Temari Pattern 99GK15
Intermediate Pattern contributed by Glenna Kipp  / Download PDF file of this pattern
Test Pattern Kiku

Glenna offered up a photo of her creation on this and it was dubbed the "Test Pattern Kiku" - since it reminded people of the old times, wee-hours in the morning when TV stations went off the air and left that multicolored pattern on their broadcast output (yes, that really used to happen).

Basically it splits the traditional Uwagake Chidori stitch arrangement so that one iteration of the stitch uses two colors; this can be expanded to as many colors as you desire for a great outcome.


Materials:  3” ball, 300 yards black sewing thread, metallic mark thread, bright variegated #5 Pearl Cotton in the 6 different rainbow colors, Black #5 Pearl Cotton, 12 needles (3” or longer with large eyes), pins, scissors

1.  Wrap mari with black sewing thread.  With paper tape measure and divide mari into 24 Simple Divisions with an obi.  Mark with metallic thread.
2.  Measure half the distance from pole to obi.  On every other mark line place a pin at that point in both hemispheres.
3.  You will work  kiku stitches as described in a rainbow color sequence of Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple around the mari.  Each color will be used twice on opposite sides of the mari.

4.  Label the mark lines from left to right with numbers 1 thru 24.  With Red begin at the half way pin on mark line #3. NB:This kiku stitch is open and two-toned at the top!
Exit your thread from the thread wrap to the left of Line 3.  Take the upper portion of your kiku stitch on thread 5 as close to the pole as possible.  Enter your  needle and bring it up the same distance from the pole and to the left of 1.  Now bring your needle back down to your starting point and complete the kiku stitch.  Let the thread and needle hang.  Do NOT end thread or cut.

    You should now have a ”U” shape kiku stitch which spans 5 mark lines at the top near the pole.  It begins and ends at the half way pin of the mark line in the center of the “U”.


You should now have a ”U” shape kiku stitch which spans 5 mark lines at the top near the pole.  It begins and ends at the half way pin of the mark line in the center of the “U”.

5.  Move right to the halfway pin on mark line 5.  Take an open kiku stitch as described above with Orange pearl cotton.  This stitch will span mark threads 3-7.  Leave the threaded needle hanging.

6.  Move right again and take a Yellow open kiku stitch on threads 5-9.  Leave the threaded needle hanging.

7.  Continue to work open kiku stitches all around the ball in rainbow color order.  This round is complete when you have made one kiku stitch with each color at two opposite places all around the mari. 


Note:  You have the option to use fewer needles, but it will be faster with 12 needles.  Your thread will not fray as quickly if you don’t have to thread and unthread for each color change.  It is very slow to have to change needles each time.

8.  Work 4-8 rounds of open kiku stitches around each mark line in the Northern hemisphere; repeat on the Southern hemisphere. 

9.  Wrap the obi with metallic thread and anchor with Black herringbone “X” stitches which cross over each segment.  Be sure to catch wrapping thread with each stitch around a mark line.

Note:  You may wish to wrap and stitch the obi first.  Then you can work the lower points of the kiku stitches down from the half way pin until they touch the obi.

(Adapted with thanks from Glenna from Judy Shorten's "Rainbow Kiku" design)
Click to enter Temarikai.com
Last updated 3/2006 © From 1998 inclusive G.Thompson, Glenna Kipp