We're so glad you're interested in learning tatreez! Both tatreez kits available in our online shop are easily accessible to beginners and will walk you through instructions step by step.

The main difference is the materials included in each kit, namely the fabric stitched on. Depending on which kit you choose, you will end up with a different result.

Let’s break it down together below.

The Chest Panel Series

First, let's walk through the available tatreez kits you see in our shop. Each one is a part of a series called The Chest Panel Series. A "Chest Panel" refers to one of the pieces of a Palestinian dress, aka. a thobe. It is located exactly where described, covering the chest area.

This series was inspired by a Qaba (chest panel) from five different Palestinian regions. They are: Ramallah, Gaza, Jerusalem, Nablus, and Bethlehem before we also added on Yaffa and Al-Khalil.

Our goal through this series is to equip students with the knowledge, background, and confidence to one day create their own thobe. If you can stitch a mini chest panel, you can surely create a full-sized version!

Now, let's break down which kit is best for you:

The Beginner Kit

This kit is ideal for beginners of tatreez who don’t know where to start. It includes a fabric called Aida Cloth (or الايتامين in Arabic). It is a fabric that gets stitched on, then framed, and kept. The end result is a framed design.

For an example, reference our Ramallah: Beginner Kit.

The Advanced Kit

This kit is ideal for those who have some embroidery experience or tatreez knowledge, and want to level up their skill. It includes a tote bag and tool called Waste Canvas (or الماركة in Arabic). There is a three-step process to attach, embroider on, and remove the Waste Canvas. The end result is an embroidered tote bag.

For an example, reference our Ramallah: Advanced Kit. 

We hope this helps you pick the best kit for yourself to start your tatreez journey today!