Temarikai Glossaries
Integrated Glossary of Common English and Japanese Temari Terms and Phrases
compiled through TalkTemari and TemariKai, with contributing translation support

        The terms are presented with verbal definition, links to illustrations and/or instructions within the TemariKai site as available, and/or references to usage in the English book bibliography.  As of August 2005, the listing also integrates traditional Japanese terms used in Temari crafting. Japanese terms in Italics; Japanese summary can be found here. For book references, the initial of the author's last name and the page number is used and appears for example as W32 for Wood, page 32. Abbreviation letters of  the Vandervoort book will follow (e.g. V25TTreas for page 25 of Temari Treasures).  See About the Glossary below.

Band (Maki Kagari) -A pattern element formed by stitching and wrapping that circumvents the ball, creating a band of color (including any number of design variations such as weaving). One or more bands may be incorporated into a pattern. (D97; W43)
Bokasi giku(kiku) - shaded kiku design, going from light to dark or dark to light. Bokasi means gradual or muted.
Chrysanthemum/Kiku  - Chrysanthemum flower design created by any of a number of different temari stitches or stitch arrangements. Kiku designs bloom outward from a pole, like a chrysanthemum flower. They man commonly be created using Uwagake Chidori Kagari, but are not limited to being executed with this stitch arrangement.  (W41; V97T; L35; L85; D17)
Chidori - literally, "up and down like the little bird flies (or walks), meaning a zig-zag appearance. The Japanese word for what in the West is referred to as a zig zag stitch, similar to but not as specific as the Herringbone Stitch. It is this stitch that forms the basis of many temari pattern elements.
Chidori Kagari (Zig Zag) - combining two words, this is a  zig-zag stitch, literally "up and down..." - similar to Herrringbone Stitch.
Circumference - distance around the fullest part of the ball.
Combination Division - a division that begins with a simple division and has additional marking lines combined onto it, that traverse the circumference of the ball in a defined mathematical manner.
C/Combination 8 - (C8) A marking that creates 6 equally spaced poles, each surrounded by a square (other shapes also emerge). This marking may also be referred to as an 8-Combination or eight-all-over-ball. The "8" refers to the fact that the division is started from a Simple 8; each of the 6 poles has 8 spokes radiating from its center. (D75; W52; V55TTrad)
C/Combination 10 - (C10) A marking that creates 12 equally spaced poles, each surrounded by a pentagon (other shapes also emerge). This marking may also be referred to as 10-Combination or ten-all-over ball. The "10" refers to the fact that the division is started from a Simple 10; each of the 12 poles has 10 spokes radiating from its center. (W58; V76TTrad; D111)
Core - The center of the ball, usually hand made using scraps, rice hulls, etc. or premade of Styrofoam, etc

Diameter - the distance through the center of the ball
Divide the Mari - To place pins (usually with different colored heads) to guide the placement of marking threads.
Escape the thread - see "exit the thread".
Equator - Division line equi-distant from noth and south poles the mari that divides it into equal halves (or hemispheres); this is also the circumference of the ball.
Embellishment - The process of adding extra stitching or beads, etc. after the pattern embroidery is complete.
Enter the thread -To insert the needle and thread so as to anchor the thread for stitching and place the needle at a starting point. For fine threads a small knot may be placed in the end of the thread to anchor it; for coarser threads usually only a length is run under the mari wrap prior to bringing the needle up at the starting point.
Extra marking lines -See "Support Lines."
Exit the thread -to bring the needle up and out of the mari base as the second action of taking a stitch; or to run the needle and thread under the mari wrap a small distance away from the ending point of stitching and then trim the thread off close to the mari surface to end of a stitching segment
Face - The "side" of a ball formed by a division - for example, there are 6 faces (in this case, square shaped) on a C8 ball.
Filling Stitches - A combination of long or straight stitches used to fill open or negative space areas, usually done with metallic threads.
Five Point Star (Hoshi kagari) -A stitching element worked on 5 marking lines using an alternate thread sequence of a-c-b-d-e-a.  (W37; L111)
Finish Wrap -The last covering wrapped on the mari prior to marking, always done in sewing-weight thread, which becomes the background color of the Temari.
Foundation Layer(s) - One or more layers wrapped to cover and pad the core to create the mari (progressively thinner yarns and threads are used, sometimes over an initial wrap of quilt batting.)
Free Embroidery - Freehand embroidery used to decorate open areas of the mari.

Guidelines (GL) - See “Marking Threads.”
Hoshi kagari (Five-point star) -  using five jiwari and stitching on every fourth around to create a star outline. A stitching element worked on 5 marking lines using an alternate thread sequence of a-c-b-d-e-a.
Interlocked (Nejiri kagari) -A pattern formed by weaving all threads of an element over and under all threads of an adjacent element.  (W29; V43T; V84TTrad; L58)
Interwoven (Kousa kagari) -A pattern formed by stitching rounds of pattern elements in a repeated sequence so that the outcome is a design in which the elements interplay, layer by layer. (Sometimes the stitching or wrapping sequence may be repeated until the mari is totally covered.)
Invisible Marking -The method of marking the mari with two strands of the final wrapping thread, or with one strand of a barely different color from the finish wrap, so that the marking lines are not noticed as part of the finished design. 
Ito - thread (as in sewing or stitching).

Jiwari  -The Japanese term for marking threads
Jyouge douji kagari (working from both poles; pole to pole) - using kagari and creating shapes or designs that cross over the obi in the process.
Kagari - Japanese word for a simple stitch (literally, "Iike a hem stitch" or tack stitch)
Keeper Pins - A pair of straight pins placed temporarily where needed to hold a group of threads together until they are finally anchored in place. (Most often used to hold threads gathered at the equator in wrapped designs.)
Kiku - Chrysanthemum-like flower design created by any of a number of stitches or stitch arrangements; very commonly worked with but not limited to the Uwagake Chidori Kagari stitch arrangement. There are many design variations that create kiku patterns or effects.
Kousa kagari (Interwoven shapes) - using Kagari to create shapes which interweave with the adjoining shapes, usually one row (but may be several) at a time.
Layer -A set of rounds stitched or bands wrapped on individual pattern elements that is repeated to create an interwoven design.
Layered design - See "Interwoven Design."
Long/Straight stitch -A simple straight stitch used to embroider.  See  “Filling Stitches.”
Lozenge -  The small sections formed within divisions.  For example, there are many different lozenges in a C8 including diamonds, squares, triangles, etc.

Maki kagari (Wrapped Bands) - using kagari and then wrapping around the mari to create bands of color (including with any number of design variations such as weaving). One or more bands may be incorporated into a pattern.
Mari -The ball base that has been wrapped and is ready to be marked for stitching; also the Japanese word for ball.
Marking the Mari -The process of placing the grid of lines on the mari, dividing it into precise sections; see also “Marking Threads.”
Marking Strip -A thin paper strip used by many in place of a ruler or tape measure to mark divisions and place pins in preparation for marking the mari. 
Marking Threads/Guidelines - The grid of lines placed on a mari (using a combination of pins, marking strips, and/or other measuring devices) that divides the mari into specific sections around which the designs are stitched. These are usually done with thin metallic thread, but sometimes invisible marking is used. Also called Guidelines (GL).
Marking Pins -Straight pins (may be color coded) placed at premeasured points on the ball to aid in the placement of marking threads or as guides to stitch placement.
Masu kagari  (Square) - using the right angle intersection of two jiwari and Kagari to create a solid square design.
Mitsubane Kikkou kagari (Tri-wing & Hexagon)- using three jiwari and stitching around to create a hexagon center with three half-spindles radiating outward from it
Mitsubishi - The three diamond shapes formed by the intersection of three sides of squares or pentagons; means "three diamonds" in Japanese.
Multiple Center/faces - A C10 that has been further divided to create many centers or faces, with small pentagons and hexagons formed as the result.
Needle Width - The width of the needle; refers to a measurement used in stitching.
Nejiri kagari (Interlocked shapes) - using Kagari to create any desired shape but interlocking the entire shape with an adjoining shape.
North pole -  The "top" pole of a simple or vertical division; one of the "main poles" of the ball
Net Stitching - using an open zigzag stitch, either interlocked or interwoven to create an appeace of netting or lace; can be within a section of a pattern or overall the ball.
Obi - A decorative design worked around the equator of the temari.  It  may be stitched, wrapped, etc.
Obi kagari - the zig zag stitches going from top to bottom edges of a wrapped obi that add both decorative value as well as holding the obi in place.
Open shape - A pattern element (may be a square, triangle, pentagon, etc.) worked from the inner to the outer aspects of shape, leaving an open center that allows the finish wrap of the mari to show.
Open/white/negative space -An area where the finish wrap of the ball shows through in the pattern. Can be as important to the design as the stitched areas.

Pine Needle, Sunburst, Starburst  -A group of long stitches placed close together, usually radiating from a central point, to form an arc or a circle; most often done in metallic and used as filling stitches
Poles/Polar points -The center points of the primary shapes formed by the various divisions.  A ball with a vertical or simple division has 2 poles (usually referred to as the North and South poles or points A and B; a C8 ball has 6 poles (centered in squares) ; a C10 ball has 12 poles (centered in pentagons.)
Points (as in positions) - Positions in addition to the poles and the obi that serve as points of reference on the marking/guidelines on the mari.
Points (as in shapes) -The tips of certain pattern elements, such as spindles or the bottom of kiku elements.
Preparing the Mari - Wrapping the core, usually with a combination of batting, yarn, and/or thread.
Relational geometry -The basis of dividing mari using paper strips folded to mark portions of the mari circumference rather than discrete measurements done with a ruler or other scaled device.
Renzoku kagari - using Kagari to create designs that cross through four quadrants of the mari before repeating their sequence (stitching around the ball as a main focus of the pattern).
Rose Garden -A particular pattern formed by overlapping shapes, rotating the orientation of each by an even division of the angle of the shape. (W25; L123; D44)

Seedstitch - A tiny back stitch worked over a marking thread so that it covers the marking thread; only the thread of the actual stitch shows.
Shitagake Chidori kagari - arrangement of Chidori Kagari where on the top of the zigzag,  the subsequent rows are placed directly and closely below the previous row.
Simple Divisions -A vertical marking comprised of lines running from the north pole to the south pole dividing the mari into equal vertical sections, similar to an orange. Simple divisions are sometimes designated by the number of segments present - for example, a Simple-8 division mari is divided into 8 equal vertical sections.
Solid shape - A pattern element (may be a square, octagon, hexagon, pentagon, etc.) worked from the center outward, so that solid fill occurs. (L55)
South pole - The "bottom" pole of a simple or vertical division, one of the "main poles" of the ball.
Spindle (Tsumu kagari) -A particular pattern element of elongated oval shape, pointed on each end. (W27; V37T; L33; L63; D36)
Starting point/pin -The point on a guideline where a stitched element is started.
Stretch the point -The practice of placing each successive stitch at the end of an elongated point (such as at the bottom of a kiku or the end of a spindle) a bit farther away than expected. This allows for the volume of the thread and permits the point to lay smoothly when finished.
Support lines - Additional marking threads added after the standard division lines are completed to facilitate stitch placement on some patterns.
Three Wings/Tri Wings (Mitsubane Kikkou kagari) -A tri-point element with or without a central solid hexagon;  (W33; V82T; L109; D46)
Tsumu kagari (Spindle) - using kagari on one jiwari, back and forth from the center starting point on the jiwari to create a widening elongated oval shape, pointed on each end.
Uwagake Chidori Kagari  - specific variation  of Chidori Kagari (zig zag) where the working thread is carried OVER the previous rows of stitching. The basic stitch creates the widening, solid "inverted V" shaped wedge, eminating outward from the pole or center point; variations regarding the number of previous rows are worked over can vary. Seen in many temari designs, this stitch may and is commonly is used to create kiku designs, but is not limited to kiku designs.

Vertical Division - See “Simple division."
Woven pattern -A design formed by weaving threads, singly or in groups, into and through previously stitched sections.
Wrapping method -A method of forming a pattern by wrapping threads around the ball, as opposed to stitching.
ZigZag (Chidori Kagari)  - A stitch element formed on alternating up and down positions; can be a single row, overlapped to create a small diamond-like pattern or can be as long as pole-to-pole with threads crossing at the equator via keeper pins. (V51T; L117)

        About the Temari Glossary: This Glossary is a collaborative effort of the Talk Temari Discussion Group - which represents Temari crafters from all over the world. We truly believe that this is a comprehensive, agreed-upon listing that can be used to bring our craft to a new level. I offer my thanks to all that provided input/ discussion and in particular to Sarah R., Sue and Fujio H., Kathy H., Sue D., & Laura S.; and to Sue C. for her efforts in rewriting it into a professional presentation. Japanese terms integration and translation began August 2005 with thanks to Milly Koh, Ai Mizuta and Kiyoko Tibbets and continues with the help of members of the Mid Hudson Japanese Community Association. The Glossary this is very much a work in progress - edits and additions will occur as needed. If you have a term that is confusing you or that you do not see listed here, drop an email and it will be put into discussion for possible addition to the glossary.

Please note - this composite work is under copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by G. Thompson, Members of Talk Temari and the represented authors. One copy may be downloaded for personal use, or for non-profit teaching. For other needs please email for information


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Last updated 5/2007 © 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007  inclusive G.Thompson et.al.  Special thanks to Milly Koh, Ai Mizuta and Kiyoko Tibbets