Female reproductive system

This female reproductive system is part of a series of life-sized organs I've been working on. It contains a uterus/ fallopian tubes, a pair of ovaries, and a vagina. The face is entirely optional - I added it to make it cute and cuddly, but you may decide you wish to leave it out.

If you would like to find out more about what the female reproductive system does and how it works, I highly recommend this Crash Course video.

Difficulty:

Easy - medium

Tension:

The tension for this project isn't particularly important, as human organs are highly variable, but the tension I used was approx. 13sts and 14 rows per 5x5cm square (working in the round)

You will need:

• 1 ball of pink 4ply crochet cotton - I used Anchor creativa fino
• A small amount of cream dk crochet cotton
• A 2.5mm crochet hook
• A 2mm crochet hook
• A small amount of black 4ply yarn
• White sewing cotton
• A regular sewing needle
• A darning needle
• Polyester toy stuffing
• A pair of scissors

For the uterus:

With pink 4ply yarn ch5
Round 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts. Make 2sc in the first chain st you made, then sc in the back of each of the 2 previous chain sts you crocheted into in turn. Make 2sc in the back of the first chain st you made (10sc)
Round 2: make 2sc in the first st, sc2, make 2sc in each of the next 3 sts, sc2, make 2sc in both of the last 2sts (16sc)
Round 3; sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc2, (sc, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times, sc2, (sc, make 2sc in the next st) twice (22sc)
Round 4: sc2, make 2sc in the next st, sc2, (sc2, make 2sc in the next st) 3 times, sc2, (sc2, make 2sc in the next st) twice (28sc)
Round 5: make 2sc in the first st, sc9, make 2sc in the next st, sc3, make 2sc in the following st, sc9, make 2sc in the next st, hdc, ch2, skip2 (32sts)
Round 6: Hdc, Sc12, hdc, ch2, skip2, hdc, sc13, make 2sc in the hole underneath the 2 chain sts from the previous row (32sts)
Round 7: Sc14, make 2sc in the hole underneath the chain sts from the previous round, sc16 (32sts)
Rounds 8 - 9: (2 rounds) Sc in each st
Round 10: (Over 1 round) Sc31, sc2tog (31sc)
Round 11: sc14, sc2tog, sc15 (30sc)
Round 12: Sc in each st
Round 13: (Over 1 round) Sc29, sc2tog (29sc)
Round 14: Sc13, sc2tog, sc13 (28sc)
Round 15: Sc in each st
Round 16: (Over 1 round) Sc27, sc2tog (27sc)
Round 17: Sc13, sc2tog, sc12 (26sc)
Round 18: (Over 1 round) Sc25, sc2tog (25sc)
Round 19: (Over 1 round) Sc12, sc2tog, sc10, sc2tog (23sc)
Round 20: Sc10, sc2tog, sc11 (22sc)
Rounds 21 - 23: (3 rounds) Sc in each st
Round 24: Sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc2, (sc, sc2tog) 3 times, sc3, sc2tog, sc (16sc)
Round 25: Sc2tog twice, sc2, sc2tog 3 times, sc2, sc2tog (10sc)
Stuff firmly
Round 26: Sc2tog, sc2, sc3tog, sc, sc2tog (6sc)
Fasten off neatly

Fun fact 1: 

During development the uterus starts off as 2 separate tubes, which fuse to create a single structure. However in about 1 in 2000 women this doesn't occur correctly, leading them to possess 2 separate (but usually fully functional) uteruses. In 2011 a woman with this condition, know as didelphys, gave birth to a set of twins, each of which had developed in a separate uterus.

For the fallopian tubes:
Rejoin yarn to the first of the sts you skipped when making one of the 2 holes on round 6

Round 1: Sc6 around the edge of this hole, as shown in the image below (6sc)

Rounds 2 - 15: (14 rounds) Sc in each st
Round 16: make 2hdc in the first st, sc2, slip1, sc2
Round 17: Sc in each st
Round 18: Hdc2, sc2, slip1, sc2
Round 19: Hdc, make 2hdc in the next st, hdc, sc, slip2, sc
Round 20: Hdc4, sc, slip2, sc
Round 21: Sc, hdc4, sc, slip2
Round 22: Sc2, hdc, make 2hdc in the next st, hdc, sc2, slip1
Rounds 23 - 24: (2 rounds) Slip1, sc, hdc4, sc, slip2
Round 25: Sc, (Ch4, slip3 down the chain, sc in the next st) 9 times, ch4, slip3 down the chain, slip1 the next st
Fasten off
Repeat for the other falopian tube

For the ovaries (make 2):
With cream yarn ch3

Round 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then make 3sc in the next chain st. Make 2sc in the back of the first chain st you crocheted into (6sc)

Round 2: make 2sc in each st (12sc)

Rounds 3 - 6: (4 rounds) sc in each st

Round 7 (note that this is slightly more than a single round): sc2tog twice, sc, sc2tog twice, sc, sc3tog (6sc)

Round 8: sc, sc2tog (5sc)

Fasten off

Sew the ovaries to the ends of the tube, and then use a strand of yarn to attach the ends of the tube to the start, so that they keep their correct position (see image below)

Fun fact 2:
Kangaroos have 3 vaginas: The central one is used for birth, whilst those in front and behind are used for insemination.

For the vagina:
With a 2.5mm hook and pink yarn ch20
Round 1: Sc in the first chain st you made, then sc in every following chain st to make a loop (20sc)
Round 2: (sc3, make 2sc in the next st) 5 times (25sc)
Rounds 3 - 11: (9 rounds) Sc in each st
Round 12: (Sc6, sc2tog) 3 times, sc (22sc)
Rounds 13-15: (3 rounds) Sc in each st
Round 16: Sc3, sc2tog, (Sc5, sc2tog) twice, sc3 (19sc)
Rounds 17 - 19: (3 round) sc in each st
Round 20: Sc7, sc2tog, sc8, sc2tog (17sc)
Rounds 21 - 23: (3 rounds) sc in each st
Round 24: (Sc3, make 2sc in the next st) 4 times, sc (21sc)
Round 25: Sc, make 2sc in the next st, (sc4, make 2sc in the following st) 3 times, sc3 (25sc)
Fasten off neatly

Sew the vagina to the bottom of the uterus. Note that the cast-on end should be sewn to the end of the uterus.

Fun fact 3:

The female ovum (i.e. the egg) is the largest cell in the human body, measuring about 120 microns in diameter. This is just a little larger than the diameter of a human hair, making it just about large enough to be seen with the naked human eye! By contrast the Sperm is the smallest cell in the human body, being only 5 microns long.

For the eyes (make 2):

With black 4ply yarn and a 2mm hook make a magic loop with 6sc

Fasten off

Use white thread to embroider highlights onto each eye then sew them to the face. Use black yarn to embroider eyebrows and a mouth. You can also add other facial features if you wish.

That's all for this pattern! You are very welcome to sell finished products but I do ask that you don't re-post this pattern, or claim it or any of the images as your own. If you have any questions about this or any of my other patterns, please don't hesitate to contact me. You can leave a comment below, or message me on my Ravelry page, through the best way to contact me is through my Instagram page, where you can keep updated with all the projects I'm currently working on.

References:
livescience.com

Anatomical eyeball

This eye is part of a series of life-sized anatomical organs. This eye is to-scale and the pattern includes 2 possibilities - one which opens up at the back so you can see inside and one which doesn't.

Difficult:

Medium

You will need:

• A 1mm crochet hook
• A 0.8mm crochet hook
• White #10 crochet cotton
• Embroidery thread in dark pinky-red and a colour for the iris (I used green)
• red sewing cotton
• An embroidery needle
• A glue gun and some glue
• If you wish to make an eye that opens up you will also need red and dark blue embroidery thread
• A pair of scissors
• A clean metal spoon

If you want to find out more about how exactly the eye works, I would recommend watching this crash course video.

For the iris:
With a 1mm hook and 6 strands of embroidery thread ch5
Round 1: sc  in the first st, then make 6sc into the hole in the centre of the ring of chain sts (7sc)
Round 2: make 2sc in each st (14sc)

Fasten off neatly

For the Sclera (the whites of the eye):

Openable:
With a 1mm hook and white #10 crochet cotton ch18

Round 1: sc in the first chain st you made, sc in the following chain st, then make 2sc in the next chain st. (sc in the following 2 chain sts, make 2sc in the next chain st) twice, sc in the last 3 chain sts (23sc)

Round 2: sc, (sc4, make 2sc in the next st) 4 times, sc2 (26sc)

Round 3: sc6, make 2sc in the next st, sc12, make 2sc in the following st, sc6 (28sc)

Rounds 4 - 7: (4 rounds) sc in each st

Row 8: sc6, sc2tog, sc6. ch1, turn (13sc)

Row 9: bfsc2, bfsc2tog, bfsc5, bfsc2tog, bfsc2. ch1, turn (11sc)

Row 10: sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc. ch1, turn (8sc)

Row 11: bfsc2tog, bfsc, bfsc2tog, bfsc, bfsc2tog. ch1, turn (5sc)

Row 12: sc2tog, sc, sc2tog (3sc)

Fasten off

With a 1mm hook and white #10 crochet cotton

Row 1: sc in the 2nd chains st from hook, then in the following chain sts: sc5, sc2tog, sc6. ch1, turn (13sc)

Row 2: bfsc2, bfsc2tog, bfsc5, bfsc2tog, bfsc2 (11sc)

Row 3: sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc (8sc)

Row 4: bfsc2tog, bfsc, bfsc2tog, bfsc, bfsc2tog (5sc)

Row 5: sc2tog, sc, sc2tog(3sc)

Fasten off

You should now have a spherical section with a semi-circle cut out of it, along with a separate semi-circular shaped piece. Place the smaller section into the hole in the larger spherical section so that it lines up, then sew along half of the flat side of the smaller section to join it.

For the non-openable eye:

With a 1mm hook and white #10 crochet cotton ch18

Round 1: sc in the first chain st you made, sc in the following chain st, then make 2sc in the next chain st. (sc in the following 2 chain sts, make 2sc in the next chain st) twice, sc in the last 3 chain sts (23sc)

Round 2: sc, (sc4, make 2sc in the next st) 4 times, sc2 (26sc)

Round 3: sc6, make 2sc in the next st, sc12, make 2sc in the following st, sc6 (28sc)

Rounds 4 - 7: (4 rounds) sc in each st

Round 8: sc12, sc2tog, sc12, sc2tog (26sc)

Round 9: sc4, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc6, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc2 (22sc)

Round 10: sc, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog (16sc)

Round 11: sc2tog, sc, sc2tog twice, sc, sc2tog twice, sc, sc2tog, sc (10sc)

Round 12: sc2tog 5 times

Fasten off

For the retina:

For the non-openable eye:
You don't have to make this for the non-openable eye as it will be enclosed inside the scelera, but it will match the openable eye better if you're choosing to make one of each.

Using a 0.8mm hook and 3 strands of embroidery thread ch20
Round 1: sc in the first chain st you made, then sc in the next 2sts. Make 2sc in the next chain st. (sc3, make 2sc in the next chain st) 4 times (25sc)
Round 2: (sc4, make 2sc in the next st) 6 times (30sc)
Round 3: (sc5, make 2sc in the next st) 6 times (35sc)
Rounds 4 - 7: (4 rounds) Sc in each st
Round 8: Sc8, sc2tog, sc15, sc2tog, sc7 (33sc)
Round 9: Sc, (sc2tog, sc6) 4 times (29sc)
Round 10: Sc3, sc2tog, (Sc4, sc2tog) 4 times (24sc)
Round 11: (Sc2, sc2tog) 6 times (18sc)
Round 12: (Sc, sc2tog) 6 times (12sc)
Round 13: Sc2tog 6 times (6sc)
Fasten off

For the openable eye:
With a 0.8mm hook and 3 strands of embroidery thread ch20
Round 1: sc in the first chain st you made, then sc in the next 2sts. Make 2sc in the next chain st. (sc3, make 2sc in the next chain st) 4 times (25sc)
Round 2: (sc4, make 2sc in the next st) 6 times (30sc)
Round 3: (sc5, make 2sc in the next st) 6 times (35sc)
Rounds 4 - 7: (4 rounds) Sc in each st
Row 8: Sc8, sc2tog, sc15, sc2tog, sc7. ch1, turn (33sc)
Row 9: Sc, (sc2tog, sc6) twice. ch1, turn (15sc)
Row 10: Bfsc3, bfsc2tog, bfsc4, bfsc2tog, bfsc4. ch1, turn (13sc)
Row 11: (Sc2, sc2tog) 3 times, sc. ch1, turn (10sc)
Row 12: (Bfsc, bfsc2tog) 3 times, sc. ch1, turn (7sc)
Row 13: Sc2tog 3 times, sc (4sc)
Fasten off

Ch17
Row 1: sc2tog between the 2nd chain st from hook and the next chain st, sc in the next 6 chain sts, Sc2tog, sc6. ch1, turn (14sc)
Row 2: Bfsc2tog, bfsc4, bfsc2tog, bfsc4, bfsc2tog. ch1, turn (11sc)
Row 3: Sc, sc2tog, (sc2, sc2tog) twice, ch1, turn (8sc)
Row 4: Bfsc2tog, bfsc, bfsc2tog, bfsc, bfsc2tog. ch1, turn (5sc)
Row 5: Sc2tog, sc3tog (2sc)
Fasten off

Sew these 2 pieces together as you did before, lining up the smaller section inside the larger sphere and sewing along half of the larger edge. Make sure the the edge you sew along is opposite to the one sewn for the scelera (so that they match up when this retina section is turned inside out)

To make up:
For the retina:
If your eye is being made openable, use red and blue embroidery thread to sew veins onto the 'right side' of the crochet. This will later be turned so that the embroidery is on the inside and inserted into the eye.

Place the iris inside the eye. Sew in place around the front opening, and around the back opening for the openeable eye.

For the lens:

Get a clean spoon and use a glue gun to add a blob of glue to the curved surface. This should ideally be around 2cm in diameter. Once it is cool peel it off and insert it into the eye, so that it sits behind the hole in the front of the eye.

Sew the iris over this hole in front of the lens so that the wrong side is facing outwards.

Finally finish off by using red embroidery thread to add blood vessels to the outside of the scelera, as shown below.

That's all from this pattern, I hope you have enjoyed it! You are very welcome to sell finished products but I do ask that you don't re-post this pattern, or claim it or any of the images as your own. If you have any questions about this or any of my other patterns, please don't hesitate to contact me. You can leave a comment below, or message me on my Ravelry page, through the best way to contact me is through my Instagram page, where you can keep updated with all the projects I'm currently working on.

Kidneys

 This pattern is part of a series of crocheted organs I'm working on. The kidneys are both life-sized, and I have included a link at the end of this pattern if you wish to create a bladder so that you have a full urinary system.

 

Difficulty:

Easy

You will need:

• Anchor creativa fino cotton in deep red
• Black 4ply yarn
• A scrap of white embroidery thread
• A 2.5mm crochet hook
• Polyester toy stuffing
• A darning needle for sewing up
• A pair of scissors

The kidneys play a vital role in your body by filtering your blood. To learn more about how this takes place I recommend watching this crash course video.

For the kidneys (make 2 the same):
Ch4
Round 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next chain st. Make 3sc in the first chain st you made, then sci n the back loop of the previous chain st you crocheted into. Make 2sc into 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 the last 2sts (14sts)
Round 3: Sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc, (sc, make 2sc in the following st) 3 times, sc, (sc, make 2sc in the next st) twice (20sc)

Round 4: (Sc2, make 2sc in the next st), sc, (sc2, make 2sc in the following st) 3 times, sc, (sc2, make 2sc in the next st) twice (26sc)

Round 5: Sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc7, make 2sc in the following st, sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc, make 2sc in the following st, sc8, make 2sc in the next st, sc, make 2sc in the following st, sc (32sc)

Round 6: Sc in each st
Round 7: Hdc2, make 2hdc in the next st, sc25, make 2hdc in the following st, hdc2, make 2hdc in the last st (35sts)
Round 8: Hdc, make 2hdc in the next st, hdc, sc28, hdc, make 2hdc in the following st, hdc, make 2hdc in the last st (38sts)

Round 9: Sc in each st
Round 10: Hdc, make 2hdc in the next st, hdc, sc29, hdc, make 2hdc in the following st, hdc2, make 2hdc in the next st, hdc (41sts)

Round 11: Sc13, slip10, sc13, hdc5
Round 12: Hdc3, sc31, hdc7
Round 13: Hdc4, sc10, slip10, sc10, hdc7
Round 14: Hdc4, sc30, hdc7
Round 15: Hdc5, sc10, slip10, sc9, hdc7
Round 16: Hdc6, sc27, hdc8
Round 17: Hdc7, sc9, slip10, sc8, hdc7
Round 18: Hdc6, sc31, hdc4
Round 19: Hdc6, sc11, slip10, sc14
Rounds 20 - 21: (2 rounds) Sc in each st
Round 22: Sc18, slip10, sc8, hdc5
Round 23: Hdc8, sc29, hdc4
Round 24: Hdc9, sc9, slip10, sc9, hdc4
Round 25: Hdc8, sc30, hdc3
Round 26: Hdc9, sc10, slip10, sc10, hdc2
Round 27: Hdc10, sc30, hdc1
Round 28: Hdc11, sc9, slip10, sc9, hdc2
Round 29: Hdc10, sc31
Round 30: Hdc10, sc10, slip10, sc10, hdc
Round 31: hdc, hdc2tog, hdc2, hdc2tog, hdc2, hdc2tog, hdc, sc29 (38sts)
Round 32: Sc in each st
Round 33: Hdc2tog, hdc, hdc2tog, hdc, hdc2tog, hdc, sc27, hdc2tog (34sts)
Round 34; Hdc2, hdc2tog, hdc2, hdc2tog, sc26 (32sts)
Round 35: Sc3, sc2tog, sc27 (31sts)
Round 36: Sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc7, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc8, sc2tog (25sts)
Round 37: (Sc2, sc2tog) twice, sc, (sc2, sc2tog) 3 times, sc2, sc2tog (19sts)
Round 38: (Sc, sc2tog) twice, sc, (sc, sc2tog) 3 times, sc, sc2tog (13sc)
Stuff
Round 39: Sc2tog twice, sc, sc2tog 5 times
Fasten off

Fun fact:
The blood flow through the kidneys is higher than that through the heart, liver, or brain. In fact, about 25% of the blood pumped out of the heart goes straight to the kidneys,

For the eyes (make 2 for each kidney):

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 a mouth using black yarn.

Sew these eyes to the front of each kidney, then use the black yarn to embroider facial features such as a mouth and eyebrows.

If you wish to create a full urinary system you will need to use this pattern to create the bladder. You should then sew the end of each ureta to the centre of the side of each kidney, as shown below.

I hope you have enjoyed this pattern! You are very welcome to sell finished products but I do ask that you don't re-post this pattern or claim it (or any of its images) as your own. Thank you!

References:

thefactsite.com