LINA'S THOBE | TATREEZ
5 Must-Have
Tools To Start
Tatreez
Instagram: @linasthobe
Website: [Link]
Known creatively on Instagram as @linasthobe, I
Hello am an avid tatreez practitioner who completed
my first handmade thobe in preparation for my
there! Katib Kitaab (religious wedding ceremony) in
the fall of 2022. I'm passionate about making
tatreez accessible to both those who practice
and those who don't, elevating the work of
tatreez artists, and fostering community.
My freebies, designs and (future) courses are
meant for any crafter, cross-stitch lover, and
anyone who can appreciate Palestinian tatreez
(embroidery).
With every stitch comes the continuous
preservation of the Palestinian ancestral
heritage - I'm so glad you're here with me!
Lina Barkawi
Founder, @linasthobe
5 MUST-HAVE TOOLS TO START TATREEZ | @LINASTHOBE
What is Tatreez?
Tatreez, or Palestinian embroidery, is a traditional form of needlework
preserved by Palestinian women and most commonly recognized in the cross-
stitch evident on traditional Palestinian costume, or thobe in Arabic. It is
distinguished by its simple and geometric practice, usually through an
assortment of repeated motifs which are sometimes stitched using only one
single color.
What’s exceptionally distinctive regarding tatreez is in its intentionality: each
stitch deliberately tells the untold stories of Palestinian women over the last
century.
Historically, tatreez would indicate components of a Palestinian woman's
identity (i.e. colors indicating marital status, amount of embroidery indicating
economic position, motif choice indicating village origins).
However, everything changed in, and after, 1948.
Following the Nakba - catastrophe in Arabic - Palestinian women no longer
saw their dress and embroidery as simply a form of personal expression and a
rite of passage into womanhood. While they kept their traditions, embroidery
was now used to also express the harsh realities of displacement, material
[need], and their own resilience, generosity, and resourcefulness.
While hundreds of thousands of Palestinian individuals, families, and
communities have and continue to be displaced multiple times over the course
of the last seven decades, the essence of what it means to be Palestinian
continues to be preserved in the symbols made up in threads crisscrossed.
This is tatreez.
5 MUST-HAVE TOOLS TO START TATREEZ | @LINASTHOBE
My
Tatreez
Journey
I come from a long line of Panamanian
seamstresses and so, when I was little, my mother
taught me how to cross-stitch.
Manifested at the seams of
Palestinian traditional dress is
After I graduated university, though, my mother
proposed we take an embroidery class together.
the Palestinian identity, and
She thought it would be a great, shared activity. while I learned the art of
And, well, she figured that one class in particular cross-stitch from my
would capture my attention given my enchantment Panamanian mother, I carry on
with my father’s homeland after a visit to the West the Palestinian woman’s voice
Bank: a Palestinian embroidery class.
through my own embroidery.
She was right.
And I also carry a bit of home
As it turns out, we were weaving the threads of my with me, too: Should I ever
heritage together: the stitch most common and yearn to visit my homeland, I
most strongly associated with Palestinian need only to thread my
embroidery - tatreez - was the same one that my needle.
mother had taught me, as her Panamanian
ancestors had taught her before.
And...I haven't been able to put the needle down
since.
5 MUST-HAVE TOOLS TO START TATREEZ | @LINASTHOBE
Now let's tariz!
Getting started can seem daunting, but I'm here to help
you discover this incredible world of tatreez. I sincerely
can't wait to see what you bring to life and I hope you
enjoy this practice as much as I do :)
Tool #1: Aida Fabric
As tatreez is most commonly recognized as that which
is cross-stitched, I've found that the best way to learn
is by using a fabric that facilitates cross-stitch: Aida
Fabric (or cloth).
Aida Fabric is an open weave, even-weave cotton
fabric that also has a natural stiffness removing the
need to use a hoop for crafters.
It can be acquired in a variety of colors, opening up
endless possibilities in color combinations, and flexible
in sizing, enabling you to explore different stitch sizes.
As you familiarize yourself with this type of fabric, you'll
quickly come to note that it is marketed in different
counts. This count is essentially the number of stitches
per inch, indicating how small your stitches will
appear. So, the higher the count, the smaller your
stitches will be.
For your first project, I recommend you choose an Aida
fabric with a smaller count i.e. between 10 and 14-ct.
5 MUST-HAVE TOOLS TO START TATREEZ | @LINASTHOBE
Tool #2: Thread & Floss
Now obviously, we need thread to create your tatreez
masterpieces -- But which brand and what on earth is
the difference between thread and floss?!
There are different preferences out there and
depending on where you're located, you might not
have access to all of the options.
In my opinion, pearl cotton by DMC is the best quality
thread out there. DMC sells them in different sizes but
the most commonly used by tatreez artists is the pearl
cotton size 8, in the form of thread balls.
However, these aren't readily available in the US, so if
you live state-side and don't want to order online, you
can easily substitute these balls with DMC 6-Strand
Cotton Floss. They actually come in more colors and
are easy to find and explore at your local crafts shop.
The only difference really is that embroidery floss is
composed of 6 individual strands that can be
separated. For cross-stitch, only 2 strands are
necessary which will also equal the thickness of the
size 8 thread balls.
So it's up to you ultimately - both pearl cotton size 8
thread balls and 100% cotton embroidery floss
separated in increments of 2 strands will enable you to
create beautiful tatreez!
5 MUST-HAVE TOOLS TO START TATREEZ | @LINASTHOBE
Tool #3: Needle
There are 3 essential groups of embroidery tools: the
fabric, the thread, and....you guessed it: the needle!
There are several needle options, differing in length,
eye opening and sharpness, but working with Aida
Fabric makes things easy because ultimately any
needle will work.
I recommend tapestry needles which are known for:
Blunt, rounded point;
Medium length, and;
Long eye*, shaft slightly thinner than the eye.
These needles come in sizes 13 – 28, with 13 being the
largest and 28 being the finest. Sizes 20, 22 or 25 will
do for your first tatreez project.
Extra tip:
--> Change your needle every few projects or so to
maintain needle shaft integrity (the coating gets
stripped after prolonged use).
*Eye indicates the hole in the needle that you will
ultimately thread through.
5 MUST-HAVE TOOLS TO START TATREEZ | @LINASTHOBE
Tool #4: Motifs/Designs
Once you have your 3 basic embroidery tools ready to
go, the question then becomes one of WHAT exactly
you should stitch?!
There are a ton of books out there capturing all the
tatreez motifs which you can see in the highlight on my
IG profile titled "books" but why not first check out
Tirazain:
A digital archive and library where you can find and
access nearly 1000 Palestinian motifs FOR FREE!
Interactive and searchable, you can filter based on
theme, # of colors present, size and time to stitch OR
origin.
Once you find the motif you're looking for, you simply
find the best view for your stitching practice and
download the type of file that suits your needs (I
recommend the PNG format for your first project).
Did I mention that it's all free?
Incredible.
WEBSITE
[Link]
SOCIAL MEDIA
@[Link]
5 MUST-HAVE TOOLS TO START TATREEZ | @LINASTHOBE
Tool #5: Scissors
You'll be cutting your thread so you'll need a pair of
scissors to do the job.
Cross-stitching isn't finicky when it comes to how the
thread is cut so really any pair of scissors you already
have will do the job.
BUT, may I recommend some aesthetically pleasing
all-purpose thread snippers? You'll be taking pictures
of your work and scissors can add a little UMPH to
those pictures, amiright???
(BONUS) Tool: Hoop
There are some strong opinions about hoops in the tatreez
community but honestly, using a hoop was how I first
learned how to cross-stitch and I sometimes return back to
it for certain types of projects.
I find a hoop to really help you get a great visual of cross-
stitching as you're picking up the practice and then once
you're ready to go on autopilot mode, you can ditch the
hoop!
It's also likely one of the cheapest tools that you'll ever
have to invest in anyways, so why not :)
5 MUST-HAVE TOOLS TO START TATREEZ | @LINASTHOBE
ARE YOU READY
TO GET STARTED?!
If you needed a sign to begin your
tatreez journey, let this guide be it!
I'm sincerely so psyched to see what
you create and feel connected to
the beautiful Palestinian tradition of
tatreez <3
P.s. Keep an eye out, there may be a Tatreez 101 class coming
your way soon ;-)
5 MUST-HAVE TOOLS TO START TATREEZ | @LINASTHOBE
