Bladder

This pattern is part of a series of life-sized organs I'm making. The plan is that these will all fit together to create an anatomically correct human model. So far I have published the pattern for a stomach, but I have many more patterns coming soon. You can find out about all the other patterns I've been working on and be updated when new patterns are released by following my Instagram page.

This pattern contains instructions on how to make the bladder, uretas, and urethra. The urethra is approximately the length it would be in a female (if you wish to create a male urinary system the urethra should be continued until it is around 19cm long) 

Difficulty:

Easy

You will need:

• A 2mm crochet hook
• A 2.5mm crochet hook
• anchor creativa fino 4ply cotton in lemon
• Black 4ply yarn
• White sewing cotton
• A regular sewing needle
• A darning needle
• Polyester toy stuffing
• A pair of scissors

If you're interested in learning more about the bladder and how it works, I recommend watching this Crash Course video.

For the bladder and urethra:
With a 2.5mm hook and lemon yarn make a magic loop with 6sc

Round 1: make 2sc in each st (12sc)
Round 2: (sc, make 2sc in the next st) 6 times (18sc)
Round 3: (sc2, make 2sc in the next st) 6 times (24sc)
Round 4: Sc2, (make 2sc in the next st, sc4) 5 times, make 2sc in the following st, sc2 (30sc)
Round 5: Sc2, ch1, slip1, sc2, make 2sc in the next st, (sc5, make 2sc in the following st) twice, sc2, ch1, skip1, sc2, make 2sc in the next st, (sc5, make 2sc in the following st) twice (36sc)
Round 6: Sc2, sc in the hole underneath the chain st, sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc2, (make 2sc in the following st, sc6) twice, sc4, sc in the hole underneath the chain st, sc, (make 2sc in the next st, sc6) twice, make 2sc in the following st, sc2 (42sc)

Rounds 8 - 11: (4 rounds) Sc in each st
Round 12: Sc2, sc2tog, (sc5, sc2tog) 5 times, sc3 (36sc)
Round 13: (sc4, sc2tog) 3 times (30sc)
Round 14: Sc, sc2tog, (sc3, sc2tog) 5 times, sc2 (24sc)
Round 15: (sc2, sc2tog) 6 times  (18sc)
Round 16: (Sc2tog, sc) 6 times (12sc)
Stuff lightly
Round 17: Sc2tog 6 times
Round 18: Sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog
Rounds 19 - 26: (8 rounds) Sc in each st
Fasten off

Fun fact 1:

In the middle ages, Alchemists tried to extract a number of different elements from urine, including gold. Whilst there isn't any gold in urine, this did lead to a number of other important discoveries, including the existence of white phosphor, which used to be used in explosives.

For the ureters (make 2):
With a 2mm hook and lemon yarn make a 25cm i-cord
Fasten off

Sew the ends of these to the holes you made by skipping the stitch on round 5.

Fun fact 2:
Urine can be an effective antiseptic due to its acidity. In times of war it has been used to sterilize open wounds when no other option was available. Very dark urine was preferred as this worked best at clearing out the harmful bacteria living in the most gruesome wounds.

For the eyes:

With black yarn make a magic loop with 6sc

Fasten off

Add highlights to the eyes using white thread, then sew them to the face. Add eyebrows and a mouth using black yarn.

That's all from this pattern - I hope you have enjoyed it! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, either by leaving a comment below or via my Instagram or Ravelry page. My Instagram is the best place to contact me if you're hoping for a speedy reply, and you can also follow me on there to keep up to date with what I'm currently working on, and to be informed when I post future patterns. 

References:

healthresearchfunding.org