Attachment of head to the neck

This pattern is part of a long series I'm doing to build up to a life-sized skeleton. It doesn't detail the creation of any bones, but contains patterns for the ligaments involved in the attachment to the skull to the spine, and description of how to attach them to the existing bones you have created. I also contains details of the final spinal ligaments, including one that runs all the way from the skull down to the coccyx.

Difficulty:

Easy - medium

You will need:

• A 1mm crochet hook
• #10 crochet cotton in grey
• A darning needle
• A crocheted skull
• A crocheted vertebral column (this links to the first of the vertebrae, links to the rest can be found on my summary pattern page)

It is also useful to have attached the sacrum to the base of the spine. 

In the creation of the skeleton I have so far assembled the ribcage and added the arms, but this is not necessary before completing this step.

Position the body face-downwards (so that the scapula are facing you), and do the same with the head, placing it just above the neck.

For the apical ligament of the dens:
ch5
Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in each of the next 3 chain sts. ch1, turn (4sc)

Sew one end of this to the end of the dens of the axis bone, and the other end to the back of the hole in the base of the skull (i.e. to the side closest to the front of the skull)

For the alar ligaments (make 2):
ch8

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in each of the next 6 chain sts. ch1, turn (7sc)

Row 2: sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn

Row 3: make 2hdc in the first st, hdc2, sc, slip3 (8sts)

Fasten off

Sew the thinner end of these to the side of the hole in the skull and the thicker ends to the sides of the dens. The cast-off edge should be furthest away from the tip of the dens, as shown in the photos.

(Note that you haven't yet made the ligament in the centre of the image - this is just to show the positioning of the second alar ligament)

For the cruciate ligament:
ch8

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in each of the next 6 chain sts. ch1, turn (7sc)

Row 2: sc4, ch8, sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in the next 6 chain sts. sc in the first st you crocheted into before you made the ch8, then sc in the next 2sts. Make 2sc in the last st. 

Sc in the back loop of the first of the 8 chain sts you made originally (see image 1). sc in the back of the next 3 of these chain sts (image 2), then ch5. Sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and in the next 4 chain sts (image 3). Sc in the back of the same chain st you crocheted into before making the ch5, then sc in the back of each of the following 3 chain sts.

Fasten off

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

This ligament should be sewn so that the ends of the central (thicker) stripe are attached to the sides of the atlas, as shown in the photo. The shorter chain perpendicular to this strip should be sewn to the body of the axis, and the longer one should be sewn to the hole in the base of the skull, around the same place as where you attached the apical ligament.

For the posterior longitudinal ligament:
ch209

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then sc in each of the following 207 chain sts. ch1, turn

Row 2: sc in each st. ch1, turn

(shdhs = sc, hdc, make 2dc in the following st, hdc, sc)

Row 3: slip2, sc, hdc, sc45, shdhs, slip5, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip4, shdhs, slip5, shdhs, slip6, shdhs, slip8, shdhs, slip9, shdhs, slip9, shdhs, slip9, shdhs. ch1, turn (225sc)

(sshhss = slip1, sc, hdc2, sc, slip1)

Row 4: sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip8, sshhss, slip1

Fasten off

Rejoin yarn to the back of the first of the 209 chain sts.

 

Row 5: Sc in the back of this chain st and the next 207 chain sts. ch1, turn (208sc)

(shdhs = sc, hdc, make 2dc in the next st, hdc, sc)

Row 6: slip2, sc, hdc, sc45, shdhs, slip5, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip2, shdhs, slip3, shdhs, slip4, shdhs, slip5, shdhs, slip6, shdhs, slip8, shdhs, slip9, shdhs, slip9, shdhs, slip9, shdhs (225sc)

(sshhss = slip1, sc, hdc2, sc, slip1)

Row 7: sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip9, sshhss, slip8, sshhss, slip1

Fasten off

Sew this to the inside of the spinal column. Each widened section should sit in between each subsequent vertebra, and the top edge (the other end to where the cast-on end is) should be sewn to the back of the hole in the base of the head, above the cruciate ligament.

For the joint capsules of the atlantooccipital joint (make 2):
ch4

Round 1: sc in the 2nd st from hook and the next chain st. Make 3sc in the last chain st, then sc in the back of the previous chain st. Make 2sc in the back of the first chain st you crocheted into. (8sc) 

Round 2: make 2sc in the first st, sc, make 2sc in each of the next 3sts, sc, make 2sc in each of the last 2sts (14sc)

Rounds 3 - 4: (2 rounds) sc in each st

Round 5: sc2tog, sc, sc2tog 3 times, sc, sc2tog twice (8sc)

Round 6: sc, sc2tog twice (6sc)

Fasten off

Flatten these and sew one side to the superior articular surface of the atlas. Sew the other side to either side of the hole at the base of the head, as shown below.

For the posterior atlantoocipital membrane:
ch8

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 6 chain sts. ch1, turn (7sc)

Row 2: sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn

Row 3: hdc3, sc4. ch1, turn

Row 4: sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 5: hdc3, sc4. ch1, turn

Row 6: sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn

Row 7: sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 8: sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn

Row 9: hdc3, sc4. ch1, turn

Row 10: sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 11: hdc3, sc4. ch1, turn

Row 12: sc4, hdc3. ch1, turn

Row 13: sc in each st

Fasten off

Sew this to the back of the neck. The thicker edge should be sewn to the top of the atlas bone, and the thinner edges should be sewn to the remaining edge of the hole at the base of the skull that you haven't yet sewn any ligaments to (i.e. the edge closest to the back of the head)

For the interspinous ligaments:

(Make 4)
Ch3

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)

Rows 2 - 3: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 4: sc in each st
Fasten off

(Make 3)
Ch3

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)

Rows 2 - 4: (3 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 5: sc in each st

5 rows
Fasten off

Ch3

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)

Rows 2 - 3: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 4: sc in each st

Fasten off

(Make 3)
Ch3

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)

Rows 2: sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 3: sc in each st

Fasten off

Ch4

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 3 chain sts. ch1, turn (4sc)

Rows 2: sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 3: sc in each st

Fasten off

Ch5

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 4 chain sts. ch1, turn (5sc)

Rows 2 - 3: (2 rows) sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 4: sc in each st

Fasten off

Sew these between the spinal processes of the vertebrae, starting from between T3-4 and working down.

For the supraspinous ligament:

Ch164 (although the exact number will depend on your gauge - you should make enough chain sts that it reaches from the T3/T4 ligament to the top of the coxycc)
Row 1: Slip the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 4 chain sts, ch10, slip the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 9 chain sts, ch10, slip9 up the chain, ch6, slip5 up the chain, sc58 up the original chain you made
Fasten off
Sew to the back of the spine, as shown in the images below. The chains you made at the start should be sewn to the base of the coccyx, with the other end reaching up to the T3/T4 vertebrae.

For the Nuchal ligament (and final interspinous ligaments):

ch4

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)

Rows 2 - 6: (5 rounds) sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 7: sc in each st

Fasten off

(make 2)

ch4

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)

Rows 2 - 7: (6 rounds) sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 8: sc in each st

Fasten off

ch4

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)

Row 2 - 5: (4 rounds) sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 6: make 2sc in the first st, sc2 (4sc)

Fasten off

ch4

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 2 chain sts. ch1, turn (3sc)

Rows 2 - 5: (4 rounds) sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 6: sc, slip2

Fasten off

ch5

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 3 chain sts. ch1, turn (4sc)

Rows 2 - 4: (3 rounds) sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 5: sc, hdc3. ch1, turn

Row 6: make 2hdc in the first st, hdc2, sc. ch1, turn (5sts)

Row 7: slip3, sc, hdc

Fasten off

ch6

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 4 chain sts. ch1, turn (5sc)

Row 2: sc in each st. ch1, turn

Row 3: sc2, hdc3. ch1, turn

Row 4: hdc2, sc, slip2

Fasten off

ch7

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and each of the next 2 chain sts. Hdc in the remaining 3 chain sts. ch1, turn (6sts)

Row 2: hdc3, sc3. ch1, turn

Row 3: sc3, hdc3. ch1, turn

Row 4: sc2, slip4

Fasten off

(Note that some of the following are short rows)

Row 9: Rejoin yarn to the first of these sections you made and sc in each of the 3sts. ch3, sc in each st of the 2nd section, ch3, sc in each st of the 3rd section, ch3 ... Repeat in this way until you've attached all of the sections you've made apart from the last, as shown in the images below. ch2, sc in each of the 6 sts of the last section. Ch1, turn (51sts)

Row 10: make 2hdc in the first st, hdc12, sc38. ch1, turn (52sts)

Row 11: slip8, sc25, hdc18, make 2hdc in the last st. ch1, turn (53sts)

Row 12: Make 2hdc in the first st, hdc24, sc18, slip2. ch1, turn (46sts)

Row 13: slip5, sc16, hdc25. ch1, turn

Row 14: sc, hdc in the same st, hdc15, sc3, slip2. ch1, turn (22sts)

Row 15: slip4, sc, hdc17. ch1, turn

Row 16: hdc10, sc, slip1. ch1, turn (12sts)

Row 17: slip5, sc2, hdc5

Fasten off

Sew this section to the back of the skine and skull as shown below. Each of the sections that stick out should be sewn between the spinal processes of adjacent vertebrae, with the top one being sewn between the atlas and the base of the skull.

That's all from this pattern! I hope you have enjoyed it. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me, either by leaving a comment below, or via my Ravelry or Instagram pages. Instagram is your best bet if you're hoping for a speedy reply, and you can also follow me there to find out what I'm currently working on, and be alerted whenever I publish a new pattern.

 

Please don't re-post this pattern or claim it (or any of the images) as your own, but as always you are very welcome to sell finished products :)