lettuce coral
It was made using hyperbolic crochet. Hyperbolic crochet involves increasing the number of stitches in a piece at a consistent rate. It is a technique that means the crochet grows in a way that mirrors how coral itself actually grows.
For this lettuce coral I increased in every other stitch, to make quite wide ruffles or curls like a lettuce coral. The coral is crocheted in green yarn, with the last row in cream. The finished coral is two smaller pieces sewn together.
It is very simple yet very effective, and it can be easily - and endlessly? - varied. You can use any yarn, any hook size, any stitch, any colour. You can increase rapidly, by increasing in every stitch, or more slowly, by increasing say in every third or fourth stitch. You can make small pieces, or just keep on crocheting and seeing how the shape of the piece evolves as it gets bigger.
Yarn and Hook Size
I used Stylecraft Special DK yarn, in Pistachio and Cream, and a 3.25 mm hook.
Stitches
The stitches and abbreviations are in US terms:
CH – chain;
SC - single crochet;
INC - 2 SC in the same stitch.
Pattern
Row 1: (leave a long yarn tail when making your slip knot) ch 11, turn
Row 2: SC into second ch from the hook, and SC across, ch 1 turn, (10 SC)
Row 3: [INC, SC] across, ch 1 turn (15 SC)
Rows 4-8: repeat row 3, adding an extra INC in the last stitch to complete the row where the row below has an odd number of stitches
(change colour)
Row 9: repeat row 3, finish off
Make two.
Notes
Assembly
Using the starting yarn tail from one piece, join the two pieces by sewing the first rows together (sew row 1 of piece A to row 1 of piece B).
I love how tactile hyperbolic crochet pieces are. They are great fun to handle, to twist and turn and play with. They'd make great fidget toys. I love how much the shape of the piece can change with every twist or fold.
I'd love to see any lettuce coral you make. Tag me on Instagram @fat_cat_crochet or try the pin on Pinterest.
Please do not copy or sell these instructions.
