Customer Reviews

The Temari Book: Techniques & Patterns for Making Japanese Thread Balls

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I think Anna's book is the best one out today. She shows so much originality and has wonderful new applications of old designs. Her explanations are a bit difficult because they are different from all the other teachers, but I think it's much easier once you catch on to her terminology. For example, an "8 complex" in other books becomes a "6 centers" in Anna's. I followed her directions on 5 balls and had no trouble at all - the directions were extremely accurate. Beginners should start at the beginning and work their way back - rather than just flipping through the book and picking one they like. The complexity increases as you go through the various sections. Her's is the only book I open now! Congrats Anna - you've done a wonderful job!

What a poorly documented attempt to teach this craft. Having made temari before and wanting a refresher and inspiration I find that the diagrams and missed step by miss stepped intsructions are worthless. This is an extremely frustrating book to work from, unless you don't read English, are already well familiar with the craft and only want to look at the pictures. A waste of money, particlarly for beginners who expect to glean something other than the desire to throw this book out of the window.

I checked the book out of the library, it was the only book on the craft. The pictures are great but the instructions are lacking in many ways. I invested big-time in supplies with great anticipation. I had to guess at some of them because of the lack of advice (the metallic thread was wrong, didn't work well and it is very important to start the pattern with this thread). No instructions where given as to when to change colors of thread. The instructions were so confusing that I am giving the first ball to a daughter and forbidding her to show the first half. Also the amount of thread to use was under estimated. Today I received two of Diana Vanderwoort's books and another is on the way, there are good instructions in those books but not many photos and the paper is not slick. Back to Anna Diamonds's book, I began with the first ball but even after "catching on", I doubt that the instructions would be enough for the complicated patterns which are very lovely. I just couldn't imagine figuring out her meager drawings.

The photos in this book are awe inspiring, but they don't always match the instructions for the pattern. The directions are close to impossible to follow. Ms Diamond lists the colors used for each ball, but fails to tell you when to change to which color. She has her own unique way of explaining her patterns, which is extremely difficult to follow if you've learned from another author. I do not recommend this for a beginner-definately more of an advanced stitcher's book. If you enjoy puzzles, and figuring out things for yourself from photos, you would throughly enjoy this book.

not so gorgeous instructions, as other reviewers have pointed out. and why come with a new terminology? so that other authors' books seem more difficult? also, using her inch-based measurements, rather than propotion-based, means having to use only the size ball she uses.

the photos are usually very good, but some of the balls have been stitched with no thought for color contrast in photos. as examples of color schemes, some are wonderful--but hardly show the details of pattern.

this is definitely not a book for the average beginner. an experienced embroiderer in crewel or silk will recognize the herringbone stitch and that will help explain the construction method, but for others, the instructions do indeed leave a lot to be desired.

the designs, however, are wonderful, stunning, gorgeous, and make this book worth owning.

No one should buy this book - especially a beginner. I learned the hard way. There are much better books on the subject. Pass on this one and save your money.

I was completely new to temari when I found this book in the bookstore, and I fell in love in an instant! I have worked a number of the patterns, both simple and complex, and have had no problems at all. I especially like that there is such a variety of patterns to choose from, some other books out there will only give you less than 10 patterns per book.I would absolutely recomend it!

As others have pointed out, the instructions in this otherwise beautiful book are sorely lacking. I've done several Temari balls from Diana Vandervoort's first book, and had no problems. However, even doing the first one in Diamond's book left me very frustrated. She does not tell you how many rounds to make of each color, so you're left to try to count the threads from the photos. Not a good way to do it.

I'm going to purchase the next Vandervoort book...perhaps that will make me feel better about the whole craft!

I have two Temari ball books; one by Diane V (for beginners) and this one. Some of the instructions are hard to follow; sometimes I looked at the pictures and guessed about what to do. There isn't a lot of detail about how to start or end a thread, how many wraps to make, when to change colors, etc. And a couple patterns seem to be missing steps. But if you've learned to make Temari balls already, this book has beautiful, inspiring designs. One comment on her technique is that she has you start with a polystyrene ball and cover it with thread (without a batting layer or a yarn layer). This is a very slow way to start! And I think the batting layer and thread layer help anchor the knots in the balls making the finished product more secure.

I am in the middle of making the first ball, what is supposed to be the easy ball. I don't understand what she is talking about. she is referring to the points on the ball with jargon that she has never defined, as far as I have found searching through the introduction. I am currently trying to do something called a herringbone stitch, but the only reference to how to do it are very simple line drawings of the preliminary stitches. At this point I have decided to just make up my own method that will look as much like the completed ball as possible. If I was going to have to just make up my own method, though, why did I get this book?!

This text would be improved significantly if the author would be more clear in her terminology (e.g. what exactly does AH refer to??) and including photographs, at least for the first pattern, of someone going through the process of making it, especially with regard to this herringbone stitch.