Temari Pattern 0702 instructions

Temari Pattern 0702 TemariKai.com Pattern Index
Intermediate to Advanced Pattern / Download PDF file of this pattern

This pattern was found in the Japanese book Owari Temari: Special Temari from Owari, Japan (ISBN4-8377-0391-7) (there is a photo but no directions or reference notes), and asked about on TT last summer. T It took a few attempts at figuring out, but the outcome was well worth it. While the basic design is a simple collection of common shapes initially worked in the regular interwoven method, the latter rounds are done by carrying the thread under previously stitched round of the neighboring shapes. (It's easier than it sounds).

I don't recommend using a mari much small than 3 or 3 1/2 inches in diameter 29-30 cm circumference); you won't have enough design space to work the passed-under rounds which is really the focal point of the design and what makes those colored points pop.

Mark the ball in 10-Combination; the marking lines will only bee seen where the flower centers come together so you can choose accordingly. The mari wrap will show through a little bit also at the centers so again, choose accordingly for color.

Choose several colors (here it's dark pink and dark yellow) for the design colors as well as colors for the surrounding pentagons (you can work solid or stripe); you will also need white. And, this tends to be a thread eater given it's size.

Being by locating the pentagons, diamonds and triangles shown the diagram at left. The placement is such that 1/2 the distance between shapes is used throughout: Pentagons are placed so that they are 1/2 the distance between centers and side boundaries; same for the diamonds and also the triangles.

Using your chosen design colors (not white), stitch one round of pentagons (one in each pentagon all over the mari); likewise stitch one round in each of the diamonds and each of the triangles.

Work repeated rounds (one row per shape, move on to next shape) all over the mari, until you have worked about 1/4 of the way in toward the centers when looking at the diamonds and triangles. You will also have worked out, towards the corners, 1/4 of the way with the pentagons. This distance is only an approximation as you'll see in the next illustration but it gives you a rough idea and allows you to choose and place colors. In this example, the pentagons were worked in alternate stripes of two rounds each. The diamonds and triangles were worked in dark pink with one row of dark yellow.

Make the last round white; you will be working the diamonds and triangles in white from now on, but continuing with the colors you have chosen for the pentagons when working them.

The special effect on this design is accomplished by altering the manner in stitching the diamond and triangle layers. When stitching the diamonds, pass the working thread under the previous layers of the adjacent triangles; likewise, when stitching the triangles, pass the working thread under the previous layers of the adjacent diamonds.

The key to determining when to being passing under as opposed to the "regular" stitching, is to look at when you can pass the thread under the adjacent layers and still have your thread lie straight for the stitch you are taking. In other words, when stitching a diamond, if you can pass the thread under the adjacent triangle layers as shown in the photo at left, and have the thread/stitch for that side lie straight as is would if you were not passing under, then ti's time to start "weaving" (under adjacent shapes but continue over the pentagons).

If you attempt to pass the thread under previous layers and it's pulled out of alignment, continue to work regular rounds (like when you started) until you can pass under without it being skewed. In this example, you can see that it took six "regular" rounds (layers) to get to this point, so that the needle/thread is straight and true on patten to stitch the diamond.

Continue working the design, one round per shape on each layer, with the only difference being that you are passing the working thread under the previous rounds of the adjacent shapes.

You can end the design when the space fills, or you can add one or two rounds of white by returning to the "regular" stitching method (not passing under) - you can see in this example that two rounds of white were stitched at the end, by not passing under. This adds some dimension and depth to the pattern.

Continue to finish the pentagons to close in the sides and cover the ball.

Finish off by stitching gold metallic centers - small straight stitches across the poles - if you desire.

Several folks on TT either asked or offered thoughts about working this pattern including but not limited to Lynne D, Joan Z. and Susan C..