Please browse our selection of Palestinian embroidery:

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Embroidery is sometimes called the national art of Palestine. The earliest forms of embroidered cross stitch in the Holy Land were around the 11th Century. Traditional folk embroidery was an art, with patterns, colors and types of stitch passed on through generations. Designs and thread were inspired by the natural environment in respective regions as well as rug designs in mosques and gold thread and symbols from the robes of church men. Some colors were derived from dyes from berries and flowers; others were pure silk threads from Lebanon and Syria.

As with most important symbols, embroidery is very important to the identity of the Palestinian culture. It is handed down from mother to daughter. In towns and villages alike the women often still embroider their everyday clothes, trousseaus, bridal and ceremonial dresses. Bridal trousseaus used to include between four and twelve embroidered cushions.

Although the technique used is more or less the same throughout the country, each region has its own distinctive color and its own style of embroidery characterized by a particular stitch. The stitching is done on hand-woven linen or coarse cotton, which makes it easy to count the stitches.

The stitching often tells stories. Although the traditional geometric motifs are widely used, costumes are sometimes decorated with floral designs, a result of western influence.

To learn more about Palestinian embroidery, please purchase one or more of these excellent resources from the AET Book Club:

	Embroidering a Life: Palestinian Women and Embroidery
	Elizabeth Price
	Sunbula in association with the Palestinian Heritage Center, paperback, 48 pp.
	An excellent introduction to the meaning, color and patterns of Palestinian embroidery. Printed in Palestine.
	List Price: $10
	AET Price: $10

	Palestinian Embroidery Motifs: A Treasury of Stitches 1850-1950
	Margarita Skinner and Widad Kamel Kawar
	Melisende Publishing/ Rimal Publications, 2007, paperback, 203 pp.
	A unique and strikingly beautiful print celebration of traditional Palestinian stitches and patterns. Perfect for the embroiderer looking to learn something new or for the living room coffee table.
	List Price: £14.95
	AET Price: $25

	Embroidery from Palestine
	Shelagh Weir
	University of Washington Press, 2006, paperback, 87 pp.
	An excellent introduction to Palestinian embroidery that describes the history and regional differentiations of this traditional artwork. Includes over 100 color illustrations.
	List Price: $24.95
	AET Price: $18

Please feel free to contact us if there are any products you think we should be carrying.