Fandom Crafts: Breaking Bad
I recently started watching Breaking Bad. (I know, right? Talk about being late to the party.) This dark, violent show offers a blend of humor and cinematography that makes for the perfect transition into iconography. And it turns out that Breaking Bad fans have been making busy with the crafts!
The second half of the show's fifth and final season starts this coming August. That gives you crafty Breaking Bad fans a few months, so get cracking!
Knitting
I was not able to find any knit Breaking Bad crafts. Hey knitters, what's up? I did find a lot of people talking about how they were getting a lot of knitting done while watching Breaking Bad. I suppose that a show set in Albuquerque does not offer many chances for knitwear designs, but it still seems like there should be a slouchy hat or a lightweight wrap out there somewhere. If you know of any Breaking Bad knitting patterns, let me know!
Crochet
There are two amazing crochet projects that relate to Breaking Bad. The first is this set of amigurumi patterns, which distinguishes itself from the usual amigurumi by offering a complete dress-up kit for tiny Walter and Pinkman. The pattern includes instructions for "two dolls, two hats, glasses, jumpsuits, and tiny bags of crystal." So adorable!
The second Breaking Bad crochet project is this afghan, which is inspired by the afghan seen briefly on the couch at the White residence. It turns out that this simple little prop is actually somewhat complicated to crochet, featuring a lot of different colors and stitch motifs. Totally worth it for the stealth Breaking Bad tribute, though! Blogger and crochet designer Sarah London has put together a pattern for the afghan on her blog.
Image courtesy Steotch
Embroidery/Cross-Stitch/Needlepoint
Several of the most popular Breaking Bad quotes have become touchstones for crafters, including "I am the one who knocks," "I'm not in danger, I AM the danger," and "This is my own private domicile and I will not be harassed." All of these quotes have turned up in cross-stitch or needlepoint form here and there, to great effect.
I think Breaking Bad is uniquely suited to needlework crafts, not just because it's hilarious to make a needlepoint sampler featuring a meth dealer. But the show also lends itself to this particular kind of craft because of the way it plays Walter's life as a meth dealer against the domesticity of his former life and his wife Skyler. Not to mention the resoundingly 1970s decorating theme they have going on in their house.
But I think that out of all the Breaking Bad needlecraft projects I found, this "Kiss the Cook" is by far my favorite. I love the way that it plays the traditional, fusty, "country house" design elements against Walter's photorealistic face.
Quilting
How great is this Breaking Bad tribute quilt? What a labor of love, from sourcing the sayings, to creating each individual quilt square. Well done!
Image courtesy Craftster/RenDuH
Misc Crafts
There are more Breaking Bad projects for sale on Etsy than you can shake a stick at. Over 1,000 as of this writing! What really surprised me was the variety of media, with just about every possible craft you can think of being turned into a Breaking Bad tribute.
The iconic Periodic Table symbols from the show's intro turn up in a lot of crafts, from this tissue holder box to these gauges. I also found the symbols on these glass tile earrings, which would be a cute way to flaunt a little Breaking Bad love at the office or at a party.
Walter's famous Blue Sky meth also shows up in a lot of crafts, including small plastic Ziploc bags of this blue meth soap. Won't that look lovely sitting beside your bathroom sink when guests come over for a viewing party?
This crafty Craftster baked Breaking Bad cupcakes, which were apparently a little bit difficult to eat, since you don't usually put hard candy on top of a cupcake. But who cares? They are amazing!
And finally, no discussion of Breaking Bad crafts would be complete without a nod to this amazing set of nail art. It may be impractical, but it certainly is beautiful, intricate, and excellently themed!
Main image of Walter White street art courtesy Flickr/YVRBCbro