Tatreez & Tea: Embroidery and Storytelling in the Palestinian Diaspora

by Wafa Ghnaim, Safa Ghnaim (Editor), Feryal Abbasi-Ghnaim (Contributor)

40 embroidery patterns preserved in the Palestinian diaspora, including six complete sets of patterns to create a full traditional dress (chest, sleeve and panel);
Nine family recipes, including tea, coffee and preserves, passed on through generations of Palestinian women from Safad; Detailed traditional Palestinian embroidery technique and rare northern Palestinian Arabic craft terminology; Complete guide to the techniques, meanings and origins of each embroidery thread stitch and color;
Guidance and instructions detailed enough for inexperienced embroiderers, and inspiration ideas for those with needlework experience;
Design histories and meanings of traditional and popular Palestinian embroidery designs in the diaspora, including The Missiles, The Birds, The Snakes, The Ducks, The Scorpions, The Story of Cleopatra, The Gardens, The Tree of Life and The Wheat Harvest.
Palestinian tatreez embroidery is a centuries-old folk art, traditionally passed from mother to daughter over a cup of tea. In Tatreez & Tea: Embroidery and Storytelling in the Palestinian Diaspora, Wafa Ghnaim brings traditional Palestinian embroidery to life by resuscitating its roots as a powerful, provocative, and profound storytelling tool used by Palestinian women for hundreds of years to document their stories, observations, and experiences.



Each chapter deconstructs the meaning of selected embroidery design from Wafa's family, preserved by her mother, Feryal Abbasi-Ghnaim. Wafa guides us through each thread, stitch, and skilled technique used by Palestinian embroiderers, further evolving her voice into a sacred journaling of oral histories passed on by her maternal ancestors and ultimately inspiring her confidence to reclaim her Palestinian identity in the diaspora.


Wafa unravels the significance of each design by illuminating the experiences of her mother who learned embroidery from her mother and grandmother in mid-century Syria. Tatreez & Tea is far more than a book about traditional Palestinian costume, embroidery and meanings it s a resurrection of tatreez embroidery as a modern storytelling tool, one that guided Wafa as she found her way into the world and created a home in the Palestinian diaspora.


Mama, tayta, khaltu, umtuu
In tatreez dresses they never outgrew
It's a legacy I cannot live up to
Weaving maroon red and beautiful golden hues
Honoring you without the pain of d�j� vu.

As we pull the waste canvas and tweeze
We earn our right to be adorned in our tatreez
Stitches as expensive as Hermes
But invaluable are our fabric stories
They will never be lost to the occupation's crisp breeze.

- "I am Palestinian," by Wafa Ghnaim

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts

448 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2018

Reviews

[Noel نوال · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Tatreez and Tea' is a beautiful compilation work of Palestinian tatreez history, patterns, technique, tea recipes, and a biographical story of a family's legacy. I loved this book so much. Not only was 'Tatreez and Tea' highly informative about the origins and history of Palestinian tatreez, but Wafa also explains how the Nakba and the vast spread of the Palestinian diaspora has continued to change tatreez. It was heartbreaking to read how in many ways due to Israel's continued ethnic cleansing of Palestine and constant (failed) attempts of erasing Palestinian culture and history the art of tatreez is not continuing to be passed on in many Palestinian families, most especially in the global diaspora. I've always loved the beauty of Palestinian tatreez, but now I have an even deeper reverence for the amazing embroidery that tells histories and expresses through intricate and cultural designs.
I loved reading about the history of how Palestinian women would secretly pass messages and express themselves to one another through tatreez never allowing illiteracy to prevent them from communicating in non-verbal ways, especially when they had secrets to share.
Reading about how Wafa's mom has fought so hard to keep the art of tatreez going, especially with passing the art down to her daughters, after having escaped Palestine during the Nakba was so deeply moving. Wafa and her mother teach online courses of tatreez to keep the beautiful Palestinian art alive and thriving so it can continue to be passed on for generations to come.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book about a textile tradition I'm totally unfamiliar with, Palestinian embroidered dresses. I read it on my Paperwhite, and I want to look at it again in a tablet to see the pictures in color.
Palestinian people have lost everything, but still try to pass on this tradition from mother to daughter. The motifs are not just pictures, but images that tell aspects of the story of the maker and her people. Ghnaim's mother sounds like quite a person!
It could have used another pass by a copyeditor, but don't let that put you off this valuable book.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful dissection of the Palestinian diaspora told through the cultural and oral history of a single family and their efforts to keep the tradition of embroidery alive. I learned a great deal about these traditions, and only regret that the copy I purchased was black and white. I imagine the book is resplendent when shown in full colour

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting combination of memoir, crafting instruction and tea recipes. Wafa has followed her mother's path regarding Tatreez Palestinian embroidery. This brings a great connection to their Palestinian heritage as is now embodied in the Diaspora. The book contains stories of the fleeing, living in refugee camps, immigrating and trying to create a new life. It also has stories of the author growing up as a Palestinian-American and how to fit in and find her own path. Very enjoyable.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, heartbreaking and heartwarming - this is a story of one family within a much bigger picture of love, disaster, strength and storytelling. The modern tales wrap around the history of Palestinian life and the struggles to keep tradition going through changes. Included are recipes and patterns with all their meanings.
Overall a very lovely book.

[Safa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book (obviously)!