May 1

Crafting Valhalla

Thor movie posterWith the premiere of the movie Thor this week, I thought I’d highlight some viking crafts. As my paternal grandfather was a full-blood Swede, I think it only fitting, ja?  :)

Chandra Willis created a stylish infant-toddler viking helmet (though her model does not appear to agree) – find her knitting pattern at Hot Potato Knits.

Yarn manufacturer Bernat offers a crochet version of a warrior baby helmet (Ravelry link, login required), with which I am completely in love, and which has me eying every baby head in near vicinity with crafting glee.

Traci Heiner worked up a pattern for a dishcloth featuring Thor’s Hammer – known as Mjolnir – and kindly provides a link to the Wikipedia entry to learn more about its symbolism.

Amigurumi viking doll projectNeedleNoodles offers an amigurumi viking pattern (left), as a free expansion pack pattern to her Creepy Cute Crochet book.

In the new-to-me craft category, a Viking Knitting tutorial from janraven on Etsy. Since the tutorial features 75 photo step-outs, it’s probably a good thing janraven also offers the finished Viking Knit Hoop earrings in her Etsy shop.

And finally, Cheryl Herrick (aka “crankycheryl”) shares her version of a Viking birthday party, complete with duct tape Viking helmets, a catapault, and a Viking long boat made of chocolate chip pound cake. Complete epic-ness.

Oh, and a side geek-note? Chris Hemsworth, the actor who is playing Thor in the forthcoming movie, also played George Kirk in the 2009 reboot of Star Trek, and is currently working on Joss Whedon‘s Avengers, also as Thor. Nice.

Viking crafts previously linked on GeekCrafts:

April 13

Doctor Who Inspired Fibonacci Scarf

I realize we have had quite a bit of Doctor Who crafts lately, but what do you expect–geek website+new season looming=lots of that; plus, this is a math scarf, too. Noodle created this awesome two color Doctor Who Inspired Fibonacci Scarf for her boyfriend, who wanted a Tom Baker-esque scarf, but wasn’t much into multiple colors. She had the genius idea of incorporating the Fibonacci sequence, and as  you can see, it was a total success.

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April 10

Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey

Wibbly Wobbly, Timey WimeyThis Doctor Who inspired cowl was designed by Ravelry user Rachel Henry.  It’s made with a Knit Picks self striping yarn, in the Time Traveler colorway, which is unfortunately no longer available on the Knit Picks site.  The colors are a pastel version of the iconic Doctor Who scarf worn by the fourth Doctor.

The cowl pictured here is one I knit for myself.  I ordered the yarn right after seeing the pattern, and knit it for myself as a treat when I finished all my Christmas knitting.

April 9

Kirby Plushie

Kirby Plushie I made this adorable Kirby plushie for a friend a few months ago.  After spending several days scouring the internet for a good knitting pattern for a ball, I came across this Kirby pattern on Ravelry.  I altered it slightly, using my own design for the feet, and making the eyes and mouth with felt, that I then glued on with a hot glue gun rather than knitting them as seen in the pattern.

It only took about three days to make, and I had a lot of fun knitting Kirby.

April 8

Knit Your Own Royal Wedding

A plethora of crafts and products have been inspired by the upcoming royal wedding of Will and Kate, but none so epic as Knit Your Own Royal Wedding, a book containing knitting patterns for not just Prince William and Kate Middleton, but members of the royal family as well.  The book even comes with a fold out of Westminster Abbey for you to stage your own wooly royal wedding.

This book is so amusingly epic I might just have to pick up a copy.

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April 3

Glee-Inspired Knitting

This great carousel horse chart was made by blogger, and Ravelry user, Alyssa Lynough.  This chart was inspired by the Glee episode Comeback, where Rachel pays Brittany to imitate her fashion, and instead spurs a trend of carousel sweaters.

“I mean, my carousel horse sweater should make me look like an institutionalized toddler but no – I look hot and smart. I feel like Michelle Obama,” says Santana.

This colorwork chart can be worked into almost  any simple sweater pattern, and is great for that special Gleek in your life.