DESCRIPTION
Watan is proud to present our first tatreez kit! This project is a natural offshoot of our in-studio tatreez classes and tatreez club meetings--all created to help efforts in reviving this cultural practice in our Palestinian communities.
"If I didn't love tatreez [embroidery], I wouldn't have sacrificed all day and night. I adore tatreez. Ever since I was this tall [gestures], I've loved tatreez." -Um Ibrahim, The Embroiderers
"The old thobes [dresses] are mostly embroidered with red, but the red of Ramallah was different to that of Hebron and to that of Bir Al-Saba' [Beersheba]. And really, [these woman] had an instinctual feel for colors. It's amazing! They used to naturally combine colors--that even if we studies--we wouldn't even think to try today. They had such strength and passion. They would work instinctively and come up with extraordinary designs." -Maryam Malakha, The Embroiderers
- This kit is our first "volume" of a series of future tatreez kits made by and available at Watan. A special collectible box and surprise supplies/accessories will be created for each kit. Collect and sew the series!
- For this kit, we chose to emulate the spirit of a tatreez sampler--a practice piece of fabric on which women would begin to sample a motif for the first time, taking some time to study the motif and the strategy of its sewing. The look of historical samplers are, we think, gorgeous.
- If following our exact patterns, your finished piece may either be a 4x6 or 9x12 pattern. If deciding to create your own configuration of the motifs, your results may differ (beautifully!). We can't wait to see what you create.
DETAILS
- Kit includes: a collectible box, a 12-page instructional booklet complete with 5 videos, a resource guide, 9x12 and 4x6 PDF patterns, 2 DMC Pearl Cotton thread balls, sewing scissors, a needle, a 9x12 piece of Aida cloth in white, and a hand-illustrated "Tatreez of Palestine" sticker sheet. We also include an invitation to our bi-monthly tatreez club at Watan Studio in Orland Park, IL!
- Our resource guide (periodically updated) includes links to a vast array of tatreez books, videos, Instagram accounts focusing on tatreez, our exclusive tatreez-inspiration Pinterest board, and more! We also include homage to Wafa Ghnaim (author Tatreez & Tea and Thobna), who must be created a seminal figure in educating the current generation on tatreez and expanding knowledge production on tatreez in the US. We thought the creation of this guide was essential to helping first-time tatreez-ers take their practice past their first projects.