Rooted in Thread: A Collaboration Woven with Intention

When Fatima of Abuelita Fiber Company and I first started dreaming together, we weren’t just trying to create a product—we wanted to create a feeling. A moment of stillness. A sacred pause in a world that rarely slows down.

At the heart of it, we wanted to learn—and then generously share that learning with our broader tatreez community. To bridge our practices, to uncover what had been lost, and to reimagine what could be.

We first connected virtually (shoutout to my partner-in-crime Amanne of Min Amanne Designs for nudging us into a Zoom call). But almost immediately, I felt compelled to meet Fatima in person. Something in the way she spoke about natural dyeing and her deep calling to work with locally sourced fibers struck a chord in me—resonant and undeniable.

It was the way she described knowing the very sheep whose wool would be spun into yarn, which she would then dye—sometimes using plants she foraged herself—that made me pause. And then lean in. I had a hundred questions and a deep desire to understand more.

We met at a coffee shop in Virginia, and I must’ve asked her a million questions—about her process, her inspirations, and whether she’d come across any knowledge about how women used to dye threads and fabrics in Palestine. She answered each question with patience and passion, and I listened like someone gathering puzzle pieces.

Somewhere between the cups of coffee and the Hand Dying 101 class I subjegated her to, we both felt it: that quiet recognition that we were each holding a thread of something much larger than ourselves. For me, it was tatreez. For her, natural dyeing. Two practices, both rooted in memory, land, and survival.

And so we wondered—what might it look like to bring them together?

Although documentation on historical dyeing practices in Palestine is limited, I’d come across research linking certain global organic dyes to Palestinian embroidery. One that stood out was cochineal—a tiny insect found on cacti that, when crushed, produces a range of beautiful hues from soft pink to rich, vibrant red. This material, like so many others, carried with it stories of trade, knowledge-sharing, and ancestral expertise passed down through generations.

That conversation—grounded in curiosity, respect, and shared vision—planted the seed for what would become the Rooted In Thread Tatreez Tote Bag Kit.

We created it not just to be stitched, but to be experienced.

And your response? It left us completely speechless: Our first batch sold out within hours. 💫

✨ Missed the first drop? Don’t worry. Pre-orders for the next batch are now open! Click here to reserve your kit.

Why "Rooted In Thread"?

We chose the name Rooted In Thread intentionally. This kit isn’t just about embroidery—it’s about how our histories live in every stitch, how our traditions live in every thread, and how our hands carry the stories of our grandmothers even when we’re thousands of miles from home.

Being “rooted” is a radical act in a world that constantly asks us to uproot, if not force explusion from the land that our ancestors were once on.

Tatreez has always been that anchor for me, and I knew that bringing it together with Fatima’s deep knowledge of natural dyeing would create something powerful: a chance to celebrate that heritage and an invitation to join in the slow, mindful practice of Tatreez that has tied our people to our land for centuries.

What’s Inside the Kit?

Every item in the Rooted In Thread kit was chosen with deep care and intention. Here's what you'll receive:

👜 Tote Bag with Pre-Printed Design
A natural cotton tote featuring a tatreez pattern inspired by resistance, memory, and rootedness. Printed directly onto the fabric for ease of stitching, the design is paired with a quote by the late Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani:
“The land is the mother of all things. It nurtures our culture, shapes our identity, and bears the scars of our history.”

This quote grounds the piece in purpose and reminds us why we return to our craft—because the land, like our stitches, holds stories we refuse to forget.

🧵 Naturally-Dyed Threads
Hand-dyed by Fatima using cochineal, one of the most historically significant dyes in Palestinian tatreez. This rich red color—symbolizing love, strength, and the life force of the land—was traditionally made from insects that thrive on cactus plants.

In this kit, we honor that legacy by following the same time-honored techniques our ancestors once used: carefully simmering 100% cotton thread into a vibrant dye bath made of ground cochineal. Each thread is gently immersed, absorbing the deep red hues slowly and intentionally. The result is more than just color—it’s a story. A connection to land. A thread that ties us to generations past.

📝 Printed Postcard with Instructions & QR Code
One side includes everything you need to begin: instructions, material guide, and a link to a full video tutorial. The other side introduces the inspiration behind the project, our collaboration, and the meaning embedded in the design.

💭 A Moment to Reflect
This isn’t fast fashion. This is slow making. Every kit is an invitation to connect—with your hands, your story, and your community.

🌿 Pre-order your kit today before the next batch sells out! This is a limited edition item, and we expect this round to go quickly as well.
👉 Click here to reserve yours

Behind the Collaboration: A Meeting of Hearts & Histories

This kit was born out of friendship and shared values. Fatima and I are both daughters of diaspora, each with a set of Latino grandparents. We’ve both walked the path of reconnecting with our ancestral traditions while living in the United States—hers through the power of plant dyes and fiber, mine through the ancient language of tatreez.

Our first meeting felt like a reunion. We talked about land. About belonging. About craft. We realized we were both holding onto threads of culture and weaving them into something new—something our ancestors might not have imagined, but would undoubtedly recognize.

The process of co-creating this kit was intimate, joyful, and full of care. From experimenting with natural dyes to finalizing the motif that would live on the tote, we poured so much of ourselves into every detail. We hope you feel that when you hold the kit in your hands.

The Meaning Behind the Design

The tatreez pattern we chose was inspired by the cochineal that gave us this beautifully, deep pink hue. As tatreez is in of itself rooted in the land of Palestine, we felt inspired to call upon that tradition after deciding on using cochineal to dye the thread.

And so, simply put, we decided on using a tatreez motif symbolizing the cactus plant.

Tatreez motifs are patterns that speak. They tell stories. They reclaim space. They say, We are still here.

Layering that with Fatima’s plant-dyed threads felt like bringing the design to life. The color isn’t just color—it’s essence. It’s pigment from the earth. It’s the land speaking back through your needle and most importantly, it’s connecting you directly to the cacti of Palestine, even if you’re not on Palestinian land.

Why This Kit Matters

In a time of deep disconnection—when so many of us are watching our homelands suffer, when so many are searching for something to hold onto—this kit offers a small act of remembrance and resistance.

It’s not loud. It’s not flashy.
But it’s powerful.

It says: I remember who I am.
It says: My story matters.
It says: I’m connected to something deeper.

Ready to Stitch with Us?

Our first batch sold out quickly, and we’re so moved by your response. We’re now opening pre-orders for the next round of kits, and we’d love for you to be part of it.

✂️ Pre-order now and be among the first to receive the next limited batch of Rooted In Thread kits.
💌 Shipping begins no later than April 21st.
👉 Click here to pre-order

We can’t wait to see what you create. Tag us at @linasthobe and @abuelitafibercompany so we can cheer you on and celebrate your work.