This design was done on an rice hull base of app. 3.5 inches in diameter. Begin by doing a simple 12 division with obi. When marking the divisions, use black thread for every other division line and white thread for every other line  creating the 6 white threads that form the branches of the snowflake pattern and 6 black threads. Locate and mark the obi in black. Measure one inch above and one inch below obi and run a black marking thread around the ball above and below the obit parallel to the obi. Tack at each intersection of 12 division lines. With black thread, coming up  at the top obi line on a division point, run a thread to the bottom of the next obi line intersection  with next  division line. Complete this around mari. Now, coming up at the division line next to the starting line, repeat same around mari so that you now have a series of diamonds abound the obi. With right color thread, mark the crossing point of each diamond shape from top obi line to bottom obi line. This is an added line to anchor part of the pattern.

Stitch the solid diamonds  - for this ball the sequence of color is  rounds gray, 1 black, 1 white, 1 black, 2 white. The half diamonds to finish the edges of the obi use (starting from the outside of the diamond and working in) 2 white, 1 black, 1 white and 1 black, then finish with gray as needed.

Using white thread,starting at the north pole, stitch a hexagon shape around the white marking threads forming a hexagon. Continue around the pole for 6 rows. Continue stitching the snowflake as shown. Repeat for the south pole.