Knit a Neuron at Science Cafe, Bristol

Great news - Bob has said we can take over the next Science Cafe. Come along at 8pm on 22 February, to the Tobacco Factory, North Street, Bristol. Bring yarn, hooks, needles and conversation. The Tobacco Factory is a lovely bar, with plenty of room, good selection of drinks and great olives.

Some finished neurons

We've got some finished neurons to show you. Which should make it a bit easier to see what this is all about.

Woo hoo - aren't they fun!

Pattern - 4 needle knit

To knit your neuron on 4 double-ended needles, you start at the top, and work down and round the cell body like a sock, tapering down to a point where the axon joins on to the cell body. You then stitch in your axon, stuff and close off the body, and add your dendrites.

I used 4 double-pointed 3.5mm (US4, UK10) needles & Double Knitting wool, but please use what you like). You also need darning needle & a small bit of stuffing.

AXON: Cut 15 equal lengths of wool 10-20cm/4-8”.Knot together, divide into 3x5, & plait. Knot ends together,

CELL BODY: Cast on 15 & divide between 3 needles (3x5 stitches)
Round 1: Knit 1 complete round (3x5st = 15st)
Rnd2: M1 for each st on all needles (3x10st = 30st)
Rnd3-6: K complete rounds
Rnd7 onwards: Decrease number of st on each needle for every other needle by doing the following:
Rnd7: K2 tog, K8 on needle1 (9st); K10 on needle2 (10st); K2 tog, K8 on needle3 (9st)
Complete round therefore has 9+10+9 = 28st
Rnd8: K9; K2 tog,K8; K9 (9+9+9 = 27st)
Rnd9: K2tog,K7; K9; K2 tog,K7 (8+9+8=25st)
Rnd10: K8; K2tog,K7; K8 (8+8+8=24st)
Rnd11: K2tog,K6; K8; K2tog,K6 (7+8+7=22st)
Rnd12: K7; K2tog,K6; K7 (7+7+7=21st)

Continue decreasing in the same way until you have a complete round of just 9st, with 3st on each needle.

Casting off: cut wool allowing length of ~15cm/6”. Use darning needle to draw cut end through remaining st, stitch furthest from cut end first. Slide remainging st off needles.

Finishing: Place one end of your plaited axon into the loop of casts-off stitches, pull loop tight, & sew axon into body. Stuff the body then sew he top closed.

DENDRITES: Cut 6 equal lengths of wool of e.g. 15cm/6”. With darning needle, pull strands through a few stitches on the cell body so that you have 12 free ends hanging out.
Divide into 3x2 strands & start plaiting. Make the dendrite branched by separating out & tying off strands at intervals, continuing to plait with remaining strands. Knot the end. Repeat many times!

KNITTING ABBREVIATIONS
K=knit; M1=Make 1 by knitting both front & back loop of stitch; P=pearl R=Row; Rnd=Round; st=stitch; StSt=stocking stitch (1 row knit, 1 row pearl); tog=together

Pattern - 2 needle knit

I used 3.5 mm needles (US4, UK10) & Double Knitting wool - but have fun trying out anything else! You will also need a darning needle & a small bit of stuffing.

AXON: Cut 15 equal lengths of wool 10-20cm/4-8”.Knot together, divide into 3x5, & plait. Knot ends together,

CELL BODY: Cast on 6
Row1: Increase by knitting back &front loop of each stitch (6xM1) (12 stitches)
R2: Pearl to end
R3: 12xM1 (=24 st)
R4: P to end
Rows 5-18: Stocking Stitch, starting on K row
R19: 6 x [K2 tog, K2] (=18 st)
R20: P
R21: 6 x [K2 tog, K1] (=12 st)
R22: P
R23: 6 x [K2 tog] (=6 st)
R24: P to end
Cast off: Cut wool with 15-20cm/6-8” length left. Use darning needle to bring wool through remaining 6st. Slide off needle.

MAKING UP CELL BODY: Place knotted end of the axon (plait) in the loop of cast-off stitches, pull tight & stitch together. Sew together sides of cell body, stuff with kapok/cotton wool stitch over top.

DENDRITES: Cut 6 equal lengths of wool of e.g. 15cm/6”. With darning needle, pull strands through a few stitches on the cell body so that you have 12 free ends hanging out.
Divide into 3x2 strands & start plaiting. Make the dendrite branched by separating out & tying off strands at intervals, continuing to plait with remaining strands. Knot the end. Repeat many times!

KNITTING ABBREVIATIONS
K=knit; M1=Make 1 by knitting both front & back loop of stitch; P=pearl R=Row; Rnd=Round; st=stitch; StSt=stocking stitch (1 row knit, 1 row pearl); tog=together

Knit a Neuron at Indietracks?

Very excitingly, Indietracks are looking for workshops. I've emailed the lovely folk there to see if we can run a Knit a Neuron workshop. Fingers crossed....

Now I just need to ask about doing a Science Cafe at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol.

Pattern - crochet

The whole pattern is worked in UK double crochet, or US single crochet.
Work this pattern continuously, do not join at the end of each round. A stitch marker may be useful.

Gauge is not important but you want it to be fairly tight so the stuffing is contained.

You will need:
* Small amount of yarn
* Hook of appropriate size to get a dense fabric
* Stitch markers (optional)
* Needle for sewing in ends
* Small amount of stuffing - you can use plastic bags or bubble wrap if you don't have toy stuffing

Cell body
Start with an adjustable loop
Row 1 6dc into the loop and pull the adjustable loop tight
Row 2 2dc into each sc (12 stitches)
Row 3 (1dc into next dc, 2dc into next dc) repeat 5 times (18 stitches)
Row 4 1dc into every dc (18 stitches)
Row 5 same as row 4
Row 6 same as row 4
Row 7 (1dc into next dc, 1invdec) repeat 5 times (12 stitches)
Row 8 1dc into each dc (12 stitches)
Row 9 pull tail through the centre so it is inside the body. Stuff body well.
Row 10 (1dc into next dc, 1 invdec) repeat until you have 4 stitches

Axon
Working in a continuous spiral, 1 dc into each dc until your axon is the length you want it.
This one is about 10cm.
Or you can just plait a few strands of yarn together like in the knitting patterns.

Synaptic terminal
Work 2dc into each dc (8 stitches)
Work 2dc into each dc (16 stitches)
Join with a slip stitch and sew end in.

Dendrites
Make as many as you like, there are 7 on this neuron.
Make a slip knot with a longish tail so you can use it for sewing in.
Make a starting chain (it doesn’t matter how long, these ones are about 9 long), turn
2dc into 2nd stitch from the hook, 2dc into every chain
Finish off
Sew these on at random over the cell body

Your neuron is now complete!

Who we are

Anne and Helen are the brains behind Knit a Neuron. We're both scientists by training, science communicators and avid yarners. Anne knits, while Helen prefers the hook.

In an attempt to combine our love of science and yarn we came up with Knit a Neuron project. We hope that by garnering the support of hundreds of knitters and crocheters we can create a beautiful artwork which illustrates what happens to the brain when it is injured by a stroke.

Helen and Anne are both based in Bristol. Anne works for Bristol Neuroscience and the British Neuroscience Association. Helen works for the University of the West of England and At-Bristol.

Knit a Neuron

Welcome to the Knit a Neuron blog. Here you can find out all about the project and who's behind it, along with knitting and crochet patterns.

Knit a Neuron is a collaborative, knitting, art project. We want you to pick up your needles and hooks to creates hundreds of woolly brain cells. We'll sew them all together to create a fabulous brainy artwork. Once it's done, the woolly brain will go on tour to raise funds for the Head Injury Therapy Endowment Fund and will have a permanent home in the University of Bristol's brain imaging centre, CRIC (Clinical Research Imaging Centre) opening later this year.


Want to make your very own brain cell? Follow the two-needle, four-needle or crochet instructions, make a brain cell and send it in!

These are great patterns as they don't use much yarn, size and gauge aren't critical and they can be any colour you like. Go on, dive into the stash and get the hooks out.

Once you've made a neuron (or three!) send it in to
Dr Anne Cooke
Bristol Neuroscience
University of Bristol
Bristol, BS8 4PJ