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.
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.