Setting up a Combination 10 Divide from a Simple 4 Division
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        This is a nifty shortcut method for placing the pole centers for a Combination 10 Division.  You should be familiar with one of the basic ways to accomplish a C10, either the relational geometry method with the paper strip, or using a Japanese VRuler.  This is an alternate method that shortcuts things by starting with a Simple 4 Division; it's shown in at least one Japanese book (ISBN4-8377-0395), and has been sighted on a couple of Japanese websites (unfortunately neither seem to still be online).

       In working with Debi A. on some temari concepts, she had said "gee, do you know this is in this book, does it really work?" and I said "yup and yup". It was on the to-do list but we moved it up the ladder so that we included it in the Temari NY 2006 Stitchin to demo - which elicited a lot of "oohs and ahhs" and downright "yippees". While it is a great shortcut to setting up the polar positions for a C10 Division it's also the general consensus that you really do need to understand how to work a C10 Division using one or both of the standard methods mentioned above. A shortcut requires you to understand what it is you are "shortcutting". Once you understand the basics of a C10 then you'll find this shortcut a nifty trick that saves time setting up the pole pins. It's not the intention here to introduce the basics of a Combination 10 - refer to the pages linked above if you are not familiar with the terms being used here in the shortcut tutorial (they are basic working terms that you should be familiar with).

       This procedure is for placing the pentagon centers on the C10 - the 12 pins you place that are equidistant from each other and become the "sets of poles" you wrap the marking lines from. The outcome will be the pins placed and also a few of the marking lines being wrapped, since you start first with placing a Simple 4 Division with obi (aka Combination 4 Divide) on the mari. Continue on wrapping the marking lines as you normally would.

       Here's how: Wrap a mari, and mark a Simple 4 with obi using the threads you are planning to mark the C10 with. Use the standard C10 formula, or a VRuler chart to determine the distance between poles for the size mari you are working on. Here the black mari is marked with gold thread. For demo purposes sets of colored pins are used, but this is not necessary when working one unless you find it helpful for yourself.  North and South are indicated for demo purposes here as well.  The basic procedure is to center the VRuler value across an S4 intersection, horizontally; turn the ball a quarter turn and center the VRuler Value on the next S4 intersection vertically; turn the ball a quarter turn to the next S4 intersection and again center the Vruler Value horizontally, etc., until you have placed six sets of pins, one on each S4 intersection making sure that each set is perpendicular to each other. It's easier to see than say:


The Vruler value (from chart or formula calculation) is divided equally over the S4 marking thread intersection and the end points are marked with the orange pins. Distance from orange pin to orange pin is the Vruler value.

Turn the ball a quarter turn to the right, and again divide the Vruler Value equally across the S4 marking line intersection BUT place the pins vertically (up and down) as shown in green

Turn the ball a quarter turn again, place a set of pins horizontally using the VRuler Value with the S4 intersection at the midpoint.

Repeat for the last quarter turn and also the S4 intersections at the north and south poles; you have six sets of pins in total. Each pin is equidistant to the ones adjacent to it as required by the C10 poles - so each pin is a C10 center. This set of pins shows the south pole.

This photo shows the same positions all marked with the same colored pin to eliminate the "pairs of colors".

This photo is the same, showing how each pin becomes a C10 center, and the S4 lines fall into place. Note the yellow arrows coming out from the Y pin - these are the lines radiating out from the pentagon center that you now wrap using the marking thread. The other color poles and lines represent the other centers.

This photo shows one set of wraps added with the C10 center having the ten lines radiating out from it. Continue to place marking wraps per the normal C10 wrapping method you prefer (see basics if you need help on this)
You won't have the 5-4-3-2-1 wrap lines sequence as you usually do since the S4 lines fall into place a set - simply add wrap lines as needed on each set of poles (you'll have one less to do on each, 4-3-2-1).  This demo mari by Debi shows how the Simple 4 marking falls into place with the C10 marking wraps.
      


        Again, remember that this is a shortcut - you really need to be reasonably comfortable with the basic concepts and technique of working a C10, but as long as you have a grip on where you are going with this, you'll find a faster method (most likely) to place the pin centers for the pentagons and get on your way to stitching.



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Last updated 4/06 ©  2006 - 2006 G.Thompson, D. Abolt.   You may download one copy of this tutorial for private, not-for-profit use.