Making Corals From Recycled and Plastic Materials

One of the topics that I hope to emphasize in the PNW Community Coral Reef is the issue of plastics in the ocean. I have been able to make one hyperbolic shape from plastic lacing that I found in a resale shop and this morning I made two anemones from sturdy bubble wrap packing materials that I got in a shipment a few weeks ago and I crocheted their tentacles out of jelly yarn, something that I also used to make a ghost net for the display.

For the anemones, I simply made a cone of the bubble wrap and taped the side shut with clear packing tape. I then took my smallest, sharpest crochet hook and poked holes around the top far enough apart to prevent the plastic ripping and crocheted the jelly yarn into the plastic wrap, making tentacles with double crochet and leaving three crochet stitches between each tentacle. They are a little top heavy so I have stuffed them with additional packing material to make them a little more sturdy.

I also want to emphasize making corals with recycled materials. Last year I got a new sofa that was wrapped in this white fabric. I saved it and recently cut it up into strips and crocheted it with a huge hook into a hyperbolic shape for the bleached area of the reef.

Another thought that I have had but haven’t had a chance to do yet is to take something plastic, like a milk jug or Styrofoam like a mini cooler, and cover it with bleached corals as if someone has thrown it into the ocean and nature is trying to cope but not succeeding.

So, if you are thinking of making a statement piece for the PNW Community Coral Reef, I would encourage you to look around your environment and use something at hand.