What is a Sampler
Among the fascinating aspects of Tatreez is the concept of samplers. In this post, we explore their significance, purpose, and how they serve as an excellent learning experience for embroidery enthusiasts.
What is a Tatreez Sampler?
A Tatreez sampler is a piece of cloth that serves as a canvas for incorporating various motifs, patterns, and stitches. Samplers act as valuable tools for learning and skill development, allowing beginners to explore motifs, refine techniques, improve stitch tension, and achieve consistent results.
Motifs Through Time
A motif in Palestinian embroidery represents a pattern with a name, often relating to nature or social life. Naming these designs facilitated communication and commissioning among women.
The early stages of Palestinian embroidery are marked by geometric patterns, including triangles and squares, some of which remained abstract while others took on representations like flowers (roses) and iconic symbols such as the cypress tree.
The Gaza cypress tree is featured on the left, while the Yaffa cypress tree is depicted on the right side.
Early Palestinian embroidery featured geometric patterns such as triangles and squares. Over time, some evolved into recognizable forms like flowers and symbolic elements such as the cypress tree.
In the late nineteenth century, this began to shift as different regions adopted more curvilinear motifs influenced by European design. These introduced elements like birds, wreaths, and human figures into Tatreez.
Embroidered sampler
© The Trustees of the British Museum As1968,12.2
Foreign Moon (Qamar) Motif
Motifs labeled as “foreign” reflect the influence of pattern books. The Foreign Moon (Qamar) motif, seen in Lydd, Ramallah, and Al Khalil, carries subtle indicators of this external inspiration.
Tatreez Samplers
© The Trustees of the British Museum As1981,23.5
© The Trustees of the British Museum As1981,23.5
How to Create a Sampler
1. Gather your Materials
- Aida cloth (11 count recommended for beginners)
- Aida cloth size depending on your design
- Size 8 pearl cotton thread or embroidery floss
- Tapestry needle (Size 24)
- Embroidery scissors
2. Create your Design
- Collect traditional motifs and arrange them into a mosaic
- Organize motifs into rows or columns
- Use design tools if needed
- Ensure the design fits your fabric dimensions
3. Prepare Aida Cloth (Optional)
- Secure edges using thread or masking tape to prevent fraying
4. Begin Stitching
Sampler Example
Download Sampler PDF
This sampler also serves as a great way to identify designs that are relatively straightforward to stitch and those that might pose challenges or lead to mistakes if not approached with focus.
Can you spot the small extra stitch error in this sampler?
Embroidery floss separated into four strands was used, with knotless finishes achieved by threading ends through previous stitches. A size 24 tapestry needle was used, which is ideal for working with Aida cloth.
Close Up Motifs
Displaying and Preserving Samplers
Once completed, a Tatreez sampler can be framed or kept as a treasured artwork. Displaying samplers allows you to showcase your progress and celebrate the beauty of your work.
Tatreez samplers are not only beautiful creations but also valuable tools for learning and personal expression. They allow embroidery enthusiasts to explore motifs, stitches, and cultural meaning through practice.
So pick up your needle, thread, and Aida cloth, and let the world of Tatreez unfold before your eyes.
Sources
- Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood — Encyclopedia of Embroidery of the Arab World
- Margarita Skinner — Palestinian Embroidery Motifs: A Treasury of Stitches 1850–1950
- Shelagh Weir — Palestinian Costumes