TemariKai Wrapped Bands Temari Designs

Wrapped Bands Patterns - Maki Kagari
General Info, Hints and Tips

        Wrapping bands of thread in various designs and patterns spans the range of difficulty in Temari designs. They can be very simple (and at the same time stunning in their simplicity) or they can become very intricate. The bands can simply overlap each other in repetitive manners, using varying numbers of threads, or they can expand to be actual woven designs that can turn out finely detailed images, similar to how a woven cloth can carry finely detailed art. Stitched elements can be placed over or interwoven with the wrapped bands, or the banded designs can stand on their own.

        The Japanese phrase for wrapped band patterns is Maki kagari: using kagari and then wrapping around the mari to create bands of color (including any number of design variations such as weaving). One or more bands may be incorporated into a pattern. The thread is anchored into the mari with a starting stitch (hidden) and then the thread is wrapped around the circumference of the mari to create the design and pattern.

General Hints and Tips for Wrapped Band patterns:

       In general, when making Temari using wrapped bands, you can either pre-measure the length of thread needed by "wrapping off" around the mari the number of times you will be wrapping in a section of the design, or (which most people tend to find easier) - thread a needle without cutting the thread from the spool. Run the needle through the mari base, entering the needle at the point you wish to begin the wrap. Pull the end through, remove the needle, tie a small knot. Tug the knot back into the mari wrap. The thread is now exiting the mari at the point where the pattern wrap begins, and you have the full spool of thread at your disposal to wrap with - no worries about running out of thread.

       Threads are started and ended by running parallel to the previous round. Staggering the starts and stops can lead to a more smooth appearance. If an obi is going to be used, consider placing starts and stops where the obi will cover them.

       It's usually helpful to use keeper pins at the midsection (obi) of the mari, a pair of pins placed closely together that you run the threads through as you wrap. These pins help to keep things in place; they are removed after the design is complete and either an obi or stitches are placed to hold the threads in place. While keeper pins help to guide things, it's also important to place the threads precisely as you wrap - the smoother you place them, the smoother will be the finished design especially where a lot of threads are converging at the obi.

        As you delve deeper into wrapped patterns, you will find yourself trying to determine spacing and thread needs. At some point mamh times you will have to determine a thread gauge - that is, how many "wraps per inch" the thread covers with, and remember to factor in the thickness of the thread or the overall "volume" of space the thread will consume as it is placed on the mari. Louise D shares this tip from weaving: One way to find out the number of rows it takes to cover an area is to wrap your thread around a ruler. This is called "wraps per inch". Weavers, spinners do this all the time. There are even special rulers with a big notch cut out of a 2 inch section to make for easier wrapping and it also helps to keep the thread from coming off the end. A little tape will help to hold the thread in place, and start in about 1 inch or 2 cm......

Some examples of patterns (but certainly not limited to) using wrapped techniques include Temari77, Temari99HB02, Temari99TB02, Temari99JZ06, Temari99CC02, Temari99LD02

==========================================================================

With the help of a few native Japanese folks we've been able to find out that there seems to be a very characteristic style of wrapped band patterns; a specific area specialty of this type of Temari design from A(E)hime Prefecture area in Japan. The temari crafters in this area are known for stunning Temari made with wrapped band techniques, and they all seem to exhibit some constant characteristics:they all use a very, very fine thread - originally (and can still be found) silk, though more and more now it's synthetic such as rayon. The first application on the mari is a one, two or three- way fine grid of crisscrossing threads, which sets off the mari area that remains exposed on the sides. The main design is then worked over this grid, and closes in toward the poles where the central focal point emerges. Due to the very fine threads being used, highly detailed, crisp woven designs are possible and the outcomes can be stunning. All colors can be used and found - most common are red, white, yellow and green, but they are not limited to these colors.

These photos show a few examples of this type of Temari:

Check out this link on a Japanese website for some images of how Ehime temari are created: http://ww2.enjoy.ne.jp/~matutake-913/index.html. Also, Joan Z. worked out a "modern day" interpretation of this style temari using this Japanese site as inspiration. Check out her pattern Tem99JZ07 . Joan has interpreted the style into a more "doable" version in both technique and thread availability, and captures the spirit of Ehime temari. (Note - sometimes the "E or A" gets dropped from the spelling of A(E)hime, when the word is ported into English - it has been seen spelled with both A and E).

Thanks to M. Mizuta, Aiko (Japanese college student visitor), Vivian E., Joan Z., TalkTemari Members