# Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef book

You might already know about the idea of crocheting hyperbolic surfaces, invented by Daina Taimina in 1997. Well, since then, the idea has been developed considerably, and I don’t think it would be hyperbolic to say people have got a bit carried away.

Margaret and Christine Wertheim, who are a science writer and a poet/performer respectively and The Institute for Figuring collectively, started work on a crochet coral reef in 2005 using Taimina’s ideas. Since then, it has grown into a vast international effort involving over 7,000 people working together to create something that’s a mixture of mathematical neatness, fascinating art exhibit, and environmental awareness project.

Anyway. the reason I mention all this is that the Wertheims want to publish a book about the project, and they’re raising money to do it on Kickstarter. Here’s the pitch:

As I write, they’re two-thirds of the way towards their \$27,000 target. The usual Kickstarter rules apply: if this is the kind of thing that floats your boat, have a look at the pitch page and decide if you want to give them some money. The crucial information is that \$45 gets you a copy of the book on release. I couldn’t help but notice the interesting names given to the higher reward tiers, working up from “Euclidean” at \\$100 to “Lobachevskian” and “Gaussian” at the top end.

Crochet Coral Reef: The Book at Kickstarter.

Crochet Coral Reef official site.

## About the author

• #### Christian Lawson-Perfect

Mathematician, koala fan, Aperiodical editor. Usually found paddling in the North Sea, or fiddling with computers.

### One Response to “Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef book”

1. margaret wertheim

Thanks Christian and other Aperiodicals for promoting our book on the Crochet Coral Reef. Its a unique fusion of math+art+marine science+environmental consciousness. Through the project and its many exhibitions worldwide, we’ve introduced more than 3 million visitors to non-Euclidean geometry. As a science writer I’ve never seen any science program get this sort of grass roots traction. Thanks for your support from all of us at the IFF.