Temari is a traditional Japanese fiber art in which designs are stitched to the surface of a ball. Many Temari designs begin with a geometric partition of the sphere. Temari designs can be viewed through the lens of recreational math as it is a leisure art with mathematical properties. In this presentation, I will first describe a standard procedure for partitioning Temari balls. I will then demonstrate application of this procedure to difference surfaces. Finally, I will compare the results to standard mathematical projections, such as stereographic and cylindrical projections.

Select References

-Alhaddad, Shemsi. “Using Embroidery to Explore Mapping the Sphere to the Plane.” MAA Southeastern Sectional Meeting. March 2017.

-Suess, Barbara B. Japanese Temari. Breckling Press, Elmhurst, IL, 2007.

-Yackel, C. A. “Spherical Symmetries of Temari.” Crafting by Concepts, pp. 150-185. A.K. Peters, 2011.