AMAL IS A BUILDER, TATREEZER, AND EXPLORER (@amalalii). Amal begins by recounting her upbringing in Deir Dibwan, a village near Ramallah, where tatreez was ever-present—in homes, on clothing, and as part of daily life. Inspired at a young age by her aunt’s embroidered Qur’anic verses and wedding scenes, Amal grew up surrounded by both the aesthetic and cultural depth of tatreez.

Now living outside of Palestine, tatreez remains a grounding force for Amal—a way to resist erasure, reconnect with her roots, and pass on culture to the next generation. She’s currently working on her own thobe and collaborating with her mother and sisters on a collective tatreez project. Teaching her nieces to stitch has also become a powerful way to extend that thread across generations and borders.

At the first Tatreez Retreat, Amal found unexpected community. The space was transformative, offering a sense of shared purpose and collective care. As a builder, she now helps shape that space for others, seeing tatreez not just as art, but as a living ritual of connection, healing, and belonging.

You’ll hear about:

>> 0:52: Amal’s connection to Palestine

>> 3:14: Inspiration for her tatreez practice and thobe

>> 12:00: The community she didn’t know she needed

>> 15:50: Advice and what she wished she knew before taking on a thobe

>> 18:32: Teaching tatreez

>> 20:48: What tatreez means living in and out of Palestine

>> 23:39: What tatreez means as an engineer

>> 27:50: Other tatreez projects

>> 28:49: Major life lessons from tatreez

Rate, Review, & Follow on Your Favorite Podcast Platform

“I love Palestinian embroidery and Tatreez Talk.” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show! This helps us elevate the vibrant narratives of Palestinian embroiderers and support more tatreez-ers — just like you — in learning more about tatreez and connecting with each other. You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and others -- just scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let us know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. We’re adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!

Links Mentioned

>> 8 Palestinian chest Panel Mural ( Tatreez Pattern) by @TasneemTatreezTales

Follow us @tatreeztalk
Follow Amanne @minamanne & Lina @linasthobe