Knitty: Winter 2007

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by Carol Feller

I find myself fascinated with the geometric shapes that you can create with knitting. Using simple increases or decreases you can shape a ball of yarn into any form imaginable. I started out with a simple pentagon testing out different decrease types and before I knew it I had half of a dodecahedron! I kept knitting and soon I had the entire dodecahedron finished.

In my house full of little boys, balls are always in high demand (though they have a habit of getting lost or punctured). Needless to say this knitting project got the vote of approval from all. The project also makes a great “sampler” for trying out different decrease methods (although you can of course stick with just one type of decrease if you wish).

If you don’t want to make the complete ball, half of it (one pentagon surrounded by five others) makes a cute sunhat with the addition of I-cord ties. Using pentagons this size makes quite a large ball. If you want a smaller ball, for a faster project or for a smaller child, just make the pentagons smaller. Also, the addition of some crinkly plastic and a rattle would make this an ideal baby gift.

models: Caelen, Damien, Lucas, Kenny photos: Carol Feller

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Diameter: Approx. 8 inches

MATERIALS

Knit Picks Shine Worsted [60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal; 75yd/69m per 50g skein]; 2 skeins each color
[MC] #23810 Terracotta
[CC] #23800 Ebony

Recommended needle size:
1 40-inch US #6/4mm circular needle
If you prefer, double-point needles or two shorter circular needles may be used instead.

[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
2 safety pins
Stuffing
Bells or other noisemakers (Optional: May be added to center of ball to make a baby gift.)

GAUGE

20 sts/28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]

This project is worked using the Magic Loop technique. Directions for this technique can be found here and here.
If you prefer, double-point needles or two shorter circular needles may be used instead.

S2KP: Sl next 2 sts together, knitwise, as if working a [k2tog]; k next st, pass slipped sts, together, over st just knit. Forms a centered double decrease.

Pentagon A (Worked over 80 sts):
Round 1: [P16, place marker] 5 times.
Round 2: [K to 2 sts before marker, k2tog] 5 times. 75 sts.
Round 3: [P to 2 sts before marker, p2tog] 5 times. 70 sts.
Rounds 4-15: [K to 2 sts before marker, k2tog] 5 times. When Round 15 is complete, 10 sts remain.
Break yarn, draw through remaining sts and pull tight.

Pentagon B (Worked over 80 sts):
Round 1: [P16, place marker] 5 times.
Round 2: [S2KP, k to marker] 5 times. 70 sts.
Round 3: P all sts.
Even-Numbered Rounds 4-14: : [S2KP, k to next marker] 5 times. 10 sts when Round 14 is complete.
Odd-Numbered Rounds 5-15: K all sts.
When Round 15 is complete, break yarn, draw through remaining 10 sts and pull tight.

Pentagon C (Worked over 80 sts):
Round 1: [P16, place marker] 5 times.
Round 2: [K2tog, k to 2 sts before marker, ssk] 5 times. 70 sts.
Round 3: P all sts.
Even-Numbered Rounds 4-14: [K2tog, k to 2 sts before marker, ssk] 5 times.10 sts when Round 14 is complete.
Odd-Numbered Rounds 5-15: K all sts.
When Round 15 is complete, break yarn, draw through remaining 10 sts and pull tight.

Pentagon D (Worked over 80 sts):
Round 1: [P16, place marker] 5 times.
Round 2: [Ssk, k to marker] 5 times. 75 sts.
Round 3: [Ssp, p to marker] 5 times. 70 sts.
Rounds 4-15: [Ssk, k to marker] 5 times. When Round 15 is complete, 10 sts remain.
Break yarn, draw through remaining sts and pull tight.

Pentagon E (Worked over 80 sts):
Round 1: [P16, place marker] 5 times.
Round 2: [Ssk, k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog] 5 times. 70 sts.
Round 3: P all sts.
Even-Numbered Rounds 4-14: [K2tog, k to 2 sts before marker, ssk] 5 times.10 sts when Round 14 is complete.
Odd-Numbered Rounds 5-15: K all sts.
When Round 15 is complete, break yarn, draw through remaining 10 sts and pull tight.

DIRECTIONS

Pentagon A

Pentagon B

Pentagon C

Pentagon D

Pentagon E

FIRST HALF

First Pentagon:
Using MC, CO 80 sts. Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon A, using in colors as follows:
Rounds 1-4: MC
Rounds 5-6: CC
Rounds 7-8: MC
Rounds 9-10: CC
Rounds 11-15: MC

Second Pentagon:
Using CC, CO 64 sts; continuing from these sts, pick up and k 16 sts along one edge of first pentagon. Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon B, working colors as follows:
Rounds 1-4: CC
Rounds 5-6: MC
Rounds 7-8: CC
Rounds 9-10: MC
Rounds 11-15: CC

Third Pentagon:
Using CC, CO 48 sts; continuing from these sts, pick up and k 32 sts along adjacent edges of first and second pentagons (16 sts from each pentagon).

Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon A, working colors as for second pentagon.

Fourth Pentagon:
Using CC, CO 48 sts; continuing from these sts, pick up and k 32 sts along adjacent edges of first and third pentagons (16 sts from each pentagon). Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon C, working colors as for second pentagon.

Fifth Pentagon:
Using CC, CO 48 sts; continuing from these sts, pick up and k 32 sts along adjacent edges of first and fourth pentagons (16 sts from each pentagon). Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon D, working colors as for second pentagon.

Sixth Pentagon:
Using CC, CO 32 sts; continuing from these sts, pick up and k 48 sts along adjacent edges of second, first and fifth pentagons (16 sts from each pentagon). Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon E, working colors as for second pentagon. The first half of the ball is complete.

Seventh Pentagon:
Using MC, CO 48 sts; continuing from these sts, pick up and k 32 sts along adjacent edges of two pentagons from the first half of the ball (16 sts from each pentagon). Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon A, working colors as for first pentagon.

Eighth Pentagon:
Using MC, CO 32 sts; continuing from these sts, pick up and k 48 sts along adjacent edges of seventh pentagon, and two pentagons from the first half of the ball (16 sts from each pentagon). Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon B, working colors as for first pentagon.

Ninth Pentagon:
Using MC, CO 32 sts; continuing from these sts, pick up and k 48 sts along adjacent edges of eighth pentagon, and two pentagons from the first half of the ball (16 sts from each pentagon). Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon C, working colors as for first pentagon.

Tenth Pentagon:
Using MC, CO 32 sts; continuing from these sts, pick up and k 48 sts along adjacent edges of ninth pentagon, and two pentagons from the first half of the ball (16 sts from each pentagon). Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon D, working colors as for first pentagon.

Eleventh Pentagon:
Using MC, CO 16 sts; continuing from these sts, pick up and k 64 sts along adjacent edges of tenth pentagon, two pentagons from the first half of the ball, and seventh pentagon (16 sts from each pentagon). Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon E, working colors as for first pentagon.

Before working last pentagon, turn ball inside out and weave in all ends. Do so in such a way that the fabric will not be distorted when it is stretched by the stuffing.
Note: As written, ball is stuffed before last pentagon is completed. If you are uncomfortable working this way, cast on for one edge of the last pentagon instead of picking up sts for all edges, stuff the ball after knitting is complete, then sew the opening closed.

Twelfth Pentagon:
Using CC, pick up and k 80 sts along edges of seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh pentagons (16 sts from each pentagon). Join to begin working in the round and work Pentagon B, working colors as for second pentagon. After working the first few rounds of this pentagon, stuff the ball most of the way. If adding noisemakers, do so at this point. When pentagon is almost complete, finish stuffing the ball.

FINISHING

Weave in the remaining end, and the ball is complete!

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

As the mother of four boys, Carol has plenty of experience in knitting for little boys. Knitting keeps her sane during long winter nights in Ireland and reminds her that there is life after children go to bed!