Temari Pattern 78 instructions

Temari Pattern 78
(Easy/Beginner)

This pattern can be worked on most any size ball, but will give better results on about a three inch (28 cm) on. It is very easy to work but the trick is that each row must be a different color or shade than the one prior to it - or the stitching takes on a whole different result. For this Temari I used three shades of rose and them three shades of green. The first six rounds repeated two sets of the three rose shades, one row of each, and the last three rounds are one each of different shades of green. The roses are worked from dark to light and the greens from light to dark.

Prepare a wrapped mari and divide into vertical sections - at least 16, 32 is better. More detailed versions can be done with an increased number of divisions. Begin about .75 cm (1/2 inch) from the pole. Work an open zigzag on alternate lines, ending up home where you began. Make the drop of the zigzag about .5cm (1/4 inch). Work points A-P for as far around the ball as you need to get home. Select the next color or shade of thread, and enter it to begin in the downward notch of one of the zigzags from the previous row. Work another zigzag, (points a-p) "opposite in zigs" to the prior, with the uppermost stitch of the row you are working being taken just over into the notch of the previous row. End off at home where you began the row. Select the next color or shade - repeat the A-P round, and so forth. Repeat as many rounds as you would like approaching the obi.

Work a simple wrapped obi, or one of your choice, but a simple one is in keeping with the pattern so as to not distract from the lightness of the work. The wrapped obi can then be accented with a zig zag topstitch.