Video game knitting: Weighted companion cubes

The mega-popular games Portal and Portal 2 feature an object called a "Weighted companion cube." This cube was originally just meant to be an object that you carry with you in order to solve puzzles, mainly by setting the cube on a button to keep it pushed down. (That's why it's handy that the cube is weighted.)

Then, in order to help "train" players how to use incineration (which is key in the final boss battle) the developers decided to essentially force players to thrown their companion cubes into the incinerator in order to proceed in the game. A lot of players, having become emotionally attached to these adorable little cubes, were somewhat emotionally scarred by being forced to kill them.

And thus, the natural cross-over object was born: a knitted companion cube.

The most obvious way to bring Portal to life with knitting is to knit an actual cube-shaped companion cube of your very own. These range widely in size, from about the size of a coffee mug, to about the size of a coffee table.

This Instructables tutorial will walk you through knitting a companion cube that is about two feet on a side. Note that the instructions are in British English, so you will need to "translate" the measurements and yarn weights if you are an American knitter.

For a smaller companion cube, check out this great pattern.

Image copyright monday.tumblr.com

More amazing still is this companion cube sweater, knit by Tumblr user Monday. I love the details on this sweater, like the way that she used duplicate stitch for the hearts, "to add depth." The sweater also fits her quite well, and has a natty design.

Also, note the way that she centered the horizontal elements across the bust line, instead of having them go across the waist as they would if you were to literally translate a companion cube design into a sweater. This is a particularly nice touch!

Main image courtesy Flickr/thinkgeekmonkeys