Tedama: Japanese Juggling Balls

I realised after my post on Street Camp, that I have never blogged about what has now become one of my favourite hand sewing projects. Tedama, are Japanese juggling balls. The word literally means hand (te) ball (dama). I learnt how to make these way back when I first lived in Japan 20 years ago. I had joined Japanese Culture Club (after the every day two hour training nature of the Volleyball club left me with zero joy) and sewn my first yukata there (I mention it here if you are interested). After I finished the yukata, the teacher filled in some time by teaching us how to make tedama before the school year was up. 

All you need is four rectangles of fabric that are a 1:2 ratio. So if you did 1.5 inches, the other side would be 3 inches. (Sorry Aussies, quilting has ruined me and I now often measure in imperial when sewing; horror!) I made a bunch way back then, and I think some more when I started teaching Japanese in 2009, but it had been several years since I'd given it a go. I will admit to googling the instructions to refresh my memory!

Tedama usually look beautiful because they are traditionally made out of the scraps from old kimono. I had some of that exact kind of fabric that had been given to me by a friend a while ago, but I also picked up some when we were in Japan earlier in the year. I initially started making these to increase the amount I had on hand at school this year, but it's becoming quite addictive and I may not stop. I just do a cutting session so I have all the little rectangles ready to go. They fit easily in my housewife and are so quick to make while listening to the sermon at church or the minutes and reports at the P&C meeting. 

Anyway, I do have a goal for this year because I want to use them as an activity in my school Japanese festival in March, which means I need to have at least a class set ready to go for then. At a base level, that's 25 - one for each student. But if I want to let them have two to practice with, I'm going to need 50. And really, three each would be ideal...