IN THIS EPISODE, WE’RE KICKING OFF SEASON 5 OF TATREEZ TALK! Join Lina and Amanne as we catch up after a full summer of teaching, creating, and building community — and share what’s in store for the new season.

Summer Highlights

• Launch of Lina’s new “Design Your Thobe Story” workshop → happening Sept 25 + 27 for just $33! This 90-minute workshop is the easiest way to finally start your thobe — you’ll walk away with Lina’s sewing pattern, a design warm-up, and a mood board plan to keep stitching long after the session.
• Preparations for our third annual Tatreez Retreat in Morocco this October
• Amanne’s busy summer teaching classes, hosting circles, and organizing with Prosthetics for Palestine
• Our first-ever Tatreez Talk LIVE in NYC with over 50 attendees (and lessons learned when the recording didn’t save…)
• The joy — and necessity — of reconnecting with community in person

Looking Ahead This Season

• Guest interviews with Palestinian artists across disciplines — from embroidery collectives to creative entrepreneurs
• More live events and panels (Bay Area, we see you 👋)
• Continuing to explore how tatreez serves as both personal grounding and collective resistance
• Building connections that bridge online and in-person tatreez communities

Also Mentioned

• Noor’s Story Part 1: Palestine – Threads of Home by The Refugee Archive
• Noor’s GoFundMe → Lina is directly transferring funds to Noor to help keep her parents in Gaza alive

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!

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

JOANNA BARAKAT IS AN ARTIST, FOUNDER OF THE TATREEZ CIRCLE, AND NOW AUTHOR (@joanna.barakat.art; @thetatreezcircle). Joanna shares how tatreez became central to her identity—even though neither of her Palestinian grandmothers wore embroidered dresses. Her connection grew not from proximity, but from a deep sense of belonging and curiosity about the meaning behind the stitches.

Frustrated by the lack of resources on Palestinian embroidery in contemporary art, Joanna wrote Narrative Threads to document the artists who have used tatreez as a visual language of resistance, memory, and liberation. From village dress motifs to the revolutionary art of the 1960s, and now to global stitchers on Instagram, she traces how tatreez continues to evolve as a powerful tool for storytelling—especially in the face of erasure.

Joanna reminds us that cultural preservation is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Her book is a tribute to the artists who continue to create in displacement and under siege.

Order your copy of Narrative Threads and help amplify the brilliance of Palestinian art and identity.

You’ll hear about:

>> 1:01: Joanna’s connection to Palestine

>> 4:53: Introduction to art and incorporating tatreez into her art

>> 9:02: Heart Strings and what it led to

>> 15:39: Beginning @thetatreezcircle

>> 25:39: The significance of contemporary artists using tatreez

>> 34:54: Narrative Threads by Joanna Barakat

>> 47:34: 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

>> Joanna’s Website

>> Order your copy of Narrative Threads here

Boycott ZARA and all Inditex brands—Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Oysho, ZARA Home. Click here for more information.

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

NISREEN IS A PALESTINIAN TATREEZ ARTIST BASED IN THE UK (@nisreensthreads). Nisreen’s tatreez journey began during lockdown when she stumbled upon the tradition and decided to give it a try. Starting with simple motifs, she taught herself using YouTube and Instagram tutorials—gradually falling in love with the rhythm and meaning behind every stitch.

Her first major project was a denim jacket embroidered with the names of Palestinian villages, which she wore to protests. The response was overwhelming. It wasn’t just a garment—it was a walking statement of memory and resistance. That project sparked a deeper connection to her heritage, eventually inspiring her to begin stitching her own thobe. Though she’s never set foot in Palestine, each motif she selects is intentionally tied to a region, flower, or village—turning research into reclamation.

For Nisreen, tatreez is a source of grounding, pride, and power. It’s her way of telling the world: we are here, we have always been here—and we are not going anywhere.

BUT make sure you sit properly! Posture is critical for your tatreez practice.

You’ll hear about:

>> 0:43: Nisreen meets Amanne in Paris

>> 4:54: Nisreen’s connection to Palestine

>> 11:18: Her Palestinian identity growing up in the UK

>> 14:48: Tatreez is Palestinian and Nisreen’s journey

>> 22:40: Going from zero to tatreez on a denim jacket

>> 26:14: Nisreen’s next goal, a thobe!

>> 33:53: Her tatreez design style

>> 37:15: Connecting with family and others through tatreez

>> 47:13: What’s next for Nisreen

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

>> Nisreen’s Threads on Etsy

Boycott ZARA and all Inditex brands—Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Oysho, ZARA Home. Click here for more information.

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

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

Boycott ZARA and all Inditex brands—Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Oysho, ZARA Home. Click here for more information.

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

TALA AND JOANN TOTAH ARE TWO BAY AREA-BASED PALESTINIAN ARTISTS WHO EMBRACE THE IMPERFECT, JOYFUL, AND REBELLIOUS PRACTICE OF EMBROIDERY THROUGH THEIR BELOVED TEAM MESSY BACK MANIFESTO (@tatreezwithtala; @joanndotcom). With humor and heart, they share the story of their family roots in Ramallah, Ramleh, and Taybeh, reflecting on how diaspora, displacement, and devotion to culture shaped their identities and creative work. Tala and Joann embody what it means to stitch without shame, inviting others to find freedom in process over perfection.

Their approach to tatreez is refreshingly accessible and full of personality. Whether teaching each other new stitches or laughing through mistakes, the Totah cousins use their practice to deepen their connection not only to Palestine but also to each other. A standout moment in the episode is their powerful family archive project: layering tatreez directly onto old family photographs. This act turns static images into living, breathing works of memory—where past and present meet through thread.

More than just embroidery, their work is a radical reclaiming of narrative, aesthetics, and belonging. Tala and Joann remind us that the backs of our embroidery—messy, tangled, and full of life—are just as important as the fronts. Through their stories, listeners are invited to imagine what it means to make art that is unpolished, deeply personal, and unapologetically rooted in Palestinian love and legacy.

You’ll hear about:

>> 0:48: Tala and Joann’s connection to Palestine

>> 4:26: Where tatreez came into their lives

>> 11:52: How to make a tatreez practice work for you without pressure

>> 16:00: How Tala and Joann found each other (through tatreez)

>> 28:46: Reflections on practicing tatreez in the diaspora and back in Palestine

>> 34:46: The epic Totah family tatreez archive project

>> 44:08: What’s next for their tatreez journeys

>> 50:28: 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

>> Lina’s Tatreez 101 course is now available on YouTube!

>> The Haleemah project on IG and on

Boycott ZARA and all Inditex brands—Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Oysho, ZARA Home. Click here for more information.

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

AMANI ALBAHRI IS THE FOUNDER OF TANTURA AND A THOBE COLLECTOR WHOSE WORK CENTERS PALESTINIAN MEMORY AND MATERIAL CULTURE (@TANTURA.CO). Through stories of her family and her collection, Amani offers a powerful reminder that thobes are not just garments—they are vessels of story, survival, and identity. Her reflections sparked deep conversations about what it means to embed yourself in a thobe, not just understand what was embedded by others.

One of the most moving takeaways was the story of Amani’s grandmother making diwali while recounting her experience of the Nakba—transforming painful memories into ritual and connection. The act of repetition, storytelling, and hands-on creation became a form of healing and legacy. This is why Tatreez Talk exists: to make space for these stories, and to show that embroidery is just one of many ways we carry culture.

Not everyone connects to stitching, and that’s okay. This episode highlights how collecting, admiring, and learning about thobes can be just as meaningful. Whether through thread or through storytelling, connecting to Palestinian history and resilience is available to us all.

Check out the tantura.co website!

You’ll hear about:

>> 0:57: Amani’s connection to Palestine

>> 5:56: The stories of Amani’s grandparents

>> 12:43: How tatreez showed up for Amani

>> 16:35: Collecting thobes

>> 31:14: Advice for Palestinians in diaspora who want to rescue our thobes

>> 34:00: Tantura thobe exhibits and how to collaborate with her

>> 44:39: Major life lesson 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!

Boycott ZARA and all Inditex brands—Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Oysho, ZARA Home. Click here for more information.

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

TALA IS A CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR GOOD RAIN PUBLISHING, AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN OWNED CHILDREN'S PUBLISHER (@tala.loves.books; @goodrainpublishing). She shares her family’s roots in Umm al-Fahm and how her identity as a Palestinian in the U.S. shaped her storytelling.

Tala’s work centers Palestinian narratives often missing from children’s literature. She highlights the power of stories as tools for resistance, representation, and cultural preservation—and her hope that all children can see themselves reflected with pride and depth. We also talk about the joy of dressing her daughter in a thobe (that she’s making in front of her eyes!) and what it means to pass that heritage on.

We explore the intersections of literature, art, and activism—plus Tala’s journey in indie publishing and the importance of decolonizing our bookshelves.

Want to support her work? Tala is looking for help spreading the word, navigating publishing, and sharing her books—reach out if you can help!

You’ll hear about:

>> 0:43: Tala’s connection to Palestine

>> 3:10: Tala’s tatreez journey

>> 5:23: The impact of tatreez on Tala’s Palestinian identity

>> 10:55: The story behind her daughter’s thobe

>> 17:18: Good Rain Publishing and journey as a small business owner

>> 26:30: Advice on incorporating Palestine meaningfully with children

>> 35:22: What’s next for Tala’s tatreez journey

>> 36:37: Tala’s 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

>> Get your Palestine books from Good Rain Publishing website

Boycott ZARA and all Inditex brands—Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Oysho, ZARA Home. Click here for more information.

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

FARAH IS A TATREEZ ARTIST, CRAFTER, POET, AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER (@artcoloredglasses). Farah shares her family roots in the village of Kur near Tulkarem, and speaks about the generational trauma caused by the 1948 Nakba, which split her family across borders. Though her great aunts were seamstresses, Farah grew up cut off from the tradition of embroidery. She shares how this generational rupture shaped her longing for cultural connection while growing up between the U.S. and the Gulf.

Farah speaks about finally learning tatreez in 2020 through online classes. It became a way to reclaim something she always felt was hers but never had access to. She weaves in memories of learning Western-style quilting from her American grandmother and describes how tatreez opened space for healing, grief, and creative expression rooted in her Palestinian identity.

Farah also shares her excitement about making—and one day spinning—her own thread. She talks about hand-dyeing, using every last scrap, and dreaming of reclaiming thread production as a cultural practice. Her approach is rooted in sustainability, honoring natural resources without waste. For her, crafting is not just personal—it’s political, ancestral, and full of possibility.

If you’re in Phoenix, connect with Farah on all things tatreez and hand-dyeing!

You’ll hear about:

>> 0:40: Farah’s connection to Palestine

>> 4:44: Family connections, growing up in the US, and visiting Palestine

>> 12:58: Beginning her tatreez journey

>> 19:26: Art Colored Glasses

>> 26:03: Exploring botanical dyeing and what Farah has learned so far

>> 37:20: The influence of exploring hand-dyeing on her tatreez practice

>> 40:26: How tatreez inspires finding community

>> 48:42: What’s next for Farah’s tatreez journey

>> 52:15: 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

>> Find Farah at her website Art Colored Glasses

>> Find Farah’s graphic design work with Bahja Brands (website, IG)

>> Refining the Production Date of Historical Palestinian Garments Through Dye

Boycott ZARA and all Inditex brands—Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Oysho, ZARA Home. Click here for more information.

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