Palestinian Embroidery Motifs: A Treasury of Stitches 1850-1950

The tradition of embroidery is one of the great art forms of village life in Palestine. From mother to daughter, each generation added new inspirations to the traditional designs. Women would meet on market days, for family celebrations and of course at the pilgrims’ meeting places and gain muse from each other.

Margarita Skinner of Switzerland in collaboration with Widad Kawar of Jordan provides us with a glimpse into the history of embroidery, starting with the discovery of the needle some 20,000 years ago. Over 200 Palestinian motifs of the period 1850-1950 have been illustrated.

Unlike previously published books on Palestinian Embroidery, this book, Palestinian Embroidery Motifs 1850 – 1950: A Treasury of Stitches, is the first to document all the different motifs by origin and names used on the old dresses. This is a very important book for both people interested in the craft of embroidery and the history and culture of the Palestinian people.

See a video preview of the book: