Breath new life into your wardrobe in a sustainable way with traditional Palestinian embroidery designs
DESIGNED BY ELIAN ABOUDI
TRY SOMETHING NEW WITH
Up your fashion game with a selection of pretty Palestinian embroidery patterns, known as Tatreez. Including some traditional motifs such as the feather, jasmine flower, lupines plant and fan motifs, these charts are handy to have on hand for upcycling long-forgotten garments lingering at the back of a wardrobe, patching over a tear or stain, as well as adding personality and a splash of vibrant colour. You can use them as standalone motifs or even in repeat to cover a whole item.
Take inspiration from our stitched models and wear your hobby proud. Whether you want to customise T-shirts, jeans, skirts, canvas shoes or even a belt or hat, there’s no end to the possibilities. All you need is some soluble canvas tacked in place before you start – just follow our guide on page 30. Why not look up the history of Tatreez and Palestinian culture as you stitch, and spread the word about this stunning decorative art form? After all, everyone’s going to want to know where you got that jacket!
Thrifty fashion hack
Factbox Stitching Time Approx. 1+ hours each Type of Stitches Cross stitch Ease of Stitching Intermediate
Meet Elian Aboudi DecoElian
I’ve gathered a few of the many famous Palestinian embroidery patterns, known as Tatreez. These designs can be used as desired on any part of the clothing, as a separate motif or repetitive pattern. www.DecoElian.etsy.com
I’m a big fan of customising clothing with stitch. It can be tricky, depending on what type of fabric you are stitching onto, but the compliments I get, always make my sore fingers more than worth it! HANNAH, CHARTING ASSISTANT
Catherine READER PANEL
Looking at these sustainable fashion designs, I’m thinking maybe I can upcycle my girls’ clothing with them or make items for my nieces. Sometimes, the latest fashion is just not for me, so it would be nice to stitch the smaller designs to liven up plain items.
SCAN ME Find out more about stitching on clothes and bags at www. gathered.how
How to... use soluble canvas
1 Start by selecting your pattern and how many repeats you’ll stitch on your chosen garment. You can then w
