#The amazing isopuppy

[muffinlance]

Isopuppy's got legs for DAYS

Just need to get the top carapace on and write up the tutorial, and y'all can make your own Good Dog.

My baby spent most of the morning crawl-chasing me around, desperately pointing at the pupper to be allowed a hug (which she was finally granted just before nap time when I got the back seam closed, and she hugged it So Hard, then gummed those antennae real good). Toddler is demanding he be allowed to sleep with it tonight. So isopups are VERY snugglable, is what I'm saying.

[pockethep]

Can I ask your top 10 fav fics ever (from any fandom, if you don't mind)?

Also, just curious, is there a story behind your name "pockethep"?

I’ve had this Tumblr for a molten minute and originally it was a Pokemon themed blog before I deleted my side blogs (a choice I regret every day). The Pocket in my user came from “Pocket Monsters” and the HEP was just tagged on because a lot of pocket monster themes names weren't available but younger me wanted to be open to having a blog that wasn't just 1 thing.

Now for the fics…

These are in no order whatsoever. This is based purely on fanfics that I love that no matter what I keep going back to, there are honestly a lot I could put especially if I think harder but its late and I'm typing on my phone.

Yesterday Upon The Stair by PitViperOfDoom on AO3. (My Hero Academia)

Genuinely an amazing fanfic, probably the best BNHA fanfic I’ve ever read which is a strong title to hold. It even has its own TV Tropes Page. It was Published in 2016 and I read it religiously. It had it all, Queerplatonic relationships, Drama, Angst, heartwarming moments, and realistic character depictions. It’s one of those fanfics that most people in the fandom know as “One of the Big Ones”.

A Breach of Trust by Phantomrose96 on AO3 (Mob Psycho 100)

Another “One of the Big Ones” and another fanfic that I’ve been following since it was published way back in 2016 (a wonder how 2016 had a lot of really great fanfics just like how a lot of good writing came from the quarantine). This is such a good fanfic, that really expands past the base content of the manga/anime and has a well fleshed out world as well as characters. It’s a drama that has a good dose of angst and I love the way the relationship between Mob and Reigen develops.

Issho by ToastyToaster22 on AO3 (Mob Psycho 100)

Normally I’d try to keep it one to a fandom with these types of lists/asks but Issho was really good. Once again has the bonus of being a fanfic from one of my favorite anime/manga. But it highlights one of my favorite characters, Teru, in a way that develops him very well over the course of the series. Issho is just the first of ten parts and I'd recommend reading all of them.

Salvage by MuffinLance on AO3 (Avatar the Last Airbender)

One of my comfort ATLA fanfics. A great amount of humor, angst, and a lot of found family. I absolutely adore Hakodad pics and Zuko honestly deserves it but Salvage has the plus of adding more additional siblings and a cute isopuppy because Zuko really deserves it.

fool in the moon by arahir on Ao3 (Trigun)

Despite having read the Trimax manga and having seen the original Trigun anime, I didn’t actually start reading fan fiction for it until Trigun Stampede paraded through…And BOY was I missing out. Although fool in the moon is a recent addition to the roster of amazing pics, it’s up there as one of my favorite. It’s a vashwood fic with a healthy dose of angst and comfort. I don’t know what it is but Trigun writers all have the ability to write the most visceral things.

(HONORABLE MENTION: A Ship and his Anchor by DerringerMeryl who aced the Vash whump.)

Press 9 to delete this Message by moriturism on Ao3 (Jujutsu Kaisen)

One of the most cleverly written fics not just on this list but that I’ve read. I can’t recommend it enough, even to those that don’t ship satosugu. This is a hurt no comfort fic and the way my stomach sunk reading the date for one of the last messages is a feeling few people can replicate. It’s good all around. 11/10

Those Hands Were Meant To Love by Ahenix on Ao3 (Spy X Family)

I think this is one of the big fics for Spy X Family and for a reason. It’s fluff without plot, and I love a good bit of found family and fluff especially centered around my favorite “fake” family. I read this one a couple times last year because it’s cute and its only 6 chapters.

Cascading (In a good way) by Hubbleablubble on Ao3 (Genshin)

There are a lot of well written genshin fics but this one is my favorite both for the ship (Kaebedo) and that I enjoy the way the characters are written. I like how everyone was written in this. Although it’s only a chapter the pacing was great, especially as it told their story from strangers to friends to lovers. It also mentioned Khaenri’ah Royalty Kaeya which is a huge plus.

(HONORABLE MENTION Song of Resistance by TheOpticalMouse absolutely check this out, its a series of 2 fics)

Starstruck by shizuoh on Ao3 (Yuri on Ice)

All that needs to be said is that the author basically created the Actor Victor Nikiforov tag on ao3. It’s a fic that’s been there since around 2016 when the show debuted and it hasn’t left my favorites for a while alongside a lot of others. Featuring the aforementioned actor Viktor, a barista/babysitter yuuri, and Yuri as a child caught up between the two. There are a lot of great’s and this is one of them.

(HONORABLE MENTIONS: There are a lot of Yuri on Ice fics I could have put here so…Until My Feet Bleed and My Heart aches by Reiya (The Biggest Diamond among the rest of the diamonds), crust and sugar over by ShanaStoryteller, Where the Cliff Greets the Sea)

Academic Intrigue by kassvea on Ao3 (Word of Honor)

It’s a modern AU, college/university AU with well written characters that are true to the original source. It’s a story about starting over, especially given the scandal at the start of the fic. I love the connection between Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing in all forms of media but this is one of my favorites.

(HONORABLE MENTION: Sanguine by jaemyun this is one of the big word of honor fics and for a reason.)

[carolofthebell]

Muffin’s been editing so I’ve prepared some preemptive scuttles cuddles to help us through the coming trauma.

[image id: Zuko from salvage wearing a watertribe parka cuddling scuttles in his lap, getting isopuppy kisses on his jaw]

[i-would-like-some-tea]

More crappy creature animations.

This time:

Skuttles aka Sokka aka Seal Jerky, the amazing isopuppy from @muffinlance’s Salvage

[muffinlance]

Him's shell!

Just needs eyes and a nose now!

[muffinlance]

Crochet Pattern: Rollable Isopuppy (Giant Isopod Dog)

Crochet an isopuppy! As cuddled in Salvage; story and pattern both by me. Whether you’ve read the story or not, treat yourself to a Very Good Dog. You deserve it. <3

>>> Get the pattern here! <<<

[id: Photos of a crocheted isopuppy (giant isopod dog) from various angles. It has the head and tail of a dog, with isopod legs, shell, and antennae. It is a very Good Boi. End id.]

Also that is now my site for patterns, both sewn and crocheted (Dragon Zuko is also up there), so. Subscribe if you're interested in that. If you're interested in my writing, that's at this site. Also I'm on Ravelry now.

>>> Isopuppy Pattern! <<<

[muffinlance]

Isopuppy update: Legs! So many legs. So many many horrifying legs. I ran out of the sparkle-white yarn so he got gray socks. Highly recommend mismatched legs, they are very joyful.

Also: antennae!

[id: Photos of a crocheted isopuppy from various angles. He has fourteen isopod-esk legs. End id.]

Going to make the shell slightly wider and longer (he needs a little more room to roll now that the legs are on). I'd also like more stability in the neck for when he sits up, which he does fantastically and terrifyingly well (so. many. legs), so I'll likely make that a single piece with the body. The legs are customizable--you can make them short or long to preference extremely easily. Mine is a Leggy Boi.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Toddler saw the finished isopuppy and IMMEDIATELY demanded that it be A) rolled, and B) taken to the hallway to play fetch. Quality assurance testing now in progress.

[muffinlance]

Isopuppy head!

[id: Photo of a sewn isopuppy head; it looks like a dog head with antennae.]

Now to cut leg parts.

...28 leg parts.

[muffinlance]

Crochet isopuppy is beginning to take shape!

Next up: legs and back shell. Not sure I'll keep this body shape in the final draft, but it works fine as a filler while I figure the proportions on the rest out.

I'm adding pattern variations for colored tips on the ears/legs/tail, so people can give their pups a bit of customization.

[muffinlance]

The isopuppy rolls! Very happy with how the segment overlap turned out.

My toddler is excitedly playing fetch in the hallway. So: child-approved!

Leg and antenna design are complete, just need to finish making them all and attach them, then see about final adjustments. The pattern is almost complete!

[muffinlance]

Isopuppy Crochet Update: Finished with pattern testing! Behold my scrap yarn puppy.

The slightly longer shell definitely helps with rolling, and I've double checked for consistency and clarity throughout the directions. The head and body are a single piece now, as well, which definitely helped with stability/durability. Rolling is NOT easy on joining stitches; that weakness is fixed now.

Going to put some process photos into the pattern directions, but otherwise I am quite pleased with how this has come together, and I'll be putting it up for sale soon. <3

[muffinlance]

Shell! Might need to adjust the size a bit, but reasonably happy with this general shape. Need to sew these on, then it's time to attach his little legs and antennae next. <3

[muffinlance]

A FRIEND <3

[id: Photo of crocheted isopuppy hanging off the side of a laptop. End id.]

PS don't zoom in on the notes that, uh, potentially has Fox's Tongue spoilers.

Also someone asked what his belly looks like, so HIM'S BELLY:

[id: Photo of isopuppy belly, with embroidered shell marks. End id.]

Is good boy, please send rubs

[muffinlance]

Isopuppy Sewn Pattern Update: At long last, I've found time to get back to working on this! AKA I didn't feel like writing this weekend so LET'S GO SEWING YAY.

Current status: I have the final pattern worked out (plus or minus some seam allowance adjustments) and I've moved from junk fabric to final fabric. Hoping to get a good way into cutting/construction tomorrow. Unless I feel like writing. Who knows! Not me!

[muffinlance]

Hi Muffin, may I ask if you still intend to finish the sewing pattern for the amazing isopuppy? I would love to have one, but I can’t crochet (not that I know how to sew a plushie, but I’ll figure it out)

I do! Just have many other things of higher priority. The crochet pattern got finished so quickly because I could work on that while baby was sleeping/nursing; the sewn pattern requires putting both children down and locking myself behind a baby gate. Which. Is in direct competition with all my other free time activities, alas.

[muffinlance]

Just trying to figure out how to crochet anatomically correct isopod legs. As one does.