Temari is the ancient art of embroidering the surface of a thread wrapped ball. This technique dates back many centuries, to a time when these balls were created by servants of Japan’s Royal Court, and given as gifts on special occasions.
Originally the balls were constructed of sweet-smelling herbs held together by strands of silk. From this humble beginning, the patterns gradually became more and more complex. Competition among the women of the Samurai class expanded the selection of materials used for stitching to include a wide range of silks and metals.
The women of the peasant classes also adapted the technique. In contrast to the stitched ball of the ruling class, the threads for the decorated ball of the peasants were wrapped in place, and only the final band was actually stitched to hold the rest of the bands in place. The peasant women produced their balls from the bits and pieces of fibers available to them, often unraveling worn-out garments for specific colors needed. The knots and joinings in the thread forced a different process to be developed to complete the ball.
In Japan, the Temari designs are given specific names, and traditionally known color combinations have been used to designate distinct regions or families. Contemporary artists have expanded this art to reflect the many inspirations of nature - flowers, insects, animals, birds, etc. A much wider diversity of decorative fibers is used in the embroidery processes today. Quilters have also begun to experiment in discovering ways to adapt their designs to a three-dimensional form. Almost all the designs are based on geometric measurements which, when combined with the many fibers and colors available, make the number of designs unlimited.
JAPANESE TEMARI
On the "SHOP - Techniques of " tab look for complete instructions for this technique, and on the "Inspired by" tab, several designs using this technique.