Under the Sea

I could not resist the chance to celebrate the wonders we can see under the sea. It’s a magical place. I first went scuba diving and snorkelling on coral reefs in Papua New Guinea and it was the most amazing experience, words don’t do it justice. One minute you are in the sunlight with the light reflecting off the surface of the water, and the next you are in a completely new world of green with flashes of colour and the surface of the water is now a rippling surface of light overhead. The coral garden is like a colourful metropolis with every fish going about its business, diving in and out of safety, moving in shoals like traffic at the traffic lights. At the drop off, the coral clings to the vertical face for a little while and then below is the descent to the endless dark.

Of course, I’m celebrating clown fish (with a hat tip to ‘Finding Nemo’). They flit in and out of the anemones and make up part of the constantly moving brilliantly coloured coral garden.

Our oceans seem so vast and yet their health is so fragile: from kelp gardens to tropical reefs, underwater volcanoes and ocean trenches, there is a whole world under the surface. Microplastics, rubbish, sewerage all affect the health of the oceans. Climate change is threatening the reefs. It’s all very scary. Yet every time we act to help the oceans by preventing pollution or by preventing further temperature increases, we are helping save that wonderful world. This little clownfish has no idea about global forces destroying his home. The only solution is in our hands.

This pattern is made with raw edge applique so starting with the fish body, you build up the fins and the stripes until all you need to do is blanket stitch or zigzag around the raw edges. The pieces are big enough to use needle turn applique or whatever method you prefer.

You may also be interested in some of my other beach and sea themed patterns.