This cute little Christmas ball goes with the Stella Nova stocking pattern. My love of stranded knitting really took off with knitting Christmas balls (or Julekuler) and when I finished the stocking, I knew that it needed a buddy.

I’ll be knitting one of these to go with each stocking and I can see those becoming an annual tradition for my nieces and nephews - my little stars - the inspiration behind both projects.

This pattern is for a stranded colour work heirloom quality Christmas ball. It is worked bottom up and techniques include: circular cast on, knitting in the round, stranded colour work, increasing and decreasing, and crochet chain.

The pattern includes: detailed instructions; charts and written instructions for the stranded designs; and an appendix with notes and tips on techniques used, yarn selection and substitution.

Each ball requires 2 colours of contrasting yarn and only takes about 20-30 yards total. I recommend having 15 yards of each to be safe. Gauge is not important as the item is not worn. The pattern can be worked in heavier yarn resulting in a larger ball.