Earth Day project!

Global Ball


Here's a quickie project for stashed yarn, the Earth is meant to be shared on any day, I just happened to make this one up on EARTH DAY!

Yarns: Stashed is best to bust! I used two light DK weight yarns doubled, and Antarctica and Greenland were embroidered using Patons Brilliant silver yarn. The remaining continents and countries were embroidered using Mountain Colors Bearfoot yarn, and the oceans were a handspun farm-purchased wool from my travels in Peru.
Needles: size 6 (set of five double point needles)
Other Necessary Notions: tapestry needle, scissors, fiberfill stuffing, a world map ( Google) and patience.
Gauge: not that important, but should be tight enough that stuffing doesn't poke out.

Knit the world- Cast on 42 stitches using whatever color will become your oceans, evenly distributing the stitches onto three needles (14,14,14) before joining. Knit ten rounds.
Begin decreases:
*K5,K2tog; repeat from * around (36 stitches)
Knit one round
*K4,K2tog; repeat from * around (30 stitches)
Knit one round
*K3,K2tog; repeat from * around (24 stitches)
Knit one round
*K2,K2tog; repeat from * around (18 stitches)
Knit one round
*K1,K2tog; repeat from * around (12 stitches)
Knit one round
K2tog all the way around (6 stitches)
cut yarn and thread through remaining 6 stitches, gather up on inside and fasten. (It looks like a very small hat at this point)

This is where I began embroidering, beginning with Antarctica and working my way north-you will want to start at the bottom, and use your judgment for placing the continents. If you can think spatially of the three needles as three sections, one is for South and North America, the second is for Africa and Europe, the third is for Australia and Asia.

Once you have finished embroidering the lower/Southern hemisphere continents, start at the cast on edge, pick up and knit 42 stitches. Knit 10 rounds
Continue embroidering as you go, because once you begin the decreases it becomes harder to fit your hand and the darning needle into the opening.Also, this is the best time to stuff your world with the fiberfill, and continue rounding off the top as you decrease.
Begin decreases:
*K5,K2tog; repeat from * around (36 stitches)
Knit one round
*K4,K2tog; repeat from * around (30 stitches)
Knit one round
*K3,K2tog; repeat from * around (24 stitches)
Knit one round
*K2,K2tog; repeat from * around (18 stitches)
Knit one round
*K1,K2tog; repeat from * around (12 stitches)
Knit one round
K2tog all the way around (6 stitches)
cut yarn and thread through remaining 6 stitches, gather up on inside and fasten.

Enjoy your world, cherish our world!