Science Critters

By Paula Johanson

Did you ever want a seashore animal for a pet, but without an aquarium? How about a tarantula to sit peacefully on the arm of your sweater? In the book Science Critters you will find examples of toys or models of several small animals that have delighted both scientists and children.

Here are explanations for making your own science critters of various kinds. Knitters will find patterns here to make an Octopus rubescens small enough to fit in a pocket, or an E. coli microbe big enough to hold in your hand. If you'd rather crochet a squid or a spider, there are options here for several multi-legged critters.

 

Science Critters includes designs for a range of craft skills, from accurate models of a T4 bacteriophage virus to simple as an earthworm. Yarn and simple tools needed are easily found online, in neighbourhood shops, and thrift stores. Some of these critters are used by biologists during school visits, others are worn as jewellry, and hundreds have been given as toys for restless children.

 

"This is a wonderful book if you want to make more than just sweaters or toques. This book not only explains the animal you are making but gives you a starting point in knitting/crocheting the world around you." - review on Amazon

 

Doublejoy Books is delighted to release this practical discussion of making knitted figures for fun. The enjoyment of learning about science shows on every page as author Paula Johanson presents ways to represent living creatures with yarn. This is the author's forty-second nonfiction book, and her confidence is clear whether she welcomes the reader to marine biology or making toys.

 

"This is a great book for crafty people. And it includes microbes!" - microbiologist Craig Phelps

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Doublejoy Books
• Release date: Dec 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781989966051

Paula Johanson

Paula Johanson is a Canadian writer. A graduate of the University of Victoria with an MA in Canadian literature, she has worked as a security guard, a short order cook, a teacher, newspaper writer, and more. As well as editing books and teaching materials, she has run an organic-method small farm with her spouse, raised gifted twins, and cleaned university dormitories. In addition to novels and stories, she is the author of forty-two books written for educational publishers, among them The Paleolithic Revolution and Women Writers from the series Defying Convention: Women Who Changed The World. Johanson is an active member of SF Canada, the national association of science fiction and fantasy authors.

Book preview

I’ll come clean right at the start: I’ve been a science fan since I made pets of bugs and turtles back when I watched the Moon landings. I’m also a fan of knitting and crocheting and an avid reader of books on any fibre arts. It shouldn’t be a surprise that I might like to knit or crochet toy models of creatures studied by real scientists. But it was a surprise when other people liked them too!

These critters are meant to look a lot like real animals, but their shapes are also influenced by Japanese amigurumi, cute little  toys. I hope you’ll try making one or more of them. Patterns with knit in their name are made using knitting, and the crochet patterns have cro in their names. The easiest of these patterns are at the beginning of the book, for seaweed and worms. The patterns are more challenging later in the book. The most challenging pattern is the virus, a model of a T4 bacteriophage used in medicine.

Most children like toys. These animal-shaped toys are small enough to fit in pocket or mail in an envelope. Dozens of these little creatures have become finger puppets to entertain children on buses or in lineups.

Scientists of my acquaintance took a real interest in my critters. Some scientists praised these projects, others were incoherent with glee when given one for their very own. Artists were also impressed, and requested critters for their own projects, particularly my octopus and spider critters.

It is a point of pride that many of these critters are sitting on lab counters and research desks, pinned on notice boards, or clinging to room-sized web networks for projects around the world. Some critters are part of displays at schools and libraries, others are pinned to conference nametags. My spouse and I routinely gave away dozens of critters wherever we went, until the Covid-19 pandemic taught us all about social distancing.

If you lose count of stitches, or if the critter you are making gets lopsided somehow, do not panic. Most of these patterns are adaptable or forgiving of errors. In real life, all of these animals are pretty squishy, even a crab when it has just shed its shell. So, it's all right if your octopus critter has a crooked arm. If your octopus has seven arms, that's no big deal. If it has nine, maybe add another limb and call it a squid.

Yarn

These critter patterns are little projects. They're good for using up yarn leftover after doing a big project, or yarn you found in a thrift store. If you have some yarn rolled into a ball smaller than a tennis ball, that's plenty to make one of most of these critters. The virus needs a bigger ball of yarn, like a softball.

The first time you try a pattern, it's best to use a sport-weight yarn in a neutral colour or a light colour. It can be hard to see your stitches when using very dark colours. It's fun to make an octopus with yarn that changes in colour so that one or more of its limbs is a different colour from its head. Yarns that are tweedy or heathery can be nice for speckled spiders.

Whatever leftover yarn you have, even one with wild colours or textures, is fine to try. There is probably a real creature somewhere that looks a bit like your critter even if it is hot pink or fluffy. Some of these patterns will be hard to do in chenille or eyelash yarn, because it can be hard to see your stitches as you work.

Stuffing

Some of these critters need a bit of stuffing to fill them out. You can buy stuffing in a craft supply store, but it’s smart to try re-using clean fluffy material from inside pillows, or yarn and fabric bits, or cut up old clothes and socks. Sometimes I stuff a critter with a squeaker like those used in dog toys. Consider whether a child is going to chew on this critter and eat or choke on the stuffing or part of the squeaker.

Knitting Needles

Your favourite set of needles is enough. Consider a size larger and smaller also, if you’re making many critters in different sizes and yarns. For working in the round, a set of four or five double-ended needles is good, but I like the Twin-Pin or