Large Dahlia (Kiku Variation) Temari, inspired from Yubinuki to Hana-temari-cho, ISBN978-4-8377-0308-2 This temari requires a 55cm circumference mari, wrapped in black with a 10 Combination Division. Marking thread is gold DMC Art 282. The Dahlia motifs are worked in Pearl Cotton #8, five shades of each color: Lavender #552, 208, 209, 210, 211. Blue #796, 798, 799, Threadart blue, 800. Red 304, 321, 666, 380, 892. Orange #946, 608, 971, 741, 742. Pink #309, 336, 603, 604, 605. Yellow Threadart Light orange, #743, Threadart Yellow, 744, 745. The Nejiri Mitsubane leaves are in DMC Floche,  dk. green, lt. green, white

Each Dahlia has 12 rounds of stitching, worked in Uwagake Chidori variation by working around limited numbers of previous rounds as the motif grows. The first 3 rounds will be worked in regular Uwagake Chidori Kagari around all threads, using single thread in the darkest shade. Stitch 3 rounds. Change to progressively lighter colored thread for each group of rounds.  The 4th round picks up only 2 threads of previous rounds. 5th round picks up three threads of previous rounds. 6th round and all successive rounds(for total of 12) pick up 4 threads. For color shading, begin with the darkest shade for the first 3 regular uwagake rounds. Change to progressively lighter shades for each set of rounds - 2 rows of each shade for the next 3, and then 3 rounds for the last (lightest) shade. Be sure to maintain even tension so that the design fills and covers to the fullest.

Nejiri Mitsubane Kagari are worked at each of the pentagon corners. Shade the mitsubane by stitching 4 rounds lt. green, one round white, and then one round dk. green. To finish, one final dk. green round is another round on the Mitsubane, but rather than taking a stitch at the outer point, pass over to the adjacent mitsubane in a  zig-zag fashion, point to point. Continue around the full temari to connect the mistubane. You can add a gold cross stitch at the zig-zag crossover to hold in place and/or embellish, if desired.