How to Make a Temari Ball

Co-authored by Lois Wade

Last Updated: February 27, 2024

Temari balls are a traditional Japanese toy/decoration given for good luck in the new year. You can make your own in approximately 20 minutes with simple materials.

Steps

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1

Obtain the things you'll need.
2

Cut your styrofoam ball in half and cut a small hollow in the center.

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3

Place a small jingle bell or noisy object in the center and place the two halves together again with the jingle bell inside.
4

Cut two rectangles from your batting or old blanket. They should wrap 3/4ths of the way around the balls circumference lengthwise and be at least half the ball circumference in width.
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5

Wrap the rectangle around the styrofoam ball.
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6

Pin the two rectangles to your styrofoam ball. Place the short end of one against the middle of the longer side of the other.
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7

Wrap them around and place pins to hold them in place.
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8

Cut off any excess material, leaving two "dumbbell" shaped pieces of batting pinned to the ball.
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9

Begin to wrap your base color of string.
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10

Remove the pins as soon as the string is sufficiently wrapped to make the pins unnecessary.
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11

Continue to wrap your base color randomly around your styrofoam ball until all of your batting is covered.
12

Cut the string, thread it's end through a large needle, and sew it into the ball to hold it in place.
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13

Mark the poles and equator of your string ball with pins.
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14

Wrap and/or embroider the ball in contrasting colors in any pattern of your choice. The example was made extremely simple for ease of explanation, but there are many more complicated and interesting designs "out there". (see citations below)
15

Sew all ends into the ball to secure them.
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16

Use the ball as a decoration, as a gift, or as a child's toy.

Community Q&A

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Question

Why the noisemaker inside?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

Traditional temari balls do not have any noisemakers in the center. It is a modern addition to add play value to the ball.

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Tips

Any piece of thick blanket would work as well as quilt batting.

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Wrapping snuggly helps prevent premature unraveling, as does sewing the string ends through the ball.

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Warnings

Use appropriate care with any edged tools.

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Things You'll Need

Styrofoam ball (tightly wadded paper, dryer lint, or old socks can be substituted)
Straight pins
Several rolls of cotton or poly sewing thread
Embroidery floss (#5 Perle cotton is common)
Fine weight yarn
A needle with a large eye
Scissors

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