Here is a pattern for some practice Poi. I just started spinning poi and I didn't want to wait for the poi I ordered to arrive. If you want to learn more about Poi I suggest checking out this website.
For this pattern you will need about 200 yards of worsted weight yarn. I used caron simply soft (to be honest I had no idea how this pattern was going to turn out and I didn't care if I had to throw the yarn away) from my stash monster and a H sized crochet hook.
Poi Pattern
Handle and String
Chain 80 stitches (you will need to add more stitches if a 20 stitch loop is not big enough for your hands)
1st row: HDC (half double crochet) in 20th chain from hook, creating a loop where you will place your fingers later. HDC in each of the next 50 stitches leaving a tail of 10 sts left.
Break yarn
Poi Ball
You may want to mark your rows with a stitch marker. Just mark the first stitch of each round so you know where the next row starts.
Chain 4 stitches join to create a loop
Row 1: HDC into the loop 12 times
Row 2: HDC into first stitch to join the round, *2 HDC into the next stitch, 1 HDC into next stitch* repeat to the end of row (18 sts total)
Row 3: HDC into the first stitch and each stitch after (18 sts total)
Row 4: Repeat Row 2 (26 sts total)
Row 5: Repeat Row 3 (26 sts total)
Rows 6 & 7: Repeat the last two rows once more (39 sts total)
Row 8: HDC in each stitch to the end
Row 9: Repeat row 8
Row 10: HDC in first stitch, *Decrease 1 stitch by HDC the next two sts together, HDC into next stitch* repeat to end of row (26 sts total)
Row 11: HDC into the first stitch and each stitch after (26 sts total)
Row 12, 13, 14 & 15: Repeat the last two rows two times more (12 sts total)
Break yarn.
Stuffing the Poi. I stuffed my poi with some old jersey fabric to give it weight but make it soft enough so it doesn't hurt when I get whacked. I would not suggest poly fill because it is not heavy enough.
Once the poi have been stuffed attach the handle to the ball by taking the tail of 10 chain stitches and threading them through the open end of the ball. Draw through closing the opening and fasten with a good knot. Weave in the ends and voila.
I'm not the best crocheter and I'm sure I've messed up some of the terminology please feel free to post any errors or corrections you may find in the comments and I will correct my mistakes.
Here's a little video of the poi in action. Please ignore my "I'm concentrating" face.
4 comments:
You woman, never fail to amaze me. Seriously what will you get into next? I can't wait to see!
Necia
Totally cool. I never knew this art existed, and after checking out the website, I am really jazzed by the fusion of traditional art and new music. Culture evolving!
Those look really good except for 2 things. One, your "chains" look way too long. The way my teacher taught me was to hold the ball in my hand and the handle should just barely reach to your armpit, even stretched all the way. When the chains are too long it makes it harder than it needs to be to do most moves. And when the chains stretch it also makes it harder to do the moves (I use ball chain for ALL of my poi, except my sock poi, because it is less likely to tangle and doesn't stretch - a cheap locale for that would be ACE, they sell REALLY wide ball chain, I think it is 5/8 inch or similar for like .25/foot)
Good job on the balls, though...I wish I had the motivation to learn to follow a crochet pattern. I can...um...make a really long chain that goes around my house...If pressed I could double it back on itself, but mostly I end up losing stitches and crocheting a triangle...I have no idea what the abbreviations mean, so can't follow the pattern
Oh, I hope you don't think I'm being critical, that's sooo not my intention.
Sanity (I forgot my password, and haven't been successful in resetting it)
Those look really good except for 2 things. One, your "chains" look way too long. The way my teacher taught me was to hold the ball in my hand and the handle should just barely reach to your armpit, even stretched all the way. When the chains are too long it makes it harder than it needs to be to do most moves. And when the chains stretch it also makes it harder to do the moves (I use ball chain for ALL of my poi, except my sock poi, because it is less likely to tangle and doesn't stretch - a cheap locale for that would be ACE, they sell REALLY wide ball chain, I think it is 5/8 inch or similar for like .25/foot)
Good job on the balls, though...I wish I had the motivation to learn to follow a crochet pattern. I can...um...make a really long chain that goes around my house...If pressed I could double it back on itself, but mostly I end up losing stitches and crocheting a triangle...I have no idea what the abbreviations mean, so can't follow the pattern
Oh, I hope you don't think I'm being critical, that's sooo not my intention.
Sanity (I forgot my password, and haven't been successful in resetting it)
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