An Ancient Artform
Temari, a folk art form that originated in China, was introduced to Japan five or six hundred years ago. Mothers and grandmothers made temari for children to use in kickball and handball games similar to the hackeysack games played around the world today.
Historically, they were constructed from the remnants of old kimonos. Pieces of silk fabric were wadded up to form a ball; then the wad was wrapped with strips of fabric. It is said that the balls were wrapped and stitched so tightly that they actually bounced.
As the functional stitching got more decorative and detailed, the balls displayed intricate embroidery and became an art and craft of the Japanese upper class and aristocracy. Noble women competed in creating more and more beautiful and intricate balls.
Temari represent a highly valued and cherished gift symbolizing deep friendship and loyalty. It is traditional for a mother to make a ball for her daughter as a New Year's gift. The brilliant colors and threads are symbolic of wishing the recipient a vibrant, happy life. Temari are also made to bring good fortune to the person who keeps them. Filled with each craftswoman's spirit, temari are believed to bestow happiness.
Scroll down to bottom of page to learn how Temari are made:
How temari are made
Each temari I make is an adventure in color and design.
I start by wrapping a 2 1/2- or 3-inch Styrofoam ball with yarn. Over the yarn, I wrap matching sewing thread. With metallic thread, I divide the ball into sections. Then, I stitch traditional patterns with names like “Kiku” or chrysanthemum, “Rose Garden,” “Wishing Papers” and “Spinning Top,” choosing complementary colors to accentuate the complexity of the designs.
Many temari designs are embroidered around two centers. More intricate designs are embroidered on temari that are divided into four, six, eight or ten centers. A simple temari created around two centers takes about four hours to complete. More elaborate designs require twice that amount of time.
These temari are available for sale. Prices range from $25 to $50. Please e-mail me if you are interested in purchasing one.