The Simple Art of Japanese Temari: 45 Traditional and Contemporary Designs [Paperback]

Japanese Temari is one of those crafts, that once you have discovered it, become absolutely obsessional. There is an enormous variety in this craft and you can start so simply and lead up to more complex designs. It's a great way to use thread to make balls of endless geometric designs. Whatever your skill level, this 50 page book has ideas for forty-five varied designs. The examples shown are outstanding and this book demystifies the whole process with clear photography and easy-to-follow instructions. If you are looking for a craft a little out of the ordinary, with numerous applications - try this book, I don't think you will be disappointed.-KarenPlatt.co.uk Learn how to create beautiful Japanese Temari embroideries using simple, traditional techniques. With very little in the way of materials and equipment are needed and there are full-colour diagrams and photographs throughout to explain the basic designs and techniques. Once you've mastered these, you'll be unable to resist creating beautiful Temari balls of your own to either keep or turn into jewellery, key rings and other decorative items. Traditionally old tights or stockings were used to make the balls because they were flexible and light. Nowadays we can use polystyrene as well as papier mache balls. The book includes clear step-by-step instructions, all the basic materials and equipment needed are fully explained and the craft is quick to master with very little initial outlay, making it a suitable book for beginners and experienced crafters alike.-Machine Knitting Monthly Temari is the ancient Japanese art of wrapping threads around a spherical object in intricate patterns. Not a lot of books exist on this unusual but beautiful and absorbing craft but here is one of them, originally published in France in 2007. I imagined that this craft, once the preserve of the wealthy classes would involve a lot of unusual and expensive items but fortunately I was wrong. All you need are some comparatively easy to obtain items such as polystyrene balls (the Japanese used old tights or stockings, which would be my own greener choice) and various yarns and threads and a few sewing notions such as pins. All the items needed are shown on two pages, then it is on with starting your first temari. Begin by wrapping wool around the ball to cover it and provide a ground to work on, divide it up into sections with thread and then choose one of the geometric patterns to decorate it with. If you have ever done any pincraft this will be easier, but there are plenty of photographs and clear drawn diagrams to follow. The page showing the simple divisions and what they looked like on the ball was very useful, as it gives a good idea of what you are going to end up with. The projects themselves are described in words, with an accompanying photo of the finished article and list of what you need. There are a lot of them, and at the start of each group of similar styles there is a page showing what sets this type of temari apart from the others. It would have been a good idea if at least one of the actual projects had been shown in photographed stages but this does not quite happen. This is a book to read through carefully first, then work through one project in easy stages. You will get there and be rewarded with an item that has many uses - perhaps the most obvious one being as a Christmas tree decoration. At least, that is what I am going to do with mine - -Myshelf.com Temari is one of the most traditional and oldest of crafts. Originally, the province of the wealthy Japanese social classes, it has evolved and is now a favourite with many. The art can be as simple or as complex as you care to make it and with today's wonderful threads, textiles and accessories, it can be traditional or contemporary. If you are completely new to the craft, there is information on the equipment and tools required (very few). The authors show the reader how to create these beautiful Japanese embroideries with simple to follow instructions and each is accompanied by step-by-step photography. There are also recipes which you can follow once you have picked up the basics. The main projects are inspiring and show the many facets of this fine art. If you want to try something different, this book is perfect.-Classic Stitches A Temari is a ball embroidered originally with silk threads although now cotton is mostly used. The technique is an ancient one from Japan. The book starts with a very short background. The next page tells you all the materials and supplies you need. Next comes very detailed and clear instructions as to how to make the basic ball with good diagrams and photos. You are also shown the embroidery stitches you will need. The rest of the book details the patterns you can make. They are all beautiful, of course, and the first ones are relatively simple but they do get really complicated towards the end. Each ball has a 'materials list' with the instruction, and diagrams are shown for every different technique. This book is really splendid and is a joy to look at. I really liked this book and having no experience of embroidery I still felt I could make the Temari. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to try something different even if you are a novice in embroidery!-Bead Society of Great Britain Te means 'hand' and mari means 'ball' and Tamri is the ancient Japanese art of ball embroidery, using geometric patterns. Originally using silk threads it was reserved for the wealthiest social classes but since the development of cotton it has evolved and become accessible to ordinary people in Asia and now sees a revival with many design ideas including jewellery, keyrings and curtain tie-backs. The designs glow with colour and incorporate complementary patterns, beads and metallic threads. Very little material and equipment is needed and all are described in full at the start of the book. There are full-colour diagrams and photographs throughout, and a step-by-step guide to the basic designs and techniques. The methods are quick to master making it suitable for beginners and experienced crafters alike. It commences with preparing a basic mari, how to divide it into sections and embroidery stitches involved, progressing on to the various methods and designs.-Sew Today

The geometric designs, glowing with colour and incorporating complementary patterns, are enhanced with beads and metallic threads, offering a rich source of inspiration to all embroiderers, whatever their skill levels. Very little in the way of materials and equipment are needed, and all are described in full at the start of the book, and there are full-colour diagrams and photographs throughout to explain, step-by-step, the basic designs and techniques. Once you have mastered these, you will be unable to resist creating beautiful temari balls of your own, and either keep them as works of art in their own right, or turn them into jewellery, keyrings and other decorative items. This title offers contemporary designs based on traditional techniques, and clear, step-by-step instructions for forty-five designs. It explains all the basic materials and equipment needed. It is quick to master with very little initial outlay, making it a suitable book for beginners and experienced crafters alike.