A few weeks ago, as a result of reading the story of how The Snail of Happiness was born, Metan suggested that I might like to create a Germ of an Idea. I produced a prototype soon after, but was not entirely satisfied with the pili (hairs). The answer seemed to be eyelash yarn, but I was reluctant to buy a whole ball without doing a test. And here, the wonders of social networking came to my aid – a quick message on Facebook and I had two offers – some oddments of eyelash yarn and a couple of balls of a yarn called Filigree.
As this is British Wool week, I am trying to produce something with yarn or fibre every day, so yesterday I thought I would try a new bacterium. This one is made with oddments of blue acrylic and the eyelash yarn sent to me by the lovely Mrs Robinson. It is Escherichia coli, inspired by a picture by David Mack. I have taken the liberty of giving it a single flagellum with pili (because I like the yarn so much) rather than three without, but I’m quite pleased with the result:
Amigurumi Escherichia coli
Basically it’s a sausage shape with every third or fourth round crocheted with the eyelash yarn. I will have to take a slightly different approach with the Filigree yarn, as that has a much finer core so will need to be worked at the same time as the main yarn I think. So, do you think there’s a market for them?!
The Snail of Happiness 
Sharon Rawlette
/ October 16, 2013Yes, there IS a market for this stuff! One of my good friends does a good business in germ/microbe cross stitch. I’m not kidding. Here’s the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/aliciawatkins?section_id=11480156.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 16, 2013Do they REALLY sell?!
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Sharon Rawlette
/ October 16, 2013Yes. No joke. Honestly.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 16, 2013Well, that’s something to add to my etsy shop when I finally open it!
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Sharon Rawlette
/ October 16, 2013I can just see a toddler adopting your E. coli as his binkie… (I hear his mother now: “James can’t fall asleep without his intestinal bacterium….”)
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 16, 2013Teehee!!
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beautifuldaymama
/ October 16, 2013Our previous pediatricians office had a set of plush germ toys – fun and educational. Your E coli is beautiful!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 16, 2013Thank you… I really enjoyed making it too!
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katythenightowlKaty
/ October 17, 2013I can see these appealing to those who have science geeks as friends/relations – ideal to give as gifts 🙂
Apart from that, they all have their own beauty, so they could appeal to many people 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 17, 2013I have some lovely pictures of micro-organisms that I would really like to turn into crochet… just need to find the time!!
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mandymunroe
/ October 17, 2013Love it! – Happy Wool Week 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 18, 2013And to you…must start that shawl tonight!
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iamsimplyhooked
/ March 22, 2015I don’t see why not – Amazon sell Giant Microbes: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=giant+microbes&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Agiant+microbes
I use them for teaching
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