TemariKai Temari Tool Kit

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:

Stitch Basics - the Little Things - A collection of tips and techniques for clear, crisp stitch and design execution
Original Designs - JTA requirements and what is "original?"

Stitches (photos show example of stitch application):


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:

Multiple Centers from 10 Combination Division - starting with 10 Combination standard division, add extra marking lines for pentagon/hexagon sets of centers
Multiple Centers from 8 Combination Division - starting with 8 Combination standard division, add extra marking lines for square/hexagon sets of centers

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.