Bowling Ball Globe Knot Mandrel

This bowling ball globe knot mandrel has been used to create 2 bowling ball globe knots. This is an extremely fun project as you get to see on a massive scale your decorative knot cover a giant sphere. 

Instructions: 
1.

1. Print at .2 or .24mm layer height. This is a long one. 

2. Get 16x 1/4" x 2.5" machine screws. These go in your pin labels (1 through 16)

3. Get your rope. I recommend 6x 25ft of 1/2" or 3/8" rope. This will give you enough rope at the end of the globe knot to braid a nice handle.

4. Run 18' or so of your rope from inside the cylinder through the large hole between 16 and 12. Leave 7ft inside the mandrel. Wrap it in a rubber band or something to keep it out of the way. Use a large binder clip (or close pin or whatever) to clamp the rope to the mandrel

5. Take your lead around the center up to pin 1 first, then follow the signs on the mandrel in sequential order.

6. When you see U and O, this means "Under" and "Over". U O U O means as you go to the next pin, and you cross your rope, you're going to go Under, then Over, then Under, then Over. Do the same for the other combinations of U and O

7. Once you get to 16, you're going to finish by taking it back towards pin 1 and go Under 2 then wrap that bit up and put it with the 7" you have inside the mandrel. 

8. Take your next 25" of rope and double up your first run. Do this 3 or 4 times on this mandrel

9. Once you're done on the mandrel, unscrew your pins and gently slide the rope off and onto the bowling ball

10. Now even out your "facets" so it covers it as evenly as possible and take out the slack. Try to use this opportunity to even out your leads and ends. This will help when you get to the braiding bit.

11. When you get to the braiding bit, go download my Kumihimo Disk so you can get you a nice braid on the end of the bowling ball!