Chapter 1 - Welcome to Tatreez
Before you begin creating your own Tatreez project, it helps to immerse yourself in the rich history and visual language of traditional motifs. This lesson offers a curated list of trusted resources (both digital and print) that provide insight into regional patterns, historical context, and visual references to inspire your own work.
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Tatreez Traditions - Motif Library
Digital library featuring traditional Tatreez motif collections, Tatreez patterns, and detailed stitching instructions for beginners. All these valuable resources are readily available, free to access and download!
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Tirazain Digital Archive
Tirazain, a digital archive of more than 1,000 motifs. The platform offers high-resolution designs available for free download, providing options with or without grids, editable design files, and compatibility with machine embroidery formats.
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Palestinian Embroidery
Thanks to the Tiraz Centre (a Jordan-based organization dedicated to preserving Tatreez), you can access this book as a free PDF download. This book represents various Tatreez patterns from Palestinian regions including Ramallah, Yaffa, Al Khalil, Gaza, & Biʾr al-Sab.
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Palestinian Embroidery Motifs
This book features 200 Palestinian motifs dating from 1850 to 1950, each illustrated. This book stands out as the pioneering work that comprehensively catalogs these motifs by their origins and names, providing valuable insights into the past
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The Journeys of Motifs
This book traces the history of pattern books in central Europe from the sixteenth to the seventeenth centuries, which drew inspiration from Persia, Mesopotamia, and Mamluk Egypt. This book also presents samples of these motifs, revealing their origins and meanings.
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Guide to The Palestinian Art of Embroidery (Arabic)
This book features 642 motifs from traditional Palestinian costumes. Each motif is numbered, named, and accompanied by details about its placement on the dress and its geographical origin.