Obi Temari

東洋的帯手まり

        A few rounds ago in the TalkTemai GITS we had a themed round...the temari made for your partner should be an obi-oriented pattern. While this was taken in stride by some players it elicited a good deal of discussion and questions on the whats and hows. This review will give you an overview of the obi on the temari and how it can be spotlighted for some new approaches to your temari making.

       An obi design is not a new concept - just perhaps new to description. If you have used Diana Vandervoort's books to learn you have stitched obi-oriented patterns - the "Merry Go Round" pattern for example. Other obi-oreinted patterns are in the Wood book also... several of the stanard Temari patterns are in fact worked on the obi. An obi-related pattern is one that concentrates the focal point of the design around the obi (which remember is the midsection line of the mari - the equator so as to speak, equi distant from either pole), rather than say the chrysanthemum/kiku pattern that traditionally concentrates the design at either pole. An obi pattern need not be worked just on the line of the obi, but rather it is centered on the obi line rather than the poles. For example, my Carousel patterns shows both focals in one. The work on the poles is typical of working designs on each pole - but the detail worked on the center of the ball (which is a variation of the kiku stitch) shows stitching detail centered on the obi area. If you worked only this part of the pattern you would have an obi-oriented pattern. In general obi designs are worked off of simple or vertical divisions but more intricate ones can require the complex divisions even though the final outcome tracks the pattern around the midline. Think of it as if you just did a simple four division and did nothing else other than wrapping a band around the obi, that would be an obi-oriented design (not particularly catchy probably, but nevertheless and obi design). However - don't be confused into thinking that obi designs must be only wrapped bands - to the contrary many beautiful stitching patterns using the obi as the focal point are possible also. The opbject is the focal point of the pattern is what is worked on and surounding the obi rather than what is on the poles (although of course the poles and other white space on the mari can of course be embellished and less elaborately stitched in comparison to the obi work), or it being an all-over design.

       In keeping with the addage that a picture is worth a thousand words - here are examples of obi-oriented Temari. Remember that these are only the tip of the iceberg and you are limited only by your imagination - but these will give you the idea and get you going. They were made by members of Talk Temari. If you have an obi design that you would like to add to these examples drop me a line....