Temari balls are a folk art form that originated in China and was introduced to Japan around the 7th century A.D. "Temari" means "hand ball" in Japanese.
Historically, temari were constructed from the remnants of old kimonos. Pieces of silk fabric would be wadded up to form a ball, and then the wad would be wrapped with strips of fabric. As time passed, traditional temari became an art, with the functional stitching becoming more decorative and detailed, until the balls displayed intricate embroidery.
Temari are highly valued and cherished gifts, symbolizing deep friendship and loyalty. Also, the brilliant colors and threads used are symbolic of wishing the recipient a brilliant and happy life.
Instructable on how to make a temari ball.
Photo via
Reddit.
Hey, that's one of my hobbies! There's a whole series of temari made by this lady here: http://www.demilked.com/92-year-old-woman-embroided-japanese-temari-balls/ The ones with tight geometric patterns covering the surface of the ball (like the one you posted) are not only some of the most difficult patterns I've ever seen, they're among the most precisely executed as well. I am in awe.
ReplyDeleteThe one in the instructable is a popular design that's actually quite a bit easier to make than it looks. Don't be intimidated by the result, give it a try! And go crazy with the colors, and the proportions, and the number of points, and anything else you can think of. If you like textile arts that call for both precision and creativity this is an awesome hobby.
And there's hundreds more here, all made by this one lady: https://secure.flickr.com/photos/nanaakua/sets/72157617114284128/
DeleteGood heavens, there goes my productivity for today.