Fair Isle Christmas Ball Pattern
I'm off the couch, finally. Thanks for get well wishes. I don't know if it helped or not because it's been a week and I'm still inclined to stare at the ceiling rather than finish a sentence. But I promised you the Christmas Ball pattern, and here it is, hopefully in time for whatever plans you had for it.
I used yarn that knit up in stockinette as 5 stitches to the inch, and appropriate needles. What you need for gauge will vary, but relax, this is very forgiving.
I measured the diameter of my 4 inch styrofoam ball and got about 12 inches, so I knew the pattern section had to be 12 inches across, more or less. With a yarn that knits up at 5 stitches to the inch, that meant 60 stitches. I looked at vintage charts and doodled to come up with patterns that would divide evenly into 60.
The Reindeer is 15 stitches across and 16 stitches high. For 60 stitches across you can knit four of them.
The snowflake is 16 stitches across (hang with me here, I got oyu covered) and 13 stitches high. With the double border it's 23 stitches high.
If you want to add the border to either the reindeer or the snowflake, you're going to need to take the gauge down a notch to 6 stitches to the inch so that the finished piece doesn't end up too tall to wrap snuggly around your ball. The pattern that follows is a quick one, written for the two sizes.
For the snowflake chart, follow the instructions for the 77 stitch version until you have 66 stitches: 64 pattern stitches plus two selvedge stitches.
Cast on 10 (11) stitches.
Increase in every stitch so you have 20 (22) stitches.
Purl back.
Knit one, increase -- across. 30 (33) stitches.
Purl back.
K2, inc -- across. 40 (44) stitches.
Purl back.
K3, inc -- across. 50 (55) stitches.
Purl back.
K4, inc -- across. 60 (66) stitches.
Purl back.
For 77 stitch version only: K5, inc -- across. 77 stitches.
Begin chosen chart. The 77 stitch version has a built in selvedge stitch at either edge. You might want to add those stitches for the 60 stitch version now.
When the chart is complete, reverse the increases thus:
For 77 stitch version only: K5, K2tog -- across 66 stitches.
Purl back.
K4, k2tog -- across. 50 (55) stitches.
Purl back.
K3, k2tog -- across. 40 (44) stitches.
Purl back.
K2, k2tog -- across. 30 (33) stitches.
Purl back.
K1, k2tog -- across. 20 (22) stitches.
Purl back.
k2tog across. 10 (11) stitches. Leaving a generous tail, break the yarn and run through the loops of the remaining stitches. Wrap the knitting around a 4" strofoam ball and with the left over tail whip stitch shut, never minding about weaving in ends or anything silly like that. Embellish with tassels, make a hanging loop using a crocheted chain or buttonhole stitch.
And if for some reason, you screw up on the row gauge, stuff the ends with polyfill and it will look like you meant it.
Have fun.
This is brilliant! I love it!
Posted by: caro | December 14, 2006 at 09:02 PM
Thanks for the patterns! What a great way to use up some bits o' yarn.
Posted by: Sharon G. | December 14, 2006 at 09:09 PM
Oh, those are SWEET! And me, just getting into stranded knitting and all....
Posted by: Norma | December 14, 2006 at 10:50 PM
thank you so much for posting this :)
Posted by: Jen da Purse Ho | December 14, 2006 at 11:32 PM
Thank you!!
Posted by: Lynn | December 14, 2006 at 11:41 PM
Thanks so much for posting this! What a great way to try Fair Isle!
Posted by: Opal | December 15, 2006 at 07:20 AM
Oh, these are very nice. Thanks Julia!
Posted by: Vicki | December 15, 2006 at 08:18 AM
Thanks!
Posted by: Julie | December 15, 2006 at 08:22 AM
And you got up while you were sick to do this for us! Happy Holidays to you as well. I am delighted you are feeling better!
Posted by: That Laurie | December 15, 2006 at 08:47 AM
I love "stuff the ends with polyfil and it will look like you meant it". That works with so many craft projects...costuming plays...everything! If you want two things to look good together (or a mistake to be taken as right), all you have to do is stand up straight and SAY it's right...and everyone will believe you!
Nice ornaments!
Posted by: Colleen | December 15, 2006 at 08:55 AM
what a great idea! You could use non-holiday patterns and leave them up year round!
Posted by: stacey | December 15, 2006 at 10:00 AM
Glad to hear that you're feeling better! Thank you so much for sharing your pattern. Oooh. The possibilities! :-D
Posted by: Laura | December 15, 2006 at 10:02 AM
Thanks so much for the pattern, Julia.
P.S. I would have signed up for your class. ;)
Posted by: susan | December 15, 2006 at 10:19 AM
Too cute! What a wonderful gift or addition to the Christmas tree!
Posted by: grumperina | December 15, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Thanks so much Julia! Christmas 2007, here I come!
Posted by: kim | December 15, 2006 at 11:36 AM
So sweet! But maybe for NEXT Christmas....
Posted by: Lynn in Tucson | December 15, 2006 at 12:27 PM
I love them. Now to find time to make them.
Posted by: Jessica | December 15, 2006 at 01:14 PM
I love these! A must do for next year. First, I have to learn how to fair aisle.
Posted by: Veronica | December 15, 2006 at 01:45 PM
Aren't these fun? Can't wait to try them out!! Thank you so much for taking the time to share this little bit of Christmas with us all.
Posted by: Tracy | December 15, 2006 at 02:37 PM
Wonderful!
Posted by: Julia | December 15, 2006 at 03:17 PM
That's adorable! :-) I love the little reindeer motif. So tiny, and yet it looks exactly right.
Posted by: Beth S. | December 15, 2006 at 03:24 PM
Uh boy -- now I've got last minute fair isle christmas balls to knit. (Actually, thank you - this looks like fun!)
Posted by: Cassie | December 16, 2006 at 07:48 AM
Bena and I came down with The Ick the day after Thanksgiving and were both bedridden for a full six days. And, no, it was not the flu.
Posted by: liz | December 16, 2006 at 06:32 PM
Thank you for the patterns! So very nice of you. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Jane (crzjane) | December 16, 2006 at 07:37 PM
Thanks for the patterns! They're sooo cool! :)
Posted by: Elina | December 17, 2006 at 09:58 AM