i like lemons

Before I tried knitting or bookbinding or screen printing, temari balls were my crafting obsession. These are over 10 years old (please excuse the dust).

If you are interested in learning temari, I highly recommend Diana Vandervoort’s book Temari: How to Make Japanese Thread Balls (ISBN 0-87040-881-X). It has very clear instructions and is illustration heavy, just what you want in a craft book. Vandervoort has a few follow-up books with additional techniques/patterns.

More pictures at Flickr

  Many years ago I saw the movie Impromptu, about the affair between George Sand and Frederic Chopin. With a cast of well known actors, beautiful locations and costuming, and an interesting story, I am a bit embarrassed to say that what I remember most is that “Oh Balls!” was the stand-out line of the movie for me.

A sphere is such a versatile shape to have in one’s knitting repertoire. I use this ball pattern to make fruits, toys or something soft enough to throw at the television (oh like you haven’t wanted to throw something at the tv before).

Oh Balls!

Do not reproduce this pattern elsewhere. This pattern is for personal use only. In other words, don’t try to make money off of it.

Materials
Set of US size 7 double pointed needles
Worsted weight yarn
Stitch marker
Material for stuffing (yarn scraps, batting, plastic grocery bags, etc.)
Yarn needle, for weaving in ends

Pattern
Cast on 6 sts and knit one row as for I-cord.
Divide sts equally among 3 dpns. Place stitch marker and begin to knit in the round.

Round 1: kfb all sts (12 sts)
Round 2: knit
Round 3: *k1, kfb; repeat from * (18 sts)
Round 4: knit
Round 5: *k2, kfb; repeat from * (24 sts)
Round 6: knit
Round 7: *k3, kfb; repeat from * (30 sts)
Round 8: knit
Round 9: *k4, kfb; repeat from * (36 sts)
Round 10: knit
Round 11: *k8, kfb; repeat from * (40 sts)
Rounds 12-14: knit
Round 15: *k8, k2tog; repeat from * (36 sts)
Round 16: knit
Round 17: *k4, k2tog; repeat from * (30 sts)
Round 18: knit
Round 19: *k3, k2tog; repeat from * (24 sts)
Round 20: knit
Round 21: *k2, k2tog; repeat from * (18 sts)
Round 22: knit

Stuff ball with yarn scraps, batting, etc.

Round 23: *k1, k2tog; repeat from * (12 sts)
Round 24: knit
Round 25: *k2tog; repeat from * (6 sts)

Cut yarn leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread needle with yarn tail, pull through remaining stitches and knot discreetly. Run needle down the center of ball and through to other side. Snip excess tail close to ball’s surface. Makes about a 2.5-inch diameter ball.

*****The size of the balls can be adjusted by using larger needles and chunkier yarn. You can also change the size by adding more increase, and corresponding decrease, rounds.

The striped ball is easily made by casting on and knitting rounds 1-10 with color 1, switching to color 2 for rounds 11-15 and changing to color 3 for rounds 16-25.

Pattern now available for download as a pdf file.

This pattern is now available in German (translated by Kalinumba, with my permission).

More pictures at Flickr