TemariKai Tool Kit - Translations from the Japanese
        
      
    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.  Japanese concepts often are pictorial (from the ancient Kanji sector of the Japanese writing system). However, 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 which helps understand and use them.  It's important to understand and remember that not every Japanese stitch or technique has a direct "Western" parallel or equivalent. Trying to force one can lead to more confusion than it attempts to solve. Seeing the meaning of the Japanese techniques 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.
For experienced stitchers, this enriches skill and understanding; beginners will find a solid base to build on. The opportunity to learn Japanese teachings and translation of technique opens up new windows of imagination and creativity, and greatly simplifies things!

        There is a basic set of stitches to be learned and mastered; along with basic mari making and divisions, they  get combined in amazing patterns in individual temari. Just like in, for example, knitting - you learn a small set of techniques and then you can combine them in an infinite number of designs or patterns. Temari patterns are written the same way - using the basics and then  more complex techniques are just combinations of these basics.  Unlike Western embroidery groupings where there can be huge 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, in any given Japanese Temari book.  The rest of each book is then devoted to illustrating how those basic stitches and divisions are combined into temari designs.

        So:  learn and develop mastery of the basics,
(which also allows you to communicate and discuss with other temari makers around the world)  and then devote yourself to having fun creating and displaying individual expression in your own temari. These basics have been passed down through generations for hundreds of years from the masters in Japan, as well as the "language" of Temari designs;  once you learn them you can express almost anything you want on a temari.  Learn the traditional, historical foundation basics by studying and replicating or/ practicing  given designs, then have fun making your own patterns.  Design is everyone's individual expression, so no design is ever "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 (photos show example of stitch application):

Chidori
JyougeDouji Mitusbane Sakasa
shitagake Tsumu uwagake
Chidori Kagari
English Equivalent, "Zig Zag" stitch
Jyouge Douji
Kagari
English Equivalent, "Concurrent N-S Stitching"
Mitsubane Kikkou
Kagari
English Equivalent,
"Three Leaf and Tortise"
Nejiri Mitsubane
Kagari

English Equivlaent,
"Twisted Three Leaves"
Sakasa Uwagake
Kagari
English
Equivalent
"Uwagake All-around/Inward"
Shitagake Chidori
Kagari

English Equivalent,
"Under Zig Zag" stitch
Tsumu Kagari
 English Equivalent,
"Spindle Stitch"
Uwagake Chidori
Kagari

English Equivalent,
"Over Zig Zag" stitch
Methods:



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


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Last updated 6/09 ©  2006 - 2009 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.