PlanetJune Craft Blog

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crocheted gaming dice pattern

Gamers, take note: they’re here! My set of giant crocheted gaming dice, by popular demand:

crocheted d20 system gaming dice by planetjune

I cut out felt numbers to make my dice, but this is a fiddly and time-consuming technique, so I’m not recommending that you do the same: I give tips in the pattern for using fabric paint or embroidery to create the numbers, in addition to the templates I used to make my felt numbers and full numbering diagrams to create a perfect set of gaming dice.

Of course, the Gaming Dice pattern isn’t just numbering diagrams: it also has the ‘missing’ d10 shape – the only odd-one-out dice shape that isn’t one of the Platonic solids, and hence not part of my original set! I had a real challenge on my hands to create the d10 shape: it’s not formed from regular polygons like other dice, but from 10 kite shapes that combine into a pentagonal trapezohedron.

Not only was I constrained by the limits of making a good pattern (i.e. something that you can follow without tearing your hair out or getting confused) but it had to match the look, style and size of the 5 platonic solids in my Polyhedral Balls pattern, to make a complete matched set. And, after many prototypes, this is the d10 I came up with:

crocheted d10 shape by planetjune
I crocheted it in grey to separate it from the other colourful balls, as it’s not part of the Polyhedral Balls pattern and I’m hoping not to confuse anyone with this addition!

Because of the constraints, the final d10 shape looks slightly less pointed from the side (above, left) than a real d10, but the shape is essentially correct, and it functions perfectly as a die – one side always lands facing up, and all 10 sides are equal, so there’s equal chance of any number coming up.

Gaming Dice is my first Expansion Pack pattern – although I have another 9 in the works, and ideas for even more – so I hope I’ve set everything up clearly in the shop so people will understand what exactly they are buying. (If anything is confusing, or you think may be confusing to someone else who hasn’t read the explanation in this post, please do let me know so I can fix it before I bring out any more Expansion Packs!)

What is an Expansion Pack?

Expansion Packs by PlanetJune

  • An Expansion Pack is an add-on to an existing PlanetJune pattern.
  • The Expansion Pack lets you modify or add to the original pattern to create something else.
  • You cannot use the Expansion Pack alone – you must also purchase the original pattern in order to be able to complete the pictured items in the Expansion Pack pattern.

Gaming Dice, in particular, includes:

  • The crochet pattern and assembly diagrams for the pentagonal trapezohedron (aka d10 shape!)
  • Full numbering diagrams to accompany the assembly diagrams (for the d10 and all 5 of the original set), in right- and left-handed versions
  • Tips and suggestions for numbering the dice with fabric paint or embroidery
  • Templates for the felt numerals I used for my sample dice

You can buy the Gaming Dice Expansion Pack for $3 individually from the shop, or, if you haven’t yet bought the Polyhedral Balls pattern, you can select it as an add-on to that pattern before you add it to your shopping cart, and save $1 on the pair.

Launch Discount

Now, as I only just released the Polyhedral Balls a couple of weeks ago, you’re probably wishing you’d waited to buy it so you could get the combined-purchase discount, but don’t worry – I’ve figured out a way for you to get the discount too!

If you’ve already bought Polyhedral Balls, all you need to do is add the Gaming Dice Expansion Pack pattern to your shopping cart, together with anything else ($5 minimum), then use the code GAMERSRULE at checkout to get your discount! (Valid until end of June 2012.)

Note: If you don’t need anything else right now, this also applies to Gift Certificate purchases, so you can pick up a $5 gift certificate now, get your discount, and have $5 in your PlanetJune account ready for your next purchase, or to send to a crocheting friend!

crocheted d20 system gaming dice by planetjune

I’ve been planning for a long time to create Expansion Packs that extend the value of patterns you’ve already bought without you having to pay the full price again for something similar. I’m very interested to see how well this first one works out. There’ll be more to come! 😀

13 Comments »

  1. C.R. said

    Hi! I came upon this amazing site while looking for a crochet pattern for a deltoidal polyhedron (specifically a d24) I was wondering if the d10 deltoids would also work for a d24 or if the angles would have to be different?

    Thanks!

    • June said

      Hmm, good question! I had to check (I wasn’t familiar with the deltoidal d24) and although both d24 and d10 have kite-shaped faces, the kites are a lot wider in a deltoidal icositetrahedron (d24) than in a pentagonal trapezohedron (d10), so the angles would have to be different. Sorry I don’t have better news for you!

  2. Wow its great. As a gamer its awesome and i really loves it so much. Its also looks unique than other dice pattern.

  3. Diana U said

    Do you have a pattern for a d16 dice?

    • June said

      I’m afraid not, Diana; I only designed patterns for the standard d20 System dice – those are the only ones I’ve ever used. Let me know (everyone) if there are any other dice shapes you’d like – I’ll make them if there’s sufficient demand!

  4. Katie said

    As a gamer and crocheter those are beautiful, well done!!! I tip my hat to you for figuring out how to make a d10 : )

  5. Jana said

    Great! I think I will make three of these, one for each of my son-in-laws! I think they would love them. Now I just need to figure out if I am missing any of your patterns. 🙂

  6. R said

    Awesome! I’m not a gamer, and don’t like to crochet when it can be avoided, but I can so see these made with bigger yarn as sofa cushions….

  7. Cathy Kenny said

    I bought the original pack and now will buy the expansion pack. I fully understood your explanation and thank you for taking the time to write it. You are correct in your thinking that some people just won’t take the time to read it…but then, that’s their problem. You do great work! Thanks 🙂

  8. Looks Awesome! and Fun! You’ve been busy with all these new patterns and more to come! AMAZING! I plan to make a set of the gaming dice for my sister, and some “odd ball” ones(without numbers) for her to decorate/play with! 😀 Thanks June!!!

  9. Chrisie Merriman said

    Looks great! I already have plans for the d10. 🙂
    I think the way you’ve set up the listing is good… I understood your explanation within the listing.

    • June said

      I’m mostly worried that people won’t read the explanation – however well I write it – and will then feel ripped off because they can’t make the pictured set from the Expansion Pack alone…

      I suppose it’s the same problem as people buying a pattern from Etsy and thinking it’s a finished toy: no matter how well you explain it, some people just see the picture, make an assumption, and click ‘buy’… What can you do?!

      • Maria said

        Can you do a torial

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