anatomy of a temari: part two

The Core

Temari are constructed from the center outwards. At the core you need something to form the basic round shape. Some people use a styrofoam ball since it's already round, however this isn't for me; I like to start from scratch. Instead I use rice hulls, which are used in beer and wine making as filtering material. I take part of a new, clean sock or stocking and fill it with rice hulls — the amount depends on the size I want for the final temari. The bell box is nestled in the center of the rice hulls, and the top of the sock or stocking is folded over. The next step is to form it — almost like a snowball — into as round a sphere as possible, and then wrap with yarn. I'll save that for part three.

Alternatives to rice hulls (which are traditional in Japan) are scraps of fabric, cotton or bamboo batting, even the left over scraps of embroidery thread that are saved when sewing the pattern on the temari. Dried lavender or other scented flowers or flower buds can be mixed with the rice hulls. Or catnip, should your cat be a temari connoisseur!

rice hulls

echo star — variation

A variation on the "echo star" pattern, using a slightly different arrangement and number of rows for the smallest star, and different colors: a midnight blue thread wrap; metallic silver for division and highlights; and embroidery in three shades of silver gray and three shades of violet. Circumference: just under 11.5 inches / 29 cm; diameter: just over 3.5 inches / 9 cm. Completed 15 August 2011 (no. 015).

Top (pole) view

Side (equator) view

3/4 view

wishing papers variation no. 2

Another variation on "Wishing Papers" — this time using a three-color palette (unlike "Monk's Moon"), though still with fewer threads per row (5 rather than 7). Four shades each of blue, brown-gray, and golden brown; metallic bronze thread for the division lines and highlights; and a base thread-wrap in ecru. Circumference: 10 inches / 25.5 cm; diameter: about 3 inches / 8 cm. Completed 14 August 2011 (no. 014).

Top (pole) view

3/4 view

Side (equator) view — this is called the obi

oliver twist no. 2

A second example of the pattern called "Oliver Twist." This time around I used a thread wrap of brown — coffee with just a bit of cream — and embroidery in a coffee-with-lots-and-lots-of-cream color. Circumference: approximately 9.25 inches / 23.5 cm; diameter: approximately 3 inches / 7.5 cm. Completed 13 August 2011 (no. 010).

echo star

so clear the sound
echoes to the Big Dipper
the fulling block*
—Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694)

Here is another pattern by Barbara Suess called Echo Star. While the colors are not my palette (the pattern comes as a kit with wrapping thread and embroidery thread, as did Morning Glory and Oliver Twist), the technique of layered stars is filled with possibilities. The Echo Star temari is just over 3.5 inches / 9 cm in diameter (11.25 inches / 29 cm in circumference); the other two are the smaller companion temari (3 inches / 7.5 cm in diameter). The two companion pieces focus on interlocked star and solid layered star embroidery techniques. Completed August 2011 (nos. 011, 012, 013).

*This is the haiku in the bell-box of the large temari. A fulling block (kinuta) was used to pound fabric and bedding to remove creases, making a distinctive sound.

Echo Star, top (pole view)

Echo Star, 3/4 view

Echo Star, side view

Echo Star, detail

Companion temari; interlocked star (left) and solid layered star (right)

Companion temari, another view

oliver twist

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.
—Charles Dickens

This is "Oliver Twist," a pattern by Barbara Suess. It's a deceptively simple pattern with the finished temari looking exquisitely complicated, a puzzle, Escher-like. It does require that the stitching be consistent and methodical, so it's good practice. Given the name, the quote above by Dickens for the bell box seemed apropos. 9.75 inches (25 cm) circumference; about 3 inches (10 cm) diameter. Completed 6 August 2011 (no. 009).

monk's moon

the moon so pure
a wandering monk carries it
across the sand
—Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694)

This haiku is in the bell box of the temari I'm naming "Monk's Moon." It's based on the "Wishing Papers" pattern. One color palette instead of three: dark coffee brown, light brown, tan, and very light tan; with borders in golden brown and metallic gold, and a thread wrap of golden pumpkin. It's not as bright (or orange) as the photos below (the photo above is better); actually, it looks like a pumpkin crème brûlée.

This is a good pattern to practice keeping the embroidery threads as flat as possible and not overly overlapping or shifting position/order where they gather at the obi (the center horizontal band, or the "equator" — more on this as the anatomy posts progress); as well as not making the embroidery wraps so tight that the temari "puffs up" in between wrapped areas. About 3.25 inches diameter. Completed 2 August 2011 (no. 008).

top view

side view