Mark a Japanese Temari with 42 Centers
All of the marking is usually done with the same type of thread. The drawings below show different colors to make the instructions more clear to you. There are several different methods to end up with 42 centers on the ball. Choose a stitching path that you like and can remember. The diagrams show half the ball or 21 centers. Begin by marking a combination 10-division as accurately as you can.
Have a look at the geometry behind this division and the 32 multi-centered division.
Pin placement
1. Place pins in the middle of each of the long lines of a 10-part pentagon.
Method 1
1. Stitch a star inside a pentagon as shown. You will have to tack the intersections at the pins.
2. Stitch a star in another pentagon.
3. Stitch stars in the remaining pentagons and tack as before.
Method 2
1. Inside each pentagon, stitch a smaller pentagon as shown above in red.
2. Connect the corners of the new red pentagons with a large cross stitch. This is shown in green.
3. Complete the large cross stitches all over the ball as shown in blue above. This completes the 42 centers marking.
Method 3
This drawing shows a different way to connect the corners of the pentagons. Begin with step 1 above. Then stitch lines around the ball, following a path which goes from corner to corner. You will use less thread with this method.
Stitching in 42 centers after Completing the Marking
Stitch your design using the shapes as shown. You will find hexagons lined up flat side to flat side with the pentagons. The diagram above shows half the ball (21 centers).
This ball is marked with 42 centers. Click on it to see a larger photo.