Craft Your Dream Thobe - Digital Course
A Step-by-Step Guided Journey to a Unique and Handmade Palestinian Dress.
The program is the only systematic approach that will help you confidently design, stitch, and construct a unique and one-of-a-kind Palestinian thobe, allowing you to tell YOUR story. Engage in a community with fellow thobe-makers as you reclaim Palestinian tradition, both in the journey and the outcome!
Before I tell you all about this program, let’s make sure you’re a good fit.
You’re right for Craft Your Dream Thobe if you want to create a Palestinian thobe from scratch, one that is as unique as your story and reminiscent of the beautifully handcrafted dresses made by our ancestors.
Craft Your Dream Thobe is right for you if you’re ready to embrace the deliberately slow and steady pace of bringing to life a masterpiece – one that would make Teta proud. It's an endeavor that, even if you're miles away from your ancestral land, inherently connects you to Palestine.
If you are…
A Palestinian in the diaspora seeking to reconnect to your roots by meticulously crafting a thobe that embodies your cultural heritage and journey, bridging the gap between your past and present.
A Palestinian mother longing to pass on the legacy of your ancestors to your children by creating a personalized thobe that serves as a tangible link to your Palestinian heritage despite being miles away from your homeland.
An artist passionate about reclaiming your cultural identity through the slow and deliberate process of handcrafting a traditional dress that reflects the spirit of Palestinian women in the diaspora.
A Palestinian ally with an interest in textile arts looking to appreciate and engage with this indigenous craft, fostering a deeper understanding and connection to Palestinian culture and traditions through hands-on creation and collaboration.
You’re in the right place!
Craft Your Dream Thobe will empower you with the tools, inspiration, and unwavering support to create a garment that not only reflects your unique journey and cultural heritage but also serves as a material connection to your homeland, a cherished heirloom to pass down through generations, and a celebration of Palestinian artistry and resilience.
By the end of this program you will have…
01.
Nailed Down Your Story
that captures your journey till this point and which will be forever cemented in the stitches that make up your soon-to-be handcrafted masterpiece.
02.
Fully Designed Each Panel with Tatreez
that reflects your story and style while intricately incorporating traditional motifs that echo the rich heritage of Palestinian embroidery, and perhaps a few new ones not yet documented.
03.
Measured and Cut Fabric to Your Size
using a dress pattern tried and tested, and with the beginner in mind. Printable at home or at a copy shop, you also gain the added benefit of learning how to read a sewing dress pattern.
04.
Mastered Garment Construction
by skillfully assembling each component and turning raw materials into a wearable dress, ultimately bringing your vision of the perfect thobe to life.
05.
Embraced the Slowness of Tatreez
and finding peace and solace in the deliberate pace of hand embroidery, needle and thread acting as a direct communication channel with Palestinian ancestors.
06.
Cultivated Confidence & Pride
in your craftsmanship, as each completed stitch represents a testament to your dedication and heritage and your finished thobe a reflection of your craftsmanship.
Stories from Thobe-Makers
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Stories from Thobe-Makers •
Whats Inside Craft Your Dream Thobe
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The bulk of making a thobe lies in the time and energy required to do the actual stitching, but what on earth do you stitch??
Don’t worry, I got you!
In Module 1, we'll delve into the intricate process of infusing your personal narrative into your thobe design. From identifying the story you want to tell to creating an inspiration board, you'll learn how to weave meaning into every stitch.
We kick off our journey together by getting the hardest decisions out of the way to set you up for success…primarily, the PDF tatreez design files that will make up your thobe’s undoubtedly gorgeous design!
Highlights:
The art and science of determining the story you want to tell (because that’s what will drive your design).
Create your inspiration board filled with all of the things that spark beauty for you.
Key design decisions including color palette, motifs, and how much tatreez you’ll be stitching together on your dream thobe.
All of the considerations you need to be fully equipped to shop for fabrics that will make this journey smooth and fun.
Downloadable resources like Thobe Design Comparisons, Tips for Fabric Choice, and your very own Thobe Design Worksheet to jot down all the important details that will come in handy for years to come.
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After getting a sense of the story you want to tell on your thobe, the next big barrier is the actual construction. Tatreez is a different technique from putting together a garment but if you’ve learned one, you most definitely can learn the other—and I’m here to walk you through it!
Together, we’ll learn to decipher the fundamentals of sewing a thobe and build confidence in our sewing skills in Module 2.
Highlights:
Unlock how to read and print the provided thobe dress sewing pattern and instructions.
Sew together a practice thobe using muslin material to make sure it fits just right using a sewing machine (recommended) or using a simple hand sewing technique.
Gain the assurance that all of your tatreez work will culminate in a perfectly tailored garment.
And of COURSE, learn the historical way of constructing a thobe by-hand through the Manajel technique.
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Having an overarching story and having each stitch mapped out are two very different things.
In Module 3, I'll guide you through each step, starting with the essential design measurements, ensuring every stitch fits perfectly. You'll learn how to measure and design your thobe, focusing on the key panels, starting with the qabbeh—where your design journey truly begins.
Highlights:
Thobe Dress Pattern Review & Design Measurements: Learn to measure and strategize your design, panel by panel, starting with the qabbeh.
Qabbeh Designs: Explore diverse design inspirations—from nature-inspired to geometric patterns—and approach your qabbeh design with confidence.
Design with Me: Follow a step-by-step process as I create a qabbeh design from scratch, keeping functionality in mind.
Expanding Your Design: Move beyond the qabbeh to the sleeves and other parts of your thobe, ensuring a cohesive look.
Bonus Content: Access a video series on how to design in MacStitch.
With downloadable worksheets, in-depth lessons, and opportunities to share and connect with your fellow thobe-makers, you'll be fully equipped to bring your thobe design to life, panel by panel.
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Now that your design and sewing pattern are good to go, let the FUN BEGIN!
Module 4 is all about getting everything prepped and ready to go to get stitching and it’s going to be oh, so good.
Highlights:
Wash and press your fabric to ensure your thobe can last a century.
Take the plunge and cut that fabric (I know it’s scary, but it’s going to look so good once it transforms into a wearable dress).
Attach waste canvas and prime your fabric for all of the intricate tatreez work.
Practical tips and tricks to navigate the pre-stitching process with ease, readying your fabric (and you!) for the transformation ahead.
Bonus Content: Access a video series on working with waste canvas.
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Your panels are all cut and stitched, the only thing left is to unveil your dream thobe!
The magic of your handmade thobe will be on full blast in Module 5 as we assemble your garment, conduct quality control checks, and add final details for a professional finish.
Highlights:
Review our Thobe Dress Pattern instructions.
Sew each panel together, one at a time.
Turn your dream thobe right side out and TRY IT ON for the very first time!
Finish off the seams and add any final touches (perhaps sew together a belt?!).
Proudly unveil your completed thobe, a testament to your creativity and craftsmanship.
And DON'T WORRY, you are not expected to have all your stitching down by the end of our 10 weeks together. You will have lifetime access to all of this content because I know from first-hand experience how much skill and time goes into the ultimate labor of love for a Palestinian Tatreez artist.
When you're ready, this module will be waiting for you.
Plus! These Bonuses To Inspire You And Stay Motivated All The Way Through Completing Your one-of-a-kind thobe.
10 Weeks of Open Office Hour (Q&A) Sessions with Lina Inside the Craft Your Dream Thobe Community for Members Only
Never get left behind. That’s the promise I’m making you inside the private Craft Your Dream Thobe space.
Our private, student-led hub is an active, highly-curated community full of supportive go-getters who are on the exact same journey as you are. Meaning, you’ll get unstuck in a matter of minutes instead of days or weeks if you were to go at it alone (trust me, I’ve been there). With myself and your fellow thobe-makers on this journey with you, we’ll turn isolation into inspiration—and frustration into adventure.
What you’ll get:
10 weeks of live Office Hour (Q&A) sessions to make sure you get your burning questions answered and move forward with clarity and confidence.
An active and highly supportive community with fellow students to make sure you get unstuck in a matter of minutes instead of weeks.
Opportunities to connect live with each other so you can get personalized attention, fast feedback, and a double dose of encouragement to keep you on track.
Overcome isolation and constantly refill your motivation tank by connecting with other thobe-makers who “get” the journey and are here to help you bring your dream dress to life.
Exclusive Dress Pattern Inspired By 6-Branch Thobe (PDF)
An ode to personalizing your dress within your own unique circumstances. Sharing ancestral traditions while helping you to make it your own is my objective.
The dress pattern digitized for this course is inspired by the “6 branch” dress which historically, provided women the ability to embroider within their own economic constraints through its structure. It also serves as the first style to develop along non-regional lines, initiating a collective identity spanning and connecting women and villages across Palestine.
What you’ll get:
Infinite PDF downloads including 20 pages of instructions and pattern files suitable for printing at-home or at a copyshop.
Comprehensive guide with sizes ranging from XXS-XXXL to ensure that all women can create their dream thobe with comfort and confidence.
Pattern with two views depending on your preferences - the first featuring a crew neckline with a slit, and the second featuring a square neckline. Each view comes in its own pattern file and the instructions accommodate both views.
How to Design in Macstitch - Exclusive Tech Tutorial Series
Design like a pro. A mini tech library using the tool that has enabled me to create all of my tatreez patterns, including my own thobe!
Whether you’re exploring different motif placements, playing around with color palettes, or want the shortcuts that I had to learn the hard way, I won’t leave you to figure it out on your own.
What you’ll get:
How-to videos taking you step-by-step on how I approach all my tatreez design ideas.
Immediate access to ready-to-use motif files using the largest digital tatreez library hosted by the incredible Tirazain.
Curated lessons shared all in one place so you can focus on the only thing that matters—bringing your vision to life!
Exclusive “Pay In Full” Bonus
A ONE-ON-ONE Private Design Session w/ Lina
In this exclusive bonus you get for paying in full, you get direct access to me for a full hour ONE-on-ONE during your thobe design process!
I know how hard it is to start from zero and the valuable time and feedback that I got from my fellow thobe-makers during my own design process was truly transformative in how I approached bringing my vision to life.
Whether you’re struggling with something really specific or simply want to use the time to brainstorm and bounce different ideas off of each other, I’m here for you!
Inside Craft Your Dream Thobe, you get…
01.
45 Lessons over 5 Modules
showing you literally EVERYTHING you need to get started and complete your dream thobe.
02.
Confidence in the mechanics of creating a garment
so that you can focus on what truly matters—stitching together what will become a masterpiece.
03.
PDF tatreez design files for each panel
that tell your specific story and guide you stitch-by-stitch to bringing your vision to life.
04.
A complete, step-by-step plan to a COMPLETED THOBE that tells your story!
Need I say more?!
Plus You’ll Be Backed by a Risk-Free 7-Day Guarantee
Diving into a thobe is a huge investment and I totally understand — it took me 2 years to complete mine, and that doesn’t include all of the $$$ that I spent on materials and tools!
So here’s why you can place your confidence in a money-back guarantee and set any enrollment nerves aside.
By the end of the 7 days, you’ll have received access to the first module of Craft Your Dream Thobe.
Meaning you’ll have had the opportunity to think through your story, identify the motifs and colors that speak most to you, and gained access to all the tools you’ll need to design and bring to life your thobe BEFORE making a final commitment.
If you don’t feel totally confident and motivated to stitch your design by 11:59 pm EST on September 15, 2024, simply reach out, show me that you’ve put in the work, and I’ll refund your investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Making a thobe is no joke, but here’s the thing…
Every skilled thobe maker, at the beginning, faced the same uncertainties. Embrace the slow and steady rhythm of handmade creation; each stitch is a step towards confidence in your work and the journey is as important-if not more-as the final creation
Lean on me and I’ll help you make sense of all that goes into this incredible tradition and remember, our ancestors were once beginners too, and the act of trying, or embarking on this journey, is a testament to your connection with these incredible women.
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Craft Your Dream Thobe will teach you foundational pieces of bringing to life your vision of a Palestinian dress, with suggestions on the tools to use.
More specifically, Craft Your Dream Thobe will primarily be taught with a focus on designing using a tool called MacStitch and sewing using a sewing machine.
If you prefer to use alternative tools, you’ll still absolutely be able to use the same strategies we teach in the program however you may need to consult the support options available depending on what you choose to use.
The important thing to remember with tools and technology is that it’s the strategy that makes those tools and technology good, not the other way around. We’ll show you the foundational strategies to make you successful with whichever tools you end up using and encourage you to use what is at your disposal and that which you’re most comfortable with.
When it comes to materials, you will be responsible for purchasing any and all materials that will make up your thobe i.e. fabric, thread, waste canvas, etc.
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From a tech perspective, the course will be taught using Macstitch as the design tool of choice. You may either purchase this design tool and follow along or use an alternative—some free alternatives will be linked in the course to help you make the choice that’s best for you.
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Making a thobe is going to take time. Mistakes are going to be made. There may be weeks (or months) where you won’t want to pick up your needle.
So, I recommend you have an honest conversation with yourself.
First, I recommend asking about the must-not-be-ignored WHY behind your interest in creating a thobe. If your answer is anything short of a deep desire to reclaim the Palestinian tradition of leaning into the slowness of making a handmade garment embedded with YOU in it, then making a thobe isn’t for you (at least not yet).
From a skill perspective, it is expected that you have already learned the technique that will be used to create the stitches that make up the thobe, which is the cross-stitch. This will not be taught as part of this course.
For those who have started tatreez but are unsure of taking on a thobe yet, I recommend trying out a waste canvas project (stitching on another fabric) before deciding to begin your thobe journey just to make sure you’ll feel comfortable on the journey.
But if your heart is in it and you find so much joy when practicing tatreez, AND you’re willing to give yourself a little extra grace during the process, then I can’t wait to see you inside Craft Your Dream Thobe!
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Craft Your Dream Thobe is a self-paced implementation program, meaning you can work as many or as little hours as your schedule allows.
A good rule of thumb would be an hour per week watching the lessons, and another 2-3 putting them into action for the first 6 weeks.
After that, it’ll be a matter of how much time you choose to spend doing the tatreez on each panel and how much tatreez you choose to use in your design.
But here’s the thing…
Craft Your Dream Thobe is designed to be done in community.
Meaning, as you stitch and engage with your fellow thobe-makers…
You’ll WANT to keep tariz-ing.
You’ll WANT to spend time working through the intricate details.
You’ll WANT the journey to keep going.
Because as you’ll soon see, creating a thobe isn’t a mundane and long process when you’re doing it amongst others.
It’s actually one of the most fun and magical things you can do for yourself.
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The course content will be dropped each Monday starting September 9th, 2024 for 10 weeks. After that, you’ll have access to everything for life.
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I’m 100% committed to Craft Your Dream Thobe being the ONLY program you need to successfully bring your Palestinian dress to life — and wear it with pride for a lifetime (and the lifetimes of your descendants ;)).
If you are committed to figuring out what story you want to tell and how you turn that story into gorgeous tatreez, and are committed to giving this your best shot — then I promise you, you WILL complete your thobe using Craft Your Dream Thobe.
And if you can show me that you’ve gone through the steps, did the work, and still don’t feel that you have a solid thobe-making foundation in place, then I insist that you reach out within 7 days to get 100% of your investment back.
For more information, please refer to my return policy here.
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You have lifetime access! All of the Craft Your Dream Thobe content is downloadable, meaning you can save the lessons onto your computer, so you will always have access to it. Whenever, wherever.
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Craft Your Dream Thobe will offer a basic hand sewing method as an alternative to the sewing machine AND the historical joining stitch (Manajel) that Palestinian women used to construct their dresses!
Thobes may be only one way to connect to Palestine…
But they ARE powerful in that they ALSO tell stories between their stitches…
OUR stories.
If you’ve been following me through my own thobe journey for even just a little while, then you’ll know that I am OBSESSED with the idea of embedding your story in a dress through its tatreez — this is a centuries-old Palestinian tradition.
For me, creating my unique garment from scratch did not only take *TWO* years of patience, hard work, and an incredible amount of learning, but it holds the story of an entire season of my life. What I celebrate when I wear my thobe is not simply just a beautifully embroidered dress, but the Palestinian Panamanian woman in the diaspora who intentionally chose to spend approximately 234.5 HOURS to revive a centuries-old Palestinian tradition in her own, unique way.
Most people see an embroidered dress like mine and think something like, “oh that is beautiful” or “I love recognizing Palestine through a dress" or “I didn’t realize Palestinian embroidery is so intricate and colorful”… at least that’s what I’ve been told when wearing this beauty out in the world.
But what our Palestinian ancestors stitched was so much MORE than the surface-level beauty and basic Palestinian identification!
Our stories are our legacy and for centuries, Palestinian women have been telling STORIES through tatreez. Stories of their own individual lives and stories of the Palestine they witnessed and experienced. They chose colors that meant something to them, designs that meant something to them, and parts of what we know as Palestine that meant something to them. Through the motifs that represent the life and earth of the Palestine of the time, they ingrained stories of themselves and by extension, of all of Palestine, through the stitches on their dress. Their legacy is the stories of their Palestine told between stitches.
On the surface, the story of my first handmade thobe is one that represents my specific upbringing, family, and personality… Its legacy, however, is the idea that I can connect to my Palestinian roots through this practice of telling a story through tatreez on a dress REGARDLESS of how I came to be the person that I am, where I am in the world, and how I decide to practice the rest of my life.
And here’s a little secret…
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I decided to create my first thobe and I’m willing to bet that the woman behind every handmade dress felt the same way the first time around.
And if they never started or took a chance on themselves to share their unique story, we’d never have all of this beautiful, tangible heritage connecting us to our homeland.
Your unique story is worth NEEDS to be told on a thobe. And I’m here to stitch alongside you, every step of the way.
I can’t wait to meet you, teach you, and cheer you on inside Craft Your Dream Thobe!
All my best,
lina
~~Currently Closed~~
COMING FALL 2025!
Have more questions? Send me a message:
info@linasthobe.com