Pattern No-knit Neuron by Pat Pillai Materials Materials Materials Needed: Needed: Needed: old old old t-shirt t-shirt t-shirt ororor aapiece apiece piece ofofof fabric fabric fabric cut cut cut into into into aa a Materials Needed: 18cm 18cm 18cm xx6cm x6cm 6cm rectangle rectangle rectangle and and and aa21cm a21cm 21cm square square square Materials Materials Needed: Needed: old t-shirt or a piece of fabric cut into a old t-shirt t-shirt or orpipe aacleaners piece piece of offabric fabriccut cutinto intoaa 6 6old or 6oror more more more pipe pipe cleaners cleaners 18cm 18cm 18cmxxx6cm 6cm 6cmrectangle rectangle rectangleand and andaaa21cm 21cm 21cmsquare square square 22 2 222 AAball Aball ball ofofof yarn, yarn, yarn, any any any thickness*, thickness*, thickness*, or oror stretch stretch stretch fabric fabric fabric cut cut cut into into into long long long narrow narrow narrow strips strips strips 0.5cm 0.5cm 0.5cm Awide, of yarn, any or stretch wide, wide, sewing sewing sewing cotton cotton cotton and and and thin thin thin yarn yarn yarn for for for AAball ball ball of of yarn, yarn, any anythickness*, thickness*, thickness*, or or stretch stretch fabric cut into long narrow strips 0.5cm highlights highlights highlights (optional) (optional) (optional) fabric fabriccut cutinto intolong longnarrow narrowstrips strips0.5cm 0.5cm wide, sewing cotton and thin yarn for wide, wide, sewing sewing cotton cotton and and thin thin yarn yarn for for Preferred Preferred Preferred colours: colours: colours: yellow, yellow, yellow, orange, orange, orange, bright bright bright Materials highlights (optional) highlights highlights (optional) (optional) 2 2or 2oror 3 3rubber 3rubber rubber bands bands bands 6 or more pipe cleaners pink, pink, pink, lime lime lime green, green, green, light light light purple purple purple Preferred colours: yellow, orange, bright pink, lime green, light • 66aor or more more pipe cleaners old t-shirt or piece ofpipe fabriccleaners cut into a 18cm x 6cm Preferred colours: orange, bright Preferred Preferred colours: colours:yellow, yellow, yellow, orange, orange, bright bright purple rectangle and aYarn square *2*Yarn *Yarn can can can be be be any any any thickness, thickness, thickness, thin thin thin yarn yarn yarn –work –work –work two two two lengths lengths lengths together. together. together. 321cm bands pink, lime green, light purple Image Image Image credit: credit: credit: Deirdre Deirdre Deirdre Molloy, Molloy, Molloy, Artwork Artwork Artwork P P& & P NN & Pillai Pillai N Pillai 22oror or 33rubber rubber rubber bands bands pink, pink,lime limegreen, green,light lightpurple purple • • • 6 or more pipe cleaners Everyit,it,neuron hasatat a at cell body with aone nucleus inside Every Every neuron neuron neuron has has has athickness, acell acell cell body body body with with with aanucleus anucleus nucleus inside inside inside an it,an an axon axon axon one one one end end end and and and one one ororor more more more it, an axon * Every Yarn can be any thin yarn –work two lengths together. Image credit: Deirdre Molloy, Artwork P & N Pillai 2 or 3 rubber bands * * Yarn Yarn can can be be any any thickness, thickness, thin thin yarn yarn –work –work two two lengths lengths together. together. at one end and one or more dendrites branching out in other Image Image credit: credit: Deirdre Deirdre Molloy, Molloy, Artwork Artwork PP &&NNPillai Pillai dendrites dendrites dendrites branching branching branching out out out ininother inother other directions. directions. directions. (see (see (see diagrams diagrams diagrams on on on page page page 4)4)4) A ball of yarn, anyneuron thickness*, ora stretch fabric cuta into long inside directions (see diagram on page 2). Every has cell body with nucleus it, an axon at one end and one or more Every Every neuron neuronhas hasaacell cellbody bodywith withaanucleus nucleusinside insideit,it,an anaxon axonat atone oneend endand andone oneor ormore more Method: Method: Method: narrow strips 0.5cm wide, sewing cotton and thin yarn for (see dendrites inininother directions. diagrams on dendrites dendritesbranching branching branchingout out out other other directions. directions. (see (see diagrams diagrams on onpage page page4)4) 4) thin yarn – work two lengths * Yarn can be any thickness, highlights (optional) Nucleus Nucleus Nucleus Method: together. Method: Method: Method Nucleus Nucleus Nucleus Nucleus Fold Fold Fold the the the small small small rectangle rectangle rectangle ininhalf inhalf half tototo form form form aasquare. asquare. square. Bring Bring Bring each each each corner corner corner into into into the the the centre centre centre like like like an an an Fold the squeeze small rectangle inenvelope half to into form square. Bring each corner into the centre like envelope, envelope, envelope, squeeze squeeze the the the envelope envelope into into aaarough arough rough ball ball ball &&secure &secure secure with with with aarubber arubber rubber band band band ororan or aafew afew few stitches. stitches. stitches. Fold the small rectangle in half to form a square. Bring each corner into the centre like an envelope, squeeze the envelope into a rough ball & secure with a rubber band or a few stitches. Fold Foldthe thesmall smallrectangle rectangleininhalf halfto toform formaasquare. square.Bring Bringeach eachcorner cornerinto intothe thecentre centrelike likean an envelope, squeeze the envelope into aaarough ball &&&secure with aaarubber band oror aaafew stitches. envelope, envelope, squeeze squeeze the the envelope envelope into into rough rough ball ball secure secure with with rubber rubber band band or few few stitches. stitches. Cell Cell Cell body body body Cell body Cell body Cell Cell body body Fold the square into a triangle and roll into a cone, push 3 3 the nucleus firmly into the centre, Fold Fold Fold the the the square square square into into aatriangle atriangle triangle and and and roll roll roll into into into aacone, acone, cone, push push push the the the nucleus nucleus nucleus firmly firmly firmly into into into the the the tuck the ends ininto over the nucleus. centre, centre, centre, tuck tuck tuck the the the ends ends ends ininover inover over the the the nucleus. nucleus. nucleus. Axon Axon Axon square into a triangle and roll into a cone, push the nucleus firmly into the Fold Fold Foldthe the thesquare squareinto intoaatriangle triangleand androll rollinto intoaacone, cone,push pushthe thenucleus nucleusfirmly firmlyinto intothe the centre, tuck the centre, centre, tuck tuckthe the theends ends endsinininover over over the thenucleus. nucleus. nucleus. Axon Axon Axon Stretch Stretch a rubber rubber bandband around band around thethe cone the cone AddAdd anAdd axon an by axon by sliding pipecleaner acleaner pipe cleaner under under Stretch aarubber around cone an axon bysliding sliding aapipe No NoNo Knit Knit Knit Neuron Neuron Neuron Kit KitKit PPPillai P Pillai Pillai Neural Neural Neural Knitworks Knitworks Knitworks two ortwo two three times threetimes to times hold everything hold everything theunder rubber thethe rubber band, band, with one with end one extending end a a ororthree toto hold everything rubber band, with one end extending Join Join Join the the the Neural Neural Neural Knitworks Knitworks Knitworks community community community ononFacebook on Facebook Facebook and and and follow follow follow #Neural #Neural #Neural Knitworks Knitworks Knitworks ononTwitter on Twitter Twitter few cm few toward cm toward the middle the middle of the of cone. the cone. together. together. together. extending a few cm toward the middle of No Knit Neuron Kit P Pillai Neural Knitworks No NoKnit KnitNeuron NeuronKit Kit the cone. PPPillai Pillai Neural NeuralKnitworks Knitworks Join the Neural Knitworks community on Facebook and follow #Neural Knitworks on Twitter Covering Covering axon the axon Adding Adding an axon an terminal axon terminal and terminal and terminal buttons buttons Join Join the thethe Neural Neural Knitworks Knitworks community communityon onFacebook Facebook and and follow follow #Neural #Neural Knitworks Knitworks on onTwitter Twitter For more information, visit http://www.scienceweek.net.au/neural-knitworks/ ThreadThread yarn under yarn under the rubber the rubber Add extra Add pipe-cleaner extra pipe-cleaner to toAlternately, Alternately, tie in tie three in three or or Pattern No-knit Neuron StretchStretch a rubber a rubber band around band around the cone the cone Add anAdd axon anby axon sliding by sliding a pipe acleaner pipe cleaner under under Stretch Stretch Stretch a rubber a rubber a rubber band band around band around around thethe cone the cone cone(continued) Add Add an Add an axon an axon by axon by sliding sliding by sliding a pipe a pipe acleaner pipe cleaner cleaner under under under by Pat Pillai two or two three ortimes three to times holdtoeverything hold everything the rubber the rubber band, with band, one with end one extending end extending a a twotwo ortwo three or three or three times times times to hold to hold toeverything hold everything everything thethe rubber the rubber rubber band, band, band, with with one with one end one end extending end extending extending a a a few cmfew toward cm toward the middle the middle of the cone. of the cone. together. together. fewfew cm few cm toward cm toward toward thethe middle the middle middle of the of the of cone. the cone. cone. together. together. together. Covering Covering the axon the axon Covering Covering Covering thethe axon the axon axon Covering the axon Adding Adding an axon anterminal axon terminal and terminal and terminal buttons buttons Adding Adding Adding anan axon an axon axon terminal terminal terminal and and terminal and terminal terminal buttons buttons buttons Adding an axon terminal and terminal buttons extra pipe cleanertoto to to to Alternately, tie three or ThreadThread Thread yarn yarn under yarn under thethe rubber the rubber AddAdd extra Add pipe-cleaner extra pipe-cleaner Alternately, Alternately, tiein in tie three in three or or under rubber Thread Thread Thread yarn yarn under yarn under under thethe rubber the rubber rubberAdd Add extra Add extra pipe-cleaner extra pipe-cleaner pipe-cleaner toAlternately, Alternately, Alternately, tie tie in tie in three in three three or or or make terminal branches more strands of band, band, band, wrapwrap itwrap around it around the cell the cell make make terminal terminal branches branches more strands more strands of yarn yarnwhere ofwhere yarn where thethe cell band, band, band, wrap wrap wrap it around itit around around it around the cell the cellcellmake make make terminal terminal terminal branches branches branchesmore more more strands strands strands of yarn of yarn of where yarn where where body abody body fewa times, afew few times, tie atieknot tie aatknot at as as shown, as shown, shown, (pink). (pink). you want youthe the want branch, thethen branch, then then (pink). Continue you want branch, times, a knot at the body body a body few a few atimes, few times, times, tie tie a knot tie a knot a at knot at atas as asshown, shown, shown,(pink). (pink). (pink).youyou want you want want thethe branch, the branch, branch, then then then the beginning the beginning ofofthe axon of the(red) (red) axonthen (red) Continue Continue to cover to cover by a by plait or knot orthe thickknot to the to the to cover by form plait orplait knot beginning thethe axon thethe beginning the beginning beginning of the of of axon the axon (red) axon (red) (red)Continue Continue Continue to winding, tocover tocover cover by by byplait plait plait or orto knot or knot knot to to the to thethe winding, winding, form aform knoba or knob or thickness the end of axon, the axon, end end then wind thenuntil wind½ until cm from ½ cmend. from end. knob. ness ofthickness theofof axon, with wind until 0.5 cmcm from end. winding, winding, form form a form knob a knob a knob or or orthickness thickness thickness of thethe ofaxon, the axon, axon, endendend then then wind then wind until wind until ½until cm ½ ½ from cm from end. from end. end.winding, button button at the end. at the end. with a with knot.a knot. a knot. button button button at the at the at end. the end. end. with with awith knot. a knot. a knot. Adding Adding Dendrites Dendrites Adding Adding Adding Dendrites Dendrites Dendrites Adding dendrites Slide another pipe cleaner Slide another Slide the another pipepipeunder rubber band, as Slide Slide another Slide another another pipepipepipecleaner cleaner under the under rubber the rubber for theunder axon. cleaner cleaner cleaner under under thethe rubber the rubber rubber band, as band, for the as for axon. the axon. band, band, band, as as forfor as thefor the axon. the axon. axon. Add more Add‘dendrites’ more ‘dendrites’ in in Add Add more Add more more ‘dendrites’ ‘dendrites’ ‘dendrites’ in in in the same the way same as way the as first. the first. Addthe more dendrites in thethe the same the same same way way as way as the as first. the first. first. Bend pipe cleaner 2.5cm Bend pipe-cleaner Bend pipe-cleaner 2.5 2.5 from one end, point both Bend Bend Bend pipe-cleaner pipe-cleaner pipe-cleaner 2.52.52.5 cm from cm one from end, one point end, point ends away from the axon. cmcm from cm from one from one end, one end, point end, point point the same way as the first. RepeatRepeat until you until have you5have 5 Repeat Repeat Repeat until you until you you have 5have 5 5 Repeat until youuntil have 5have or more ordendrites. more dendrites. Push Push or more or dendrites. more or more dendrites. dendrites. dendrites. Push Push or more PushPush the pipe-cleaners the pipe-cleaners apart so apart so the pipe-cleaners the pipe-cleaners pipe-cleaners apart so so so thethe pipe cleaners apart apart so apart there isthere space is space between between there there there is space is space is space between between between there is space between the the dendrites. the dendrites. thethe dendrites. the dendrites. dendrites. dendrites. both ends bothaway endsfrom awaythe from the both both ends both ends ends away away from from the from thethe 4away axon. axon. 4 4 axon. axon. axon. Weaving and winding to to cover the cell body Weaving Weaving and and winding winding to cover cover the the cell cell body body Weaving and winding to cover the cell body No Knit Neuron No KnitKit Neuron Kit No Knit No Knit No Neuron Knit Neuron Neuron Kit Kit Kit P Pillai Neural P Pillai Knitworks Neural Knitworks P Pillai P Pillai PNeural Pillai Neural Knitworks Neural Knitworks Knitworks Join the Neural Join theKnitworks Neural Knitworks community community on Facebook on Facebook and follow and #Neural follow Knitworks #Neural Knitworks on Twitteron Twitter JoinJoin theJoin the Neural Neural theKnitworks Neural Knitworks Knitworks community community community on Facebook on Facebook on Facebook andand follow and follow #Neural follow #Neural #Neural Knitworks Knitworks Knitworks on Twitter on Twitter on Twitter Tuck the end of your yarn into the rubber band near the axon. Start winding around the cell body, Tuck thethe end of your yarn into the rubber bandband near the axon. Start winding around the Tuck Tuck the end end of of your your yarn yarn the the rubber rubber near near the the axon. axon. Start Start winding winding around around thecell the cellcell wind the wool over the topinto ofinto the bent pipeband cleaners (dendrites) until you are about 2cm from the body, wind thethe wool over thethe top oftop theof bent pipe-cleaners (dendrites) until you are 2 2cm body, body, wind wind the wool wool over over the top of the the bent bent pipe-cleaners pipe-cleaners (dendrites) (dendrites) until until you you areabout are about about cm 2 cm fat end. from thethe fat end. from from the fat fat end. end. For more information, visit http://www.scienceweek.net.au/neural-knitworks/ Hold Hold the cell cell body body firmly firmly in one one hand, hand, pass pass all the the way way around around the the top top of of thefirst the first first dendrite, dendrite, then then Hold thethe cell body firmly in in one hand, pass allall the way around the top of the dendrite, then continue continue winding winding in in the the same same direction, direction, repeating repeating the last last step step for each each dendrite dendrite you you come come continue winding in the same direction, repeating thethe last step forfor each dendrite you come toto to Pattern No-knit Neuron Tuck the Tuck end of the your endyarn of your into yarn the rubber into theband rubber near band the near axon.the Start axon. winding Startaround windingthe around cell the cell by of Patpipe-cleaners Pillaibent (continued) body, wind body, the wind wool the overwool the top overofthe thetop bent the pipe-cleaners (dendrites) (dendrites) until you until are about you are 2 cm about 2 cm from the from fat end. the fat end. Hold the cell body firmly in one hand, pass all the way around the top of the first dendrite, then continue in the same direction, repeating the step fortop eachof dendrite youofcome Hold the Hold cell body the cell firmly body inwinding one firmly hand, in one pass hand, all the pass way all around thelast way the around the thetop first dendrite, thetofirst dendrite, then then until you are 1cm from the edge of the body cell. continue continue winding in winding the same in the direction, same direction, repeatingrepeating the last step the last for each step dendrite for each you dendrite comeyou to come to until you until are 1cm you from are 1cm the from edge the of the the edge cell body. the body. Wrap the yarn around top ofof the nextcell dendrite, then criss-cross over the fat uncovered section between dendrites. Repeat until covered. From time to time loop the yarn back across Wrap theWrap yarn around the the yarn the around top the thetop next dendrite, the nextthedendrite, then crisscross over the fat over uncovered the fat uncovered cell body andofaround the of axon to keep yarn firmly inthen place.crisscross section between section between dendrites.dendrites. Repeat until Repeat covered. until covered. From time From to time timeloop to time the yarn loop back the yarn across back across Covering dendrites the cell body the cell andbody around andthe around axon the to keep axonthe to keep yarn in thefirmly yarn in in place. firmly in place. Cover the main dendrites and add branches as for the axon (above). Instead of making rounded ends, taper the branches. If you want to, vary the width of branches by adding a few strands of CoveringCovering dendrites. dendrites. thin highlight yarn or unravelling the ends of thick yarn to make smaller ‘twigs’. Tie off a few centimetres from the end, leaving single strands of yarn free to form even smaller branches – Cover theCover main the dendrites main dendrites and add and add branches as for axon as (above). for axon Instead ofInstead making rounded making rounded dendrite branches thatbranches are thinner than the main dendrite. Add as(above). many as you like – haveof fun. ends, taper ends, thetaper branches. the branches. If you want If you to, vary want the to, vary widththe of branches width of branches by adding bya adding strand of a strand thin of thin Congratulations – you have created a pyramid neuron. highlight highlight yarn or unraveling yarn or unraveling the ends the of thick endsyarn of thick to make yarn to smaller make ‘twigs’ smallerTie ‘twigs’ off a few Tie off a few centimeters centimeters from the from end, leaving the end,single leaving strands singleofstrands yarn free of yarn to form freeeven to form smaller evenbranches smaller branches – – dendrite branches dendrite branches are thinner arethan thinner the main than the dendrite. main dendrite. Add as many Add as as many you like as–you have likefun. – have fun. Congratulations Congratulations – you have – you created have a created pyramida neuron. pyramid neuron. No Knit Neuron No Knit Kit Neuron Kit Join the Neural JoinKnitworks the Neural community Knitworkson community Facebookonand Facebook follow #Neural and follow Knitworks #Neural onKnitworks Twitter on Twitter No knit neuron (top) Pyramid crochet neuron (bottom) For more information, visit http://www.scienceweek.net.au/neural-knitworks/ P Pillai Neural P Pillai Knitworks Neural Knitworks
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