Ito-mari, Japanese embroidered balls, were originally constructed from bundles of sweet smelling herbs wrapped in thread and decorated with silk embroidery. During the Edo period, decorating ito-mari balls was a popular activity for the nobility. Ito-mari is still traditional in Japan, where mothers give their youngest daughter a new ball on New Year's Eve. The technique involves plotting the pattern, using a guide thread, and stitching a square star.