THOBE

Tatreez inspired cross-stitch figurines

Dedicated to the Children of Palestine

Tatreez (تطريز) is a traditional Palestinian form of cross-stitch embroidery, passed down through generations of women in villages.

I began this project as a way to honor historic Tatreez dresses (thobes) while inspiring a new generation of Palestinian embroiderers, and their friends, to engage with this ancient and beautiful craft through play.

At its heart, this work is about representation and how we converse with our younger selves. I want Palestinians to see themselves in these figurines and imagine wearing their grandmothers’ dresses. Many of us have never encountered a historic thobe in real life due to our grandparents’ sudden and violent displacement during the Nakba.

For inspiration, I explored images of large narrative tapestries such as The Palestinian Wedding and The Palestinian Henna Party which are interpretations of our heritage found in countless Palestinian homes around the world. Historically, there are very few examples of human figurines in Palestinian Tatreez to reference.

This collection of patterns is offered freely. A donation to a Tatreez-related charity or embroiderer of your choice in Palestine is encouraged.

These patterns are intended for non-commercial use and are a form of cultural expression intended to highlight the Palestinian cause. Any commercial use, reproduction, or sale is prohibited.

© 2026 Rima Musa