Yarn Brain

By ChrysN in CraftKnitting & Crochet

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outside Yarn Brain
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By ChrysN Follow More

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I like sewing and crafts,and trying new things. I'm vegetarian and always looking for new
recipes.… More »

I had first planned to make this brain for Halloween, (zombie bait), but the biologist in me
wanted to make this anatomically correct so it took me a bit longer to make. I am not a
neuroanatomist so I can't guarantee the accuracy of this brain. I made it based on Google
image searches which actually proved to be a bit of a challenge since most brain model images
are in cross section (sagittal section) so you only see half of it and you need to extrapolate into
3D.

I made my brain all one colour, but if you want to use it as a teaching tool, you can make each
of the parts a different colours. Also the midbrain and brain stem is connected to the cortex
with a magnet so you can pull it out and see the parts.

Step 1: What Will You Need

Yarn weight 3:

Pink

Other:

2.25mm crochet hook

Yarn needles
Small knitting loom (eg. Knitting Nancy or a spool loom)
Polyfil/fibrefil stuffing of some sort
Following
Sewing thread and needle
22 gauge wire, pliers and a magnet
Elastic thread (white or pink)

Abbreviations:

Rnd round

ch(s) chain stitch(s)

sc single crochet

sl st slip stitch

st(s) stitch(s)
sc2tog decrease by crocheting 2 stitches together

Step 2: Cerebral Cortex: Knitting

I made my own spool loom from a small plastics tube, I cut a hole in the bottom and poked
four nails into the rim. Knitting with this loom forms a cord with a diameter of approximately
one centimetre. (Here is an Instructable on how to make a small knitting loom). I won't go into
how to use a loom there are plenty of great instructions available for that (How to Loom Knit)

So with my homemade loom I knitted two lengths of cord approximately one meter in length.

Step 3: Cerebral Cortex: Making the Folds

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I cut two pieces of elastic thread, roughly half the length of the two knitted cords made in the
Assistive Tech
previous step, about 50cm. I tied one end of the elastic to one of the ends of the cord, threaded
Audio
the other end of the elastic through the centre of the cord using a yarn needle. The elastic is
Cameras
pulled through the entire length of the cord, out the other end and tied to the yarn tail. This
Clocks
should cause theComputers
cord to form folds. Repeat with the other cord.
Electronics
Step 4: Cerebral
Gadgets Cortex: Assembly
Lasers
LEDs
Linux
Microcontrollers
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Mobile
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Remote Control
Reuse
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Wearables
To form the cerebral cortex you need over 3 million years of human evolution. Though for a
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yarn cortex some sewing thread and a needle will do. I folded each cord about four times and
Wireless
sewed each length together forming the general shape of each hemisphere, albeit flat. I then
lined up each hemisphere side by side and stitched together to top edge, leaving the bottom
open, creating a bowl shape.

Step 5: Cerebellum

Workshop
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Make two: All
3D Design
With the pink yarn
3D Printing
Cars6 .
Rnd 1: Magic Circle
CNC
Rnd 2: Work 2 sc in eachVehicles
Electric sc around - 12 sts
Energy
Rnd 3: *2 sc in next st, sc in next st, rep from * around - 18 sts
Furniture
Home Improvement
Rnd 4: *2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around - 24 sts.
Rnds 5 -7: Sc in Home
each scTheater
around - 24 sts
Hydroponics
Rnd 8: Sc in each sc around - 24 sts
Knives
Laser Cutting
Rnd 9: *sc2tog, sc, sc, sc, sc repeat - 20sts.
Lighting
Metalworking
Rnd 10: *sc2tog, sc, sc, sc, repeat - 16sts.
Molds & Casting
Motorcycles
Rnd 11: *sc2togsc, sc, sc, repeat -12sts.
Organizing
Pallets
Rnd 12: *sc2togsc, sc, repeat -8sts. Stuff
Repair
Rnd 13: *sc2tog Science
in rest. Fasten off. Leave tail.
Shelves
Solar
Step 6: Pons and Brain Stem
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Woodworking
Workbenches

Brain Stem

For the brain stem, use the knitting loom to form a cord approximately 10cm long.

Pons

Make one

Rnd1: Magic Circle 6 6sts

Craft
Rnd2: 2sc in sc 12sts
back
Rnd3: sc insc 12sts
All
Art
Rnd4: 2sc in first and 6th,
Books sc in sc in rest 14sts
& Journals
Cardboard
Rnd5: sc insc 14sts
Cards
Clay
Rnd6: sc2togin first and 6th 12sts
Costumes & Cosplay
Digital Graphics
Rnd7: sc in sc 12sts
Duct Tape
Rnd8: sc2tog in Embroidery
each 6sts
Fashion
Rnd9: sc2tog in Felt
each. Fasten off. Leave tail. Press flat.
Fiber Arts
Step 7: ThalamusGift Wrapping
Jewelry
Knitting & Crochet
Leather
Mason Jars
No-Sew
Paper
Parties & Weddings
Photography
Printmaking
Reuse
Sewing
Soapmaking
Wallets

Thalamus

Make two

Rnd1: Magic Circle 6 6sts

Rnd2: 2sc in sc 12sts

Rnd3: 2sc in sc, sc. repeat in rest 18sts

Rnd4: sc in sc 18sts

Rnd5: sc2tog in sc, sc. repeat in rest 12sts

Rnd6: sc2tog in each 6sts. Stuff

Rnd7: sc2tog in rest. Fasten off. Leave tail

Step 8: Pituitary Gland

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Bacon
BBQ & Grilling
Beverages
Bread
Breakfast
Cake
Candy
Canning & Preserving
 Cocktails & Mocktails
Coffee
Cookies
Cupcakes
Dessert
Pituitary GlandHomebrew
Main Course
Make two Pasta
Pie
Rnd1: ch2, 3sc in second ch from hook
Pizza
Salad
Rnd2: sc in sc for first, sc2tog next 2, ch3.
Sandwiches
Fasten off. LeaveSnacks
tail & Appetizers
Soups & Stews
Vegetarian & Vegan
Step 9: Hippocampus

Cut two pieces of wire 7.5cm (3 inches) in length. Bend each into a nearly closed circle, with the
bottom part flatter and the ends folded back (see image 2 above).

Begin by crocheting: ch2, 3sc in second ch from hook.

Step 10: Hippocampus Continued

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Beauty
Christmas
Cleaning
Decorating
Education
Gardening
Halloween
 Health
Hiding Places
Holidays
Homesteading
Hold the piece you started crocheting in the previous step against the end of the wire and
Kids
chain stitch around the wire starting at the top. (See these instructions for more information).
Kitchen
Continue covering the length of the wire, once you reach the end, turn and sc in each chain for
LEGO & K'NEX
the first 7-8chs, sl st into next chain, tie off and weave in ends. You may need a dab of glue on
Life Hacks
each end to prevent the yarn from slipping. Repeat with the second wire. Stitch the two pieces
Music
together at the top like in image 4 above.
Office Supply Hacks
Organizing
Step 11: Corpus Callosum
Pest Control
Pets
Pranks, Tricks, & Humor
Relationships
Toys & Games
Travel
Video Games

Corpus Callosum

Make one

Rnd1: Magic Circle10 10st(s)

Rnd2-15: sc in sc 10sts

Rnd16: sc2tog in each. Fasten off. Leave tail

Stitch a rare earth magnet to the centre of the corpus callosum.

Step 12: Assembly

Outside
back
All
Backyard
Beach
Bikes
Birding
Boats
Camping
Climbing
 Fire
Fishing
Hunting
Kites
Knots
Launchers
Now that we haveParacord
all of the parts, lets assemble.
Rockets
First stitchSiege
together the two Thalamus (?plural) at an angle, see above.
Engines
Sew the two Pituitary Glands in between the Thalamus.
Skateboarding
Then attach the Thalamus to the top of the Brain Stem.
Snow
Sports
Step 13: Assembly
Survival Continued
Water

Stitch together the Cerebellums the same way you did the Thalamus.
Wrap the Pons around the Brain Stem, front to back and stitch the Cerebellum to the
Pons.
Place the Hippocampus around the Thalamus and stitch in place.
Stitch the Corpus Callosum to the inside of the Cerebral Cortex, between where the two
hemispheres come together in the middle (magnet facing out).
Place the Hippocampus against the magnet inside the Cortex, with the Cerebellum at the
back. The magnets should hold the two parts together, and can be pulled apart as needed.

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Comment I Made It

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10 Comments

shascho 8 years ago

Michelangelo would be proud;

art in the service of science!

Or is it science in the service of art?

Either way, this is a brilliant project.

I've downloaded your instructions

and expect to make a colour-coded version.

An ischemic-cum-hemorrhagic stroke

converted me from an ambulance paramedic

to a student of crochet;

I'm thinking this will be a useful teaching tool.

And besides, it's just cool.

Reply

1 reply

ediestel 9 years ago

This is SO RAD and unique!

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ashleyjlong 9 years ago
Teachers

Ha! I love that this is accurate to the real organ. Very fun piece.

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1 reply
 Babybg 9 years ago

Good work

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1 reply

curly gurly 9 years ago

How do you do a magic circle?

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1 reply

starforest 9 years ago

Very instersting. Never have seen anything like this before.

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