Tatreez Talk
Tatreez Talk is a the podcast that stitches together the vibrant narratives of Palestinian embroidery! Join us as we chat with talented embroiderers and artists, sharing their stories, inspirations, and the cultural significance behind each meticulously crafted piece. Thread your needle, press play, and let the stories unfold…one stitch at a time.
Tatreez Talk
S6E3. A Lifetime of Tatreez with Hajja Haleemah
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HAJJA HALEEMAH IS A PALESTINIAN GRANDMOTHER WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN DEEPLY INTERTWINED WITH TATREEZ. She shares stories about her upbringing in Palestine, her family, and her enduring love for returning home. Through her reflections, we get a glimpse into everyday life, community connections, and how cultural traditions are passed down across generations.
Hajja Haleemah explains how she first learned tatreez and how embroidery was historically learned by observing others. She discusses how designs were often copied from what people saw around them rather than from formal patterns, highlighting the communal and organic nature of the craft.
Over the decades, Hajja has hand-embroidered 14 traditional Palestinian dresses and tapestries, each one carrying its own story. Among these pieces is her remarkable Intifada thobe, a dress she spent three years embroidering, inspired by a garment her sister brought from Ramallah. The thobe has since become a symbol of pride and resistance, even accompanying Hajja to protests where people from many backgrounds stopped to photograph and celebrate the piece.
You’ll hear about:
>> 1:31: Hajja Haleemah’s connection to Palestine
>> 3:04: How she started tatreez
>> 4:28: Beginning to make Palestinian dresses
>> 9:26: Tatreez when living in Palestine
>> 11:10: Hajja Haleemah’s intifada thobe
>> 13:54: Hajja’s current projects
>> 20:50: Her tatreez practice now
>> 22:14: Hajja’s advice for all of us!
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“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!
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Follow Amanne @minamanne & Lina @linasthobe
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