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This Temari is a cinch to make. Part of its appeal comes from the optical illusion that is created with the color choices. It uses two embroidery thread colors, and the the secret is that one of those colors has to exactly match your mari base thread wrap. This ball as worked is a two and a half inch diameter (20 cm circumference). It uses a natural color mari wrap, natural and teal pearl cotton, and some DMC Embroidery Gold thread to touch up the obi. |
| Prepare a simple 8 ball, and
if possible
use a very fine metallic thread to place the marking threads. The finer
it is and disappears into your ball after it is finished, the better.
The
pattern is a standard chrysanthemum, worked on four threads with one
color
and four threads with the second. Remember that one of those colors
should
match your base wrap as closely as possible. Work one round on
alternate
threads from close to the pole to half way between pole and obi. On the
alternate threads, work one round in the second color. Continue to
alternate
colors on the four threads - four threads (stitches) of one color, four
threads (stitches) of the other, until the completed lower petals
closely
approach the obi. You will see as you work that the petals stitched in
the thread matching the mari wrap will "disappear" into the design
appearance.
When one pole is complete, reverse and work the opposite pole, being sure to keep the same color threads on the same stitching lines, and in the same orientation - come down on the same lines on this pole that you did on the other. Work the same number of rounds that you did on the first pole. When you have completed both poles, finish off the petal work by running long stitches in the opposite colors as shown - along the bottom of the petals from point to bottom of the V, and from the pole to the top of the notch on the top sections of the thread matching the ball color only. Work an obi of your choice - it is not visible in this picture, but it is a simple wrapped obi first with the matching color, then a few rounds of contrasting, finishing with one or two of the contrasting. It is then accented with a metallic closed zigzag. A more simple obi will enhance the optical illusion of the ball - a more complicated one will distract the eye from it. |