Saturday, March 21, 2009

Raygun: Primary 3000


When this mysterious briefcase appeared on my doorstep, I faced two choices: call the authorities or open the case.

Compelled by a strange sense of destiny, I chose to open it:


Raygun!

It was a Primary 3000 model, chock-full of technical features:


Plushy but deadly!

Here is an opposite view of the ray gun, its energy levels reduced after firing test shots at some helpless steel beams:


I used primary-coloured yarn to freeform-crochet this raygun, except for a tactile grip made from grey half-double crochet stitches. Its aiming fin is similar to the nose I made, minus the nostrils.

Since I was the one who built this raygun, I must have sent that mysterious briefcase to myself from the future; a future where I defend lunar ice colonies from fiery space invaders:


ZAP!

28 comments:

  1. awe! This is hilarious! I love it! I cant get over how creative you are! :) Your pictures are always so fun!

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  2. Hee hee, oh Howie, I wanted to let you know I shed a laughter tear over the space ray gun spec sheet! That tactile grip is darn crucial!
    Did I ever send you the pics I took of you with the gun?

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  3. Thanks Rebekah, Oanhderbread, and Bonnie :) I'm a longtime fan of 1950s science fiction props, so it was a treat to make-believe that I was a spaceman!

    Bonnie: Yes, I received the photo you took of me when I returned to Earth, thanks. And yes, the tactile grip is crucial for preventing raygun-in-the-workplace accidents!

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  4. Hello I`m a new reader of your blog and I´m from Denmark. It´s the first time I follow an English blog so I hope you will forgive my English. I think it is fascinating and very funny, that you can get the idea at all of croching a pistol and put it in a bag. What a curly brain you must have. I look forward to see all your new ideas. Karin Grøn, Denmark

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  5. Thank you Karin! I recently wrote and drew an illustration about Samsø island, so I am extra thrilled to have you visiting from Denmark!

    Yes, I have more crazy ideas to crochet, including more pistols, it's true.

    I'll be following your excellent Tante Grøn blog as well, thanks! :)

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  6. Dear Howie, You are a super genius. And quite possibly one of the coolest guys on the planet!
    Your Fan,
    Niney

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  7. Howie, you just made my day dude! The only thing that really comes to mind is: "PLUSH NOT BOMBS". Good times. As always, your work is a mixture of outstanding and awesomeness.

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  8. Thanks Niney & Lindsey!

    Niney: I'm far from genius, but I am glad the planet was spared from alien invaders so that I could receive your generous praise! :D

    Lindsey: I'm glad I made your day! "Make Plush, Not War" is a good chant too! Or: "All We Are Saying, Is Give Plush a Chance". How about: "Yarn Hanks, not War Tanks"! I'll stop now.

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  9. that is is seriously amazing! never been able to handle crocheting... so i'm jealous!

    www.theincrowdboutique.blogspot.com

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  10. Howie! Everyone at the YES Mag/KNOW world corporate headquarters LOVES your ray gun. Does it zap misplaced commas and run on sentences?

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  11. The In Crowd: Thanks! After you conquer the world of drumming with your talents, you will easily conquer the world of crochet ;)

    Miss Julep: Thanks! ZAPs of good fortune go to you! :D

    Dave: Yes, the Primary3000 fixes sentence structure, but that was a top-secret feature! Dang, your legion of corporate spies is impressive! I'm glad everyone at headquarters like the ray gun at least :D

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  12. That is to darn cute.. I love you photos BTW the ray gun is AWSOME

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  13. Thanks ~CraftyMummy2two~ ! I always wanted a ray gun collection, but the 1950s' ray gun toys on ebay are very pricey. Plus it's far more fun to make your own collections, right? :)

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  14. o m g -- I must make this or have one... or steal one... ITS KICK ASS!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH i need one for a photo shoot!

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  15. Thanks Kimberly. Once you make your raygun, you can use that Kimber-gun to steal rayguns from other space-rangers! :D

    I'm actually designing a hot pink raygun that even Hello kitty might like!

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  16. holy doodle u make crocheting fun for boys! hahaha
    i love how u come up with these awesomely creative projects!!
    now i'm thinking of more potential projects for my bf and guy friends!

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  17. Thanks Lisa! When I'm not crocheting gifts for friends&family, I do enjoy making stuff that I find extra fun, you're right :)

    I'd love to see the next projects you make for your bf and guy friends. You could win over that tough audience! :D

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  18. omg... HOT PINK ray gun has MY name written allllllllll over it.... SHOW ME!!!!

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  19. Kimberly: I'm sketching that raygun as we speak! When I'm building the bubblegum raygun in a few weeks, I'll be asking "Would the real Hello Kitty use this raygun?" haha

    Thanks for your fun encouragement! Your latest Spongebob beanie hat is too cute!

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  20. Thanks Holly! Any cheer from Berrysprite is a treat to receive! :D

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  21. Howie, every time I visit your blog, you never cease to amaze me! You NEVER disappoint! This was SO-ooooo FUNNY!! LOVE the raygun! (0:

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  22. Thank you, Beansieleigh! I'm glad you like the raygun and I'm glad this blog is continuing to keep you entertained! :D *ZAP!*

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  23. I love your blog! When are you going to put all these awesome and so-necessary patterns together for a book, and make tons of money? I want to make my very own ray gun!

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  24. Anonymous: Thanks so much! :) If I ever have a book idea, I'll include your comment in any future book proposals! haha

    It's amazing how objects (including ray guns) can be broken down to basic shapes. When I learned how to crochet spheres & cones, a whole world of objects opened up! I'm still figuring out squares & rectangles. It's like kindergarten all over again ;)

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  25. That is fabulous. Are you going to post the pattern or publish a book?

    I read about you in the UK Simply Knitting magazine (at least I think that's the name of it).

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