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This pattern is worked on a simple vertical 8 division -
although other multiples of 4 may be used. It is a combination of
spindles and chrysanthemum patterns. In the ball shown, I prepared a
navy blue wrap, worked the polar spindles in white, and used four
shades of green from very light to darker in the obi work. This ball as
worked is a two and a half inch diameter (20
cm circumference). Interpreted from one of the Japanese books. |
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Prepare a standard simple 8 vertical division ball, with the obi marked. On each marking line, locate points A and B, which are 1/4 and 1/2 the distance between the pole and the obi. Locate in both the North and South hemispheres. Work a spindle (the main pattern element in Diana Vandervoort's Learning Ball, first book, or see Mary Wood, who calls it Spindles) - enter at A, turn the ball upside down so that B is pointing North, take a stitch, turn the ball so A is pointing North, take a stitch, turn so B is North and stitch, etc. - until the polar end of each spindle approaches the pole. The upper edges of the sides will begin to abut. Work this on each marker line in each hemisphere. |
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To work the obi section, locate the points shown, over a set
of four consecutive marker lines. 1-4 back to 4, repeat around the
ball; A-D back to A; a-d back to a; w-z back to z. Place a set of
keeper pins on each line
at the obi. Work a double ended chrysanthemum, crossing the threads at
the
obi allowing the keeper pins to hold them, so that you are always
working
the "top" half of a chrysanthemum pattern, on each end (similar to
Diana
Vandervoort's Merry Go Round pattern). Work each set one at a time,
moving
to the right one marker thread. This will create a woven pattern to all
of
the threads. Work three or four rounds as you desire. To finish, work a
band
around the center of the obi, backstitching over the crossed thread
bundles
at each marker line of two or three threads on each side of the obi
marker
line. Note - this interpretation is as I understood it from the Japanese book. To work the ball as shown in the photo, use a simple 16 vertical division to obtain the identical result. |