1. Prepare a ball. Divide and mark into a C8
with an obi: Mark a simple 8 then divide every other line,
halfway between obi and north pole and halfway between obi and south
pole. (Halfway pins are on the same mark line on either side of
obi.) Lay secondary mark lines by laying circles connecting the
“halfway” pins. Reminder: start the secondary mark lines
with north pole up, enter to exit (start) on a “halfway” mark
line. Turn a quarter turn and mark. If after marking, your
six “squares” are not equal in size, then you started your secondary
mark lines on the wrong line.
2. Stitch the four lotuses first. They will be located in
four of the 6 “squares” generated by the C8 marking. To stitch
all four, you will eventually locate a series of four squares that
connect around the ball forming a ring. This ring could be the
ring of four squares formed on the obi but does not have to be.
Any four forming a ring around the ball will work.
Select a square and add
additional marking lines on half the square,
per diagram (light blue dashed lines are additional markings).
These
additional marking lines are as if for marking the full square for a 16
division kiku, so half square has 8 marking lines. You will be
adding
4 additional lines to the existing 4 lines (light blue dashed lines are
additional markings). Run marking lines to and anchor on
existing
marking lines. Use the kiku stitch (herringbone) to create a half
of a
kiku as per the red lines on the diagram at right. Measure
for the
outside kiku point is roughly 1/3 of the marking line length.
Interior
kiku point is close to center, allowing only for a very small gold
flower center. The half kiku is done as usual, on alternate
marking
lines. One pass does 4 petals; the next pass does the alternate
interleaved 4. Stitching tip: with a longer needle, you can
stitch
under mari threads and connect the end of one pass to begin the next
pass, thus eliminating a thread bury, a cut and a thread start.
Stitching color sequence is two white, two pale pink, two light wine,
two wine and finish with one Kreinik wine braid on the outside.
Four
wraps of a color will complete the petal stitching of that color.
Complete the lotus by backstitching a gold half circle in the flower
center.
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3. Do the next half kiku on an adjacent square. It should
be
positioned as in the diagram, end point to end point with the kikus
facing as per the diagram. Continue doing half kikus, facing as
per
the diagram on adjacent squares. When completed, the four squares
will
connect in a ring around the mari. |
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4. The final design element is adding the four leaves
inter-twined between the lotus. To find the position of the
leaves use the diagram below. Each leaf outline is already laid
by existing marking lines. Pairs of leaves are adjacent to each
other.
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5. You will need to add an
additional marking line down the center of
each leaf. The position is annotated by the teal dotted line in
the
diagram. Run marking lines from an intersection where 6 existing
lines
cross (and two half kikus meet) to the point on the opposite side of
the leaf. Anchor on existing marking lines. Measure the
line into
thirds and place a pin at each third.
6. Each leaf is formed by a simple spindle stitch on the new marking
line. The sequence of colors, from center out (as it is stitched)
is:
Green Kreinik, 4 light green, 3 dark green, Kreinik, 2 light green, 1
dark green, Kreinik, alternate light and dark green to fill space
ending with Kreinik.
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Stitching tip: extend the points for even spindles. Position the
thread alongside the previous row, holding it out to where it crosses
the spindle mark line. The thread will point to where your stitch
should be taken (or slightly lower). It’s always further from the
previous stitch than you expect it to be.
7. Optional: Fill in the center of each half lotus with the
gold Kreinik #002V braid by forming a series of half circles using a
small herringbone (backstitch) on the marking lines coming together at
the center.
8. Smooth, nudge and adjust threads for consistency in
design. Design is complete.
Alternative color designs:
1. Shades of yellow for the lotus.
2. Try various combinations for the leaves: evenly striped, dark
center with light exterior, solid light with small dark interior.
