Spiral Mikado Set

Spiral Mikado Set

Mikado is a variation on the game Pick-Up-Sticks, a classic test of skill and dexterity that's devilish in its simplicity. We've stuck with the traditional color hierarchy, but added a barbershop twist. The spirals are created by masking and coloring using paint pens; a slightly different design for every color to make for a dazzling set.

This game goes by many names, from Spillikins to Jackstraws. Having sprung up both in Japan and amongst the Haida (an indigenous people of British Columbia, Canada and Alaska), the game then travelled back to the US via Hungary. It has been played across the world over hundreds (if not thousands) of years. As such, there are a great many variations, versions and twists, so you can make up your own or try the following to get started:

HOW TO PLAY:
  • Hold the bunch of 41 sticks together vertically on a surface and let go so they fall into a heap.
  • Each player takes it in turns to pick up a specified color stick. The task is to remove the sticks one at a time without disturbing any others.
  • The blue stick, or Mikado, is the most important and (once the player has at least one stick of all the other colors) may be used to help pick up the other sticks. If any other stick is moved in this process, the player loses their turn.
  • The remaining players continue to pick up sticks until there are none left.
  • The player who manages to pick up a red stick, an orange stick, a green stick and a yellow/black stick in this order, has the right to double their respective points.

Any player who commits one of the following will lose their turn and will not be able to count points:
  • Picks up the Mikado without having at least one stick of each color.
  • Uses a stick that is not the Mikado to move or pick up a stick.

YOU'LL NEED:
  • 41 wood dowels - 3/16" diameter
  • Pencil sharpener
  • Masking tape
  • Precision knife and cutting mat (optional)
  • Ruler
  • Paint pens - blue, yellow, black, orange, green and red
STEP ONE
STEP ONE

Using the pencil sharpener, sharpen both ends of each of the 41 dowels.
STEP TWO
STEP TWO

Cut a piece of masking tape, no longer than your ruler, and stick it to the cutting mat. Align the ruler to the long edge of the tape and cut thin strips (any thickness up 1/5" (between 1mm and 5mm) along its length. You will need quite a few, so cut several lengths to start with, then make more as needed. Also tear some short pieces of 1/2" (12mm tape) so you have it ready.
STEP THREE (MIKADO)
STEP THREE (MIKADO)

Next, mask off the areas of the dowels that are not going to be colored in with paint markers. There are five types of dowels, each with a different color and pattern.
Blue x 1 - Mark 3/4" (20mm) from both points of the dowel with pencil. Use pieces of 1/2" (12mm) tape to mask outside of the marks. Follow Steps Eight and Nine using the blue pen.
STEP FOUR (MANDARIN)
STEP FOUR (MANDARIN)

Yellow and black x 5 - Mark 20mm from both points with pencil and use 3/4" (12mm) tape to mask outside of these lines. Next, mark 100mm in from both ends and use the 3/4" (12mm) tape to mask inside of these lines. Follow Steps Eight and Nine using the black pen for the middle and the yellow for both ends.
STEP FIVE (BONZEN)
STEP FIVE (BONZEN)

Orange x 5 - Mark 3/4" (20mm) from both points with pencil and use 1/2" (12mm) tape to mask outside of these lines. Mark 2" (60mm) from both points and mask inside of the lines. Mark 4-1/4" (110mm) from both points and mask inside of the lines. Follow Steps Eight and Nine using the orange pen.
STEP SIX (SAMURAI)
STEP SIX (SAMURAI)

Green x 15 - Mark 3/4" (20mm) from both points with pencil and use 1/2" (12mm) tape to mask outside of the lines. Mark 4" (100mm) from both points and mask outside of the lines. Follow Steps Eight and Nine using the green pen.
STEP SEVEN (KULI)
STEP SEVEN (KULI)

Red x 15 - Mark 3/4" (20mm) from both points with pencil and use 1/2" (12mm) tape to mask outside of the lines. Mark 5" (133mm) from the right end of the dowel and mask on the right (inside) of the line. Follow Steps Eight and Nine using the red pen.
STEP EIGHT
STEP EIGHT

Apply the thin strips of masking tape in a spiral over the full length of the stick. Feel free to play and elaborate on the pattern!
STEP NINE
STEP NINE

Color in-between the masking tape using the paint markers to create the pattern.
STEP TEN
STEP TEN

After all dowels are colored in and dry you can remove all the masking tape and play!
STEP ELEVEN
STEP ELEVEN

A full set!

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