u2019s never touched a crochet hook (hi, that was me), we\u2019ve got you covered! Join one of our Coral Crochet Workshops and learn the basics, no experience required. You\u2019ll 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s low-pressure, high-reward. You\u2019ll learn something new, meet great people, and contribute to something way bigger than yourself (literally, it\u2019s life-size!). And your name will be in the credits for the installation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sustainable Stitches: Crafting with Care<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"53<\/a>

All yarn was either donated or purchased as upcycled materials from the Old Stone Mill Zero Waste Maker Space<\/p><\/div>\n

Here\u2019s where it gets even cooler: this reef isn\u2019t just about raising awareness, it\u2019s about <\/span>doing<\/span><\/i> something. We\u2019re 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?<\/span><\/p>\n

Get Involved: Be Part of the Reef<\/span><\/h2>\n