12 row buckeye using a #5 hook

I am surprised to find how much larger the final slingball is simply hecause I used a #5 hook.  Making the red/green buckeye from a few posts back I used a #4.  Live and learn, smaller weave mean smaller ball means a bit less mass equals less impact.

12 row buckeye perfect closing

The last ball closed up well with a four strand braid tied off and left dangling. On this one I made the same tail a little shorter tucking it in after tying and melting the ends.  This solves the closing problem I have had from the beginning.  It is easy, and beside the sealing stitch it even ties up the beginning strands from the two initial rings.  Can't wait to sling this.  And can't wait to make more.  I found some orange strand in the bazaar in Geyzing, Sikkim and confused the boy behind the counter wanting to buy all of it. 

12 row buckeye new closing

Decided a secure visible closing is preferable to a hidden weak one.  It may cause problems exiting the sling pocket.

red and green 12 row buckeye

I included four images this time.  The closing stitch, the final knot, everything ended with clean lines.  It's also more spherical than most of the piebalds.  Simply the best projectile yet.  Time to go slinging.

final loading

It's best to partially fill the ball before the connecting stitch.  Just before the  tie-off, you can stuff it tight one garbonzo bean at a time.  Stuff it as tight as possible because everything loosens after being chucked via the almighty sling.  We are not making tree doilies...these are meant to fly.

12 row finished

joined the two starts from the previous post.  This one is stuffed witb dried garbonzo beans.  They are little bigger.  The closing also went well here.  Also tue closing was mich cleaner than previous attempts.  Am thinking to make a few of these.  The larger stuffing allows for larger gaps in the stitches which make me want to try a more traditional pattern with decrease stitches on the top... with this material...it just may work.

single strand 12 row piebald

Returning to single strand was easy after getting jacked by a double strand in the face.  When your four year old can hurt you with a supposed non-lethal projectile it doesn't bode well for its use wth a sling.  Lets see how it turns out.  These are the two half-starts I will sew together with a sewing stitch.