By Amy Shimel

About the Magnets

This pattern has been a long time comming. I was trying to figure out how to explain all the testing I went through with all the different types of magnets. In an atempt to lower the cost of making these Katamari, I tested just about every type of 3/4″ round magnets that are available in the craft shops and discount stores. And I found that you really do get what you pay for.

I found there were two types of magnets out there. 50 in a package for $5 sounds like a great deal, but the magnets are not strong enough to pick stuff up through the yarn. I found the magnets that I used at Jo Ann’s. They are the Darice 3/4″ round magnets that come 8 to a pack. One pack is about $2.50 and you will need 3.5 packs. This sounds like quite a few magnets, but as you can see from the photos in this pattern, the Darice magnets are of the highest quality and will hold very strongly, even through the yarn. Here is what one of the packs looks like.

The Other Supplies

Besides 3.5 packs of magnets, you will also need:

Brightly colored yarn (a main body color, a center color and a band color) Caron Simply Soft Brites works fantasticaly for this pattern

Crochet hooks in size E and G

A tapestry needle

poly-fill for stuffing

Let’s Go!

This is a super easy and quick pattern. When I was making these for my shop, I could average one every 4 hours or so, depending on how many interuptions I had.

You will start with the E hook and your main body color. You will be crocheting as tight as you possibly can. We want this body to hold its shape when it is stuffed. If you crochet loosely, you will begin to see stuffing through the stitches and the weight of the magnets will pull the ball out of shape.

The ball will be worked in two halves and then sewn together and stuffed. It is much easier to get the magnets placed this way.

With your E hook, Make two halves:

Using the Magic Circle

R1 – 6 sc in the ring and pull the ring tight. Mark the last stitch ( 6 sc )

R2 – 2 sc in each stitch around ( 12 sc )

R3 – ( 1 sc, 2 sc in next stitch ) 6 times ( 18 sc )

R4 – ( 2 sc, 2 sc in next stitch ) 6 times ( 24 sc )

R5 – ( 3 sc, 2 sc in next stitch ) 6 times ( 30 sc )

R6 – ( 4 sc, 2 sc in next stitch ) 6 times ( 36 sc )

R7 – ( 5 sc, 2 sc in next stitch ) 6 times ( 42 sc )

R8 – ( 6 sc, 2 sc in next stitch ) 6 times ( 48 sc )

R9 – ( 7 sc, 2 sc in next stitch ) 6 times ( 54 sc )

R10-13 – sc in each sc around ( 54 sc)

Finish off and leave a tail about 24″ long 0n one half to use while sewing the two halves together.

Now switch to your G hook to make 14 Magnetic Nubs. You can work a little looser on the nubs, too tight and the magnets won’t fit.

With your center color:

R1 – 6 sc in the ring and pull the ring tight. Mark the last stitch ( 6 sc )

R2 – 2 sc in each stitch around ( 12 sc )

Switch to the band color

R3-4 – sc in each sc around

Switch to main body color

R5 – sc in each sc around and finish off. Leave a tail about 12″ long to use in sewing the nub to the body.

Now comes the fun part!

Assembling your Katamari

In each empty nub you will now put 2 magnets. Some Katamari I tried hard to make sure all the magnetic polls were facing the right way, others I just put them in randomly.

Sew one nub to the center of each half of your Katamari. Sew 4 nubs equaly spaced around the center nub. Please make sure that the two halves are mirror images of eachother. This is very important in the placement of the last 4 nubs.

Making very sure that the second row of magnets lines up with eachother, Sew the two halves together, leaving a space about 2″ long open. Stuff the ball VERY FIRMLY with Poly-Fil. You want to get as much stuffing inside without distorting the ball. The firmer it is, the easier it will be to play with. Finish sewing the last 2″ closed.

Along the Equitorial seam you will now place the last 4 nubs.

Open your junk drawer and roll the Katamari across!

Copyright 9-07

For personal use only. Not to be made for resale. Images are not to be used without previous consent. All Rights Reserved