Description
The first technical manual to be published on Palestinian embroidery techniques, this book catalogs a wide range of embroidery techniques used in the dressmaking in the Historic Palestine and aims to revive the stitches that have fallen out of use today, such as Tahriri (couching) and Manajel (binding). Each Palestinian embroidery technique is provided with background information collected from older embroiderers in Palestine and the Diaspora, and step-by-step, illustrated instruction for easy learning. The book also features essays on historical, contemporary, and technical aspects of the embroidery in Palestine, and photographs of the traditional costume collection at the Birzeit University Museum in the West Bank. Made through years of museum and field research, it is also an unofficial sequel to Tania Tamari Nasier and Widad Kamel Kawar’s 1992 publication, “Palestinian Embroidery: Traditional ‘fallahi’ Cross-stich”. Arabic and English. 136 pages. Written by Tania Tamari Nasir, OmarJoseph Nasser-Khoury, Shirabe Yamada, with Widad Kamel Kawar. A Sunbula production, 2019.
Size: 9 x 10.5 (in) | 23 x 27 (cm)
Preface by Shirabe Yamada, Sunbula Executive Director
“… This instruction manual focuses on stitching techniques that are less well-known than cross-stitch yet equally important, such as the joining stitches and couching embroidery. It is the first instruction manual to provide a list of these stitches, along with step-by-step illustrated instruction for easy learning. The book aims to stir interest in embroiderers, young designers, and artists today, and to encourage adaptation of these beautiful stitches in enhancing creative work.
Sunbula is thrilled and honored to undertake this venture. As a fair trade organization supporting women’s handicraft groups, we are a daily witness to the need to reinvigorate the diminishing aspects of this heritage. We believe in the immense possibilities for enriching modern-day Palestinian crafts once these stitches become popular again. “
