TemariKai Tool Kit

           TemariKai Tool Kit focuses on basic stitches, techniques and methods. It offers a presentation and concise reference by sharing the direct translations and lessons from Japanese teachers and books (with great thanks to those who are offering this help and guidance), as we are able to collect and learn them. For experienced stitchers, this enriches skill and understanding; beginners will find a solid base to build on. The opportunity to learn from Japanese teachings and translation of technique opens up new windows of imagination and creativity, and greatly simplifies things!

           Japanese stitch names may sound strange to the Western ear, and make little sense at first to the Western mind, but they are the heritage and basis of the craft. Remember that  Japanese concepts often are pictorial (from the ancient Kanji sector of the Japanese writing system) but more importantly, the Japanese terms are very direct and simple ideas, which makes understanding them (even in English!) much easier. Temari stitches generally have Japanese names indicating how the thread is positioned and relate to each other; this carries through in translation. This makes them very easy to learn and understand, and makes combining them in designs an easy accomplishment.  It's also important to realize and remember that not every Japanese stitch or technique has a direct "Western" parallel or equivalent... and it can lead to more confusion than not to try to "force" one. Seeing the meaning of the Japanese technqiues is easy and clear and does not require you to "learn to speak Japanese". It DOES help you see and understand how to stitch Temari.

        There are truly few actual stitches that need to be learned and mastered; they are part of a small set of tools (along with divisions and several other methods) that get combined in amazing patterns in individual temari. Temari patterns are written using these basics;  more complex techniques are just combinations of these basics. These combined techniques can be as many as there are different temari designs, and generally are part of individual patterns rather than being a long list of more things to learn. Unlike Western embroidery groupings where there can be lists of stitches, categories of stitches, variations of stitches, etc... (think of the books, sometimes inches thick, that "define" many Western types of embroidery techniques), the standard Japanese Temari methods are routinely contained in no more than a few pages, repeated in each Japanese book. The rest of each book is then devoted to illustrating how those basic stitches and divisions are combined into temari designs.

        If we take our cues from both the historial and contemporary methods of learning Temari in Japan, the path would be: learn and develop mastery of the basics, (which are defined, taught and adhered to rigorously), and then devote yourself to having fun creating and displaying individual expression in your own temari. The basics have been passed down through generations for hundreds of years from the masters in Japan, and the "lanugage" of Temari designs;  once you learn them you can express almost anything you want on a temari. The Japanese Temari books are devoted far and large to sharing temari designs and patterns. Learn the traditional, historical foundation basics by studying and replicating or/ practicing  those designs, then have fun making your own designs. Design is everyone's individual expression, so no design is every "wrong". 
       

Temari Kai Took Kit Contents:  (most pages include PDF formats, and also media clip "flashcards" to hear the Japanese pronunciation of terms)

General:

Stitches:

Methods:



TemariKai Tool Kit will continue to grow with more pages of Japanese translation foundations of the craft.

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Last updated 7/07 ©  2006, 2007 G.Thompson, all rights reserved. You are welcome to download one copy of this information for personal, non-profit use. Please contact and request for all other uses.