temari learner ball – part 1

See intro here.

See supply list here.

Just a reminder of the end goal – the learner ball uses a base colour of sewing thread and is embroidered with perl cotton and a metallic thread as well if desired. The plain red ball is what you’ll end up with at the end of this post. The finished one has a base colour of a green sewing thread.

 

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So to begin! Take your styrofoam ball and begin to wrap with the yarn. Make random wraps and keep the tension even – not too tight, but not loose enough that the wraps fall off. You are creating a cushion for the embroidery to sit upon.

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I used up the blue yarn so just continued with some green until all of the white of the ball was covered. Secure the end of the yarn under the wrap.

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Now, begin to cover the yarn wrap with the thread wrap – obviously this takes A LOT longer. Put on a good podcast or audiobook, but do keep watching your hands to avoid lumps of thread in the same wrap. Move your thumb as you wrap to provide the maximum variety of wraps all over the ball.

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When you think you’re done, keep wrapping. This one is close but not quite there…. Also – leave me a comment with how many times you dropped the blooming thing whilst wrapping it…….

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Last photoΒ – finally finished. No visible yarn at all and a nice random wrap with the end securely tacked down.

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I’ll post the next step next Monday – you’ll need your metallic thread, some pins with coloured heads (which I forgot to put on original list) a small measuring tape, and a thin (1/4′) strip of paper that will wrap around the circumference of your ball.

Happy Monday to all!

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10 Responses to temari learner ball – part 1

  1. Gracie says:

    Caroline, I have just scrolled back and caught up with your most recent posts and love what you are offering us…a beginner Temari ball tutorial-along!!! I don’t know if I can realistically keep up with you since I am already behind, but thank you for the challenge and instruction. At the very least I am enjoying watching and learning about your creative process πŸ™‚ xx

  2. karen says:

    that is one well wrapped ball! Can’t wait to see the next step πŸ™‚

  3. Amanda says:

    Julian and i did this several years ago. I know the exact book! I think i put them somewhere on the blog, it would have been towards the very beginning. Anyhow, yours are lovely and so festive! Work your way through the book and you will have a stunning collection!

  4. MotherOwl says:

    What a wonderful, yarny and frustrating way of spending the time! I dropped the ball 9 times on my first go and only twice at my second. You get better πŸ˜‰
    Thanks for the tutorial.

  5. fawn says:

    This looks sooooo fun!

  6. syeda zaara says:

    waow perfect, can u tell the diameter of this ball?

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