Two Strands Christmas Ball by Mary Ann Stephens

Two Strands Christmas Ball

By Mary Ann Stephens

Pattern overview:

Circularly-knit, ball-shaped ornament with symmetrical, stranded knitting motif repeated across all four panels.

Finished diameter = approximately 3” / 7.62 cm. I-cord hanging loop is shown, but the common crocheted chain

loop will work, too.

Suggested yarn:

Two contrasting 50g balls of worsted weight superwash wool (dark = A, light = B.)

GAUGE:

The gauge on the ball shown is about 22 stitches per 4” / 10cm.

The average ball band gauge for worsted weight wool yarn is

about 18 stitches per 4” / 10cm. It’s a good idea to knit the ball a

a bit tighter than the ball band gauge, so that the stuffing does

not show through. But, in this case, the gauge is not crucial.

What matters is that you’re happy with the resulting fabric and

that you keep your gauge consistent.

NEEDLES:

US #7 / 4.5mm, or whatever size needle you need to

obtain your preferred gauge. You can use double-pointed

needles (extra helpful, but not essential, for the I-cord hanging

loop), one long circular needle with the magic loop method, or

two circular needles.

NOTIONS:

Wool or polyester batting, to stuff the balls. I always

love wool, and it makes a nice, firm stuffing, especially for

balls that are meant to be decorative keepsakes. But, the ball

shown will hopefully be over-loved by messy little hands. So, I

filled it with common polyester batting, which will wash and

dry easily. It works just fine!

Tapestry needle(s)

Used in defining the height and shape of the ball; you’ll prefer

the longest tapestry needle for that purpose. Crochet hook,

only for optional hanger method, not shown here, but

commonly used.

ABBREVIATIONS:

A = background color

B = motif color

K = knit

K2tog = knit two stitches together as

one stitch.

M = make one, back = insert left

needle back-to-front under horizontal

strand between previous stitch and

next stitch; knit into front of stitch to

increase one stitch.

m = make one, front = insert left

needle front-to-back under horizontal

strand between previous stitch and

next stitch; knit into back of stitch to

increase one stitch.

rd(s) = round(s)

rem = remaining

rep = repeat

ssk = “slip, slip, knit” = slip one stitch

knitwise, slip another stitch knitwise,

knit both slipped stitches together as

one.

Two Strands Christmas Ball

by Mary Ann Stephens, page two

INSTRUCTIONS:

It’s a good idea to read through the entire pattern before starting to knit!

Using A, cast on 12 sts, leaving a yarn tail about 6”/15.2cm long. Distribute the sts evenly among your

needles. Work chart rows 1 through 20 as follows: Start at lower right corner, always read from right to

left; each square equals 1 st to be worked in color and method indicated in chart legend; 4 repeats of one

chart row equal 1 complete rd of knitting. Turn the ball inside out and weave in any loose ends. Turn the

ball right side out and knit the remainder of the chart. Do not bind off.

HANGER METHODS:

I-cord loop (shown): *K2tog, rep from * until only 3 sts rem. Align the 3 rem sts on one needle and work

the I-cord hanging loop as follows: Without turning work, * slide sts from left end of needle to right end of

needle; bring yarn around back of sts, from left to right; K 3 sts; rep from * until I-cord is about 2 ½ ”/6.4cm long, or

desired length; bring yarn around back of sts, knit all 3 sts together (1 st rem). Break off yarn, leaving a tail of about

8” / 20.3cm inches; run the loose end through the 1 rem st and tighten. OR…

Crocheted chain: Leaving about 39”/1 meter of yarn, break off yarn from work and run the cut end through each of

the rem 12 sts; tighten. Starting at the top of the ball, crochet a chain to desired length, leaving a yarn tail about 6”

/ 15.2cm long; run the cut end through your last chain st and tighten.

FINISHING THE BALL:

Stuff the ball: Push batting clumps in through the bottom opening to fill the ball. Thread the cast-on yarn end

through a tapestry needle; run the end through each of the sts around the bottom opening; tighten to close the

bottom hole; weave the loose end in place.

Secure the hanger: Thread the I-cord or crochet chain loose yarn end through a tapestry needle; run the threaded

needle through the base of the I-cord / crochet chain loop, through the center of the ball, out the bottom of the

ball; weave the loose end in place at the bottom of the ball, ensuring that it is pulled to the proper length to ensure

a nicely rounded ball - not droopy (too loose) and not squat (too tight)…juuuuust right!

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!

My Yarn Store

My Two Strands Ravelry Group

Two Strands Christmas Ball Chart: Two Strands Christmas Ball

by Mary Ann Stephens, page three

Legend:

| 27

26 Each square = 1 stitch

\ | 25

24 Work each square without a symbol as a knit stitch, using

\ | 23 the color shown:

\ | 21 Knit with A Knit with B

\ | 19 Work squares with symbols as follows, using color shown within

18 that square:

M = "Make one, back" = insert left needle BACK-to-front under

15 horizontal strand between previous stitch and next stitch;

14 knit into front of stitch to increase one stitch.

m = "Make one, front" = insert left needle FRONT-to-back under

11 horizontal strand between previous stitch and next stitch;

M m 10 knit into back of stitch to increase one stitch.

M m 8 | = K2tog, a right-leaning decrease = knit two stitches together,

7 using this stitch and the next stitch.

M m 6

5 \ = SSK, a left-leaning decrease = slip this stitch knitwise, slip

M m 4 the next stitch knitwise, knit both of these slipped stitches

3 together. (Alternatively, you may "K2tog through back loop".)

M 2

3 2 1

Stitch count per repeat after cast-on

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Stitch count per repeat by middle of ball