Many beautiful designs can be worked on egg shapes from the traditional Temari designs. Use pre-formed egg shapes of some sort, either styrofoam, paper mache, wood, plastic etc....  making egg maris is not a challenge you really want to take on. There are various sizes based on the species of bird - goose, hen, duck etc. Choose what you like. While it probably is possible, you will find it easiest to stick to patterns that are polar in nature - that is. worked on the poles, or ones that are longitudinal, worked from pole to pole across the obi. These all use simple vertical divisions - working something like a C8 on eggs is not like working them on spheres, and you do not have the spherical symmetry to support it. However - once you get going, experiment! And of course, you can also use free embroidery within the realm of using geometric divisions.

        Wrapping the bases gets to be a tad interesting since you do not have a symmetrical shape over which to distribute the wraps but with a little practice you'll be doing them as easily as you do regular round Temari. A group member a while back gave the suggestion of first using a covering of gauze bandage, and this works great as it gives more friction for the wrapping to "stick" to. I use two inch gauze, with the entire roll cut in half. It is wonderfully stretchy and molds to the egg shape with little effort.  Use a covering of several layers deep of the gauze.

        Next, I suggest a wrapping layer of yarn - fine, either two or three ply at the most, such as baby or fingering yarn. You will find it easier to get the job done if you first work on covering the "shoulders" of the egg - what you will soon find is "no man's land" between the top and bottom and the middle of the egg. Take advantage of the most friction from the gauze to work on these areas, and then work over the ends and the middle. After the yarn then of course comes the thread - again, follow the same sequence and you will find that it does go smoothly. You will want as nice a stitching surface for the egg as you do a ball, so don't skimp even if you are tempted.

        Marking is easy - very similar to a ball. You will have to eyeball the center of one end - and sometimes it does need some trial and error to find it. I find it easier to hit it on the bottom or large end rather than the top for some reason - but you will have to make an attempt, fold the strip to find the opposite pole and then visually be sure that they are in the center of the ends. If not, pick a new spot and try again. Once the poles are determined, then fold the strip again to mark the obi. And remember - if you are working a design that depends on "one way" with a definite top and bottom, be sure to orient yourself properly to top and bottom before you begin stitching.

        Rather than being able to just use the strip as you take it off the pole to mark the divisions, you will need to either use a different strip or cut this one to the diameter of the egg - it will not be the same as the polar distance. Cut a strip to the egg circumference at the diameter, and use this to then fold and mark the number of vertical divisions you desire. Mark with your usual marking thread, and you are all set.

Temari Egg Patterns:
 
 

Egg 02	Egg 05	Egg 04	Egg 09
Egg PL02	EggDL01