5 Things to Know About Japanese Temari Balls

by Cath Lealand | CRAFT

Once a children’s plaything, Japanese temari balls have become a carefully crafted item of beauty, charming many with their elaborate woven designs.

With a history of well over a thousand years, the colorful balls of geometric thread designs have remained an icon of childhood, femininity and luck, and are still enjoyed by collectors and craftspeople alike.

Discover the origins of temari, how they are made, what they are used for, as well as a number of places to buy your own. See for yourself that temari are a lot more than your average ball of yarn!

1. What are Temari?

Much like many other Japanese arts, the history of temari is long, and often full of folklore! The word temari is rather simple, combining the characters te (手), meaning hand, and mari (鞠 or 毬), a ball.

Young Woman Making a Temari Ball, early 20th Century, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The name is believed to have come from kemari, a kick ball, brought over from China in the Yamato period, over 1300 years ago. Unlike the leather kemari, the softer, more feminine temari was originally made from silk scraps and was played with inside like a hacky-sack using one’s hands and elbows. The popularity of temari grew during the Edo period, from the 17th to 19th centuries. The development of cotton thread production in Japan at this time resulted in the we recognise today today. Also named ito-mari (糸鞠, thread balls), these soft balls wrapped in intricate geometric designs of cotton and silk threads lifted the position of temari from a mere toy to a work of art.

Temari Floral Long Kimono Robe - at Japan Objects Store

Traditionally temari balls were gifted to children on New Year’s day to wish for children's happiness. In modern Japan, temari are a symbol of both New Year and young femininity, and are a common motif on both children’s and young women’s kimono. It is also customary to give a temari-patterned kimono to a bride as a good-luck charm, in the hope that she will be able to build a happy family.

These days, temari are often seen as a purely decorative object for the home, but some modern temari can be found as keychains, phone straps, and even incorporated into jewelry pieces.

The attraction of temari lies in the transformation of a simple thread into a complex, beautiful design. From a simple sphere, a myriad of intricate geometric shapes come to life, allowing the viewer to contemplate its construction.

2. How are Temari Made?

Once an at-home craft for mothers, temari has become a popular art form, with techniques honed by master craftspeople over decades of work. However, do not let that faze you, as temari all follow three main points of construction that even a beginner can accomplish with a little practice. Take a look at the video above from Sanuki Kagari Temari for some essential pointers.

The 3 mains points of temari construction are:

1. Laying the foundation

2. Dividing the surface

3. Making the pattern

There are a number of materials to form the base of the temari. Traditionally bundled scraps of fabric or pouches of rice husk were used, but modern temari makers opt for plastic or styrofoam balls. The base of the temari is wrapped in a white or gray thread until a consistent, smooth ball shape of the desired size is achieved.

The ball is divided into sections, marked with pins at first. Divisions of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or even up to 16 are common, with additional pins marking the top, bottom and ‘equator’ of the ball, much like a globe. Guide threads are wrapped from pin to pin, and serve as a marker for the colored threads, directing the temari artist like a map.

© Minamoto Tadayuki, Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

Colored thread, of either cotton or silk, is wound around and between the pins and guide threads in a specific formation to create a variety of geometric designs. Many designs, particularly simpler diamond or star shapes, can be achieved just through careful winding of the thread. Sewing needles are used for more intricate designs, allowing the artist to weave one thread through another layer. Occasionally smaller designs are embroidered onto specific areas of the temari. The calculated winding of the thread resembles the carefully ordered weaving of friendship bracelets.

Some temari may be given a tassel, or be finished with a bow-like cord for decorative purposes.

3. How to Make Your Own Temari

Whilst many temari designs can only be achieved with years of practice, simpler temari can be made in the comfort of your own home, often with items you may already have on hand.

The simplest temari can be made with just a Styrofoam ball, yarn, and embroidery or sewing thread in your desired colors. Dressmakers pins and a sewing needle will also come in handy.

Begin by completely wrapping the Styrofoam ball in the yarn. Try to keep the wrapping as even as possible, avoiding the yarn building up in one area. When the ball is completely covered, tuck the loose end of the yard into the ball.

Repeat this wrapping process, but with an embroidery or sewing thread. This will become the base color of the temari. The thread is much thinner than yarn, so this step will take a lot longer to complete than the first. Keep the thread somewhat tight, and wind until the yarn is covered with an even thread layer.

Next is the all-important division of the ball. The number of the divisions will depend on the desired design, but divisions of 4, 6 or 8 are simple enough for first-timers. Using dressmakers pins, mark the top and bottom points of the temari, as well as pins around the ball’s ‘equator’. Again, the number of pins will correspond to the division of the ball.

Use another sewing or embroidery thread to create guidelines, marking the division lines as well as the equator.

Once the groundwork has been set, the time has come to stitch in the design. Working from guideline to guideline, and stitching above and below other lines, the design will come out from the tangle of yarn and thread.

When it comes to making your own temari, there are a number of design patterns available online and in print that you can follow.

TemariKai offers a variety of different temari design patterns, for both beginners and more advanced makers.

There are also a number of Youtube videos that guide you through the process step-by-step, such as FUJIX’s “Basics of How to Make Temari”, and Barbara B. Suess’ video explaining the marking process for a “8-division temari”.

Craft-minded readers might also want to try their hand at Japanese crochet: All You Need to Know About Amigurumi!

4. What Types of Temari Designs are There?

When it comes to what kind of temari designs are on offer, the options are almost endless. There are over 200 officially recorded traditional temari patterns, but with a simple color change, or adding an extra division, a completed temari can take on a totally different appearance.

Many temari use classic Japanese seasonal motifs, such as sakura for the spring, tortoise-shell patterns to ward off evil, or colors with traditional significance- such as red and gold for luck and prosperity.

A popular design is the futatsu giku, or ‘double chrysanthemum’; a design of two chrysanthemums dividing the temari into two halves. The hime temari, literally the princess temari, uses over 100 different colored silk threads to achieve its brightly colored and lustrous design.

Some temari embrace other traditional Japanese crafts, such as using threads dyed with aoi-zome, otherwise known as Japanese indigo. These monochromatic temari take advantage of the wide range of blue tones that the indigo dye can produce. Find out more in 6 Things You Should Know About Japanese Indigo Dye.

Many modern temari artists break from the conventional Japanese motifs and designs. Temari made for the winter season may use Christmas holly or candy cane stripes, whilst bright neon colors make for a more modern take on the traditional craft. Some artists may opt to abandon colors entirely, using a limited palette or black and white for a somewhat minimalist temari.

Whilst temari often have seasonal significance through their use of seasonal flowers and colour, the number of divisions on the ball are also important. A temari divided into 12 sections is a good-luck charm, bringing wealth and prosperity.

When it comes to making your own temari, there are a number of design patterns available online and in print that you can follow.

5. Where to Buy Temari?

There are a number options when it comes to getting your own temari ball, for those who want to have their own hand at making one, or those who’d rather leave it to the professional temari makers.

If you want a piece of fine temari craftsmanship, Sanuki Kagari Temari, located in Kagawa prefecture, brings you temari that can only be described as fine art. Their intricate designs in a number of colors, patterns and sizes are stunning.

TEMARICIOUS is your one-stop specialty shop for all things temari. Located in West Tokyo’s Nishi-Okubo, TEMARICIOUS stocks a wide range of naturally dyed threads, temari tools, English language kits and books, as well as completed temari balls ready to be put on display. They also hold temari making workshops in-store, in both Japanese and English. TEMARICIOUS’ threads and kits can also be found in select stores around the world.

For those who want to have their own hand at making temari balls, Diana Vandervoort’s TEMARI is for you. As the writer of the first book about temari in English, Vandervoort provides comprehensive information on the tools and materials required to make temari in English. The online shop offers a number of books, instructional DVDs and individual patterns by Vandervoort to start you on your way to becoming a temari pro.