Crochet for the Classroom: 'Teacher's Gallon Friend'

Sometimes my son brings home school assignments that strike me as crochet-worthy. Maybe it's my imagination, but doesn't this look like a crochet design waiting to happen?
 
The body is a gallon and the arms and legs are the four quarts. They each have 2 pints, and each pint has two cups (or "fingers"). 

Surely this diagram would also help metric-using visitors to the United States who are confused by our strange logic of pints and quarts :-)

Here's what I worked out, and uploaded the downloadable pattern PDF today to my pattern shop at DesigningVashti and in Ravelry:

My son wanted to keep the original prototype (red at the center). We presented the new yellow-centered one it to his third grade teacher, Mrs. Karen Newhall. 
It now hangs at the front of her classroom.

Sock Alien Chooses Crochet for Fall Accessories Line

Even aliens can catch a chill. [Ravelry page]

News Item!! 

Some extraterrestrials use fashion
to express their individuality

The younger extraterrestrial populations (that we know of) seem to be turning to crochet for the practicality, fashion looks, and feel of luxurious comfort against their alien skins.

Important Developing Trend for Crochet

The number of crocheters will skyrocket (so to speak) if this popular hobby catches fire on other planets.

It will then become a beloved tradition across the galaxy in just a few generations. [Or however it is that aliens reproduce.]

Human crocheters can look forward to new crochet patterns by alien designers. Hopefully it will be easy to substitute Earth yarns.

This young alien sees crochet in the stars

The Venus Flytrap Action Puppet

Your basic two-piece Venus Flytrap crochet toy.

The Big News

Pick one for me, I can't decide:

Flytrap "zipper" action holds captured fly securely.
(i.e. keeps kids busy)

• A bidding war broke out at the elementary school holiday event for the last one.
• A kid can make one. Or at least significantly help the parent. It's an ideal beginner's crochet project. 
• It's educational: botanically accurate flytrap "zipper" action when a juicy fly (see the lavender one above) is captured.
• Extra fast and easy, thanks to the foam sheets & simple shape. Especially valuable on the night before the school event.
• As safe for rambunctious boys to play with as a sock puppet—for example, if/when they attempt to make the Venus Flytrap capture other children. (Not safe under age 3 due to chain loops and possibility of small foam pieces.)

Slip fingers into these pockets, puppet-like.

This is one of the educational toys available at my new crochet pattern website, and now also in my Ravelry store. Especially see Gallon Friend, Stingray Puppetmittens, and Cheerful Chores!