S4E11 of Tatreez Talk: Sit Up and Stitch the Palestinian Dream with Nisreen
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This is such a fun conversation and we kick off with how we first got in touch with Nisreen. Hint: It was a random run-in in Paris where Amanne experiences her first influencer moment! After that, it’s an immediate friendship!
Episode Shownotes
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.
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
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Links Mentioned
>> Nisreen’s Threads on Etsy
Transcript
Lina: Hi stitchers! Welcome to Tatreez talk, where we share conversations about Palestinian embroidery. I'm Lina here with my co-host Amanne, chatting with talented embroiders and artists sharing their stories, inspirations, and the cultural significance behind their work.
Amanne: On today's episode. We are chatting with Nisreen, a Palestinian Tatreez artist, based in the Uk. Who I also very randomly met on the streets of Paris back in November. We'll have to talk about that. But welcome to Tatreez talk, Nisreen, we're so excited to have you.
Nisreen: Thank you. Thank you guys, for having me and inviting me.
Lina: Honestly, I think we should probably just start with that, because I remember I actually remember a manny messaging me being like Lena. You wouldn't believe what happened to me. So I'm actually curious before a manny says anything. What was your take on that experience? I'm curious.
Nisreen: I'll tell you exactly what happened. I was in Paris with my mom, and we were.
Amanne: So chic, both of them, by the way, so chic. I love.
Lina: But I love it.
Nisreen: You are. You're so chic. We were walking. We woke up. We're like we're going to go for breakfast, and I was like, Let's go somewhere where we can have a view of the Eiffel Tower. So we went to the Trocadero, which is like this, you know, if anybody hasn't been to Paris. It's an it's an area where
Nisreen: you can kind of see from above the Eiffel Tower, and there are like a semicircle of restaurants and cafes. So we're walking.
Nisreen: and we go past one. And I look at the menu, and I'm like, let's go see some more. So we walk some more, and then we start moving around. And then, like the Eiffel Tower, starts disappearing behind the buildings. So I'm like to my mom. No, no, no, let's go back to that restaurant, because that has the best view of the Eiffel Tower. So we're walking back to the restaurant. And I look.
Nisreen: I'm talking to my mom, and I look to my right. And right outside the restaurant we're going to. I actually see Dina first, st
Nisreen: and I look at her and I in my head. I'm like she looks so familiar like, you know, when I look back at my mom, and then I look at her, and I'm like, where do I know her from, and then I look at the girl sitting next to her.
Lina: And I'm like no, no, no, I know her for sure.
Nisreen: And it literally. I just automatically looked at her. And I went. I know you like I was standing like that. And she looked at me, and she was like, Do you?
Nisreen: I was like it. Just I just blurted out, I was like, I know you. And she was like, Yeah, I was like. I'm Palestinian, I do tatreez, too, like instantly, and she was like, Oh, my God! And we hugged and we said, and then I looked at Dina, and I was like, I know you, too, like you.
Nisreen: Obviously she's a journalist. So I was like, I definitely know you. And I remembered after I watched one of her documentaries on Khalid, which I think is where she's from. I remember that. And yeah, we just started talking. And I was like, this is so weird, you know, like, what are the chances.
Lina: Move to the side. Dina, move to the side.
Lina: Danny is a star.
Amanne: Chill, chill, chill.
Nisreen: Can't lie. Amanne was the star I was.
Nisreen: No, I it's so like such a niche thing like only a Palestinian woman.
Nisreen: Oh, that's for free.
Amanne: Yeah.
Nisreen: I know, you know, like.
Amanne: It was also so funny, because when you were like, I know you, I was like ye. What did I do?
Amanne: Because, like I've always like with Dina. And like she's 1 of my besties. So like, I like, people know her. I'm like, Okay, I'm 1 of Dina's groupies. And so it was so funny when
Amanne: celebrity you were the celebrity last time
Amanne: I was like oh, my God! What did I do? No, but it was so funny! And it was really it was amazing to meet you and your mom, and it was nice to have kind of like a moment of just chatting with another. And it was like, Yeah, I mean, we literally just randomly met
Amanne: on the streets of Paris, but like instantly were able to just like chat. And honestly, if, like both of us weren't on schedules, we would have probably just like sat and like chatted more, which is really nice. So.
Nisreen: My friends, and I was like, Oh, my God, I mean, obviously, my friends don't do tatreez, but like for me, I'm like Oh, my God, you know, if you're a Palestinian in the diaspora and you do tatreez, you you're gonna know who Amanne and Lena are, you know.
Amanne: Stop. Okay, let's move on. Because now I'm getting embarrassed.
Amanne: Goodbye.
Lina: Really, I'm at it. You don't like the attention.
Lina: Yeah, interesting. I like zoom you squirm a little bit. Stop.
Nisreen: It was very sweet. It was really nice.
Nisreen: It was a nice. It was a really nice moment.
Lina: I love this, I.
Amanne: I'll have to do it again.
Lina: Amazing. Okay, let's we'll rewind now that it's out of our systems. I'm happy that we started with that. But, nastine, we usually like to start our episodes by getting to know about you and your family's connection to Palestine, so we can go ahead and get started, and would love to hear more about that.
Nisreen: So I'm from Ramallah, and it's a village called Safa, which I don't know. If anyone knows very small village, I think in the I mean. I've never been to Palestine before. You ask me. I haven't been to my family left in 67 in the war, and they all live in Jordan, or.
Nisreen: you know, in America and in the Uk. And things like that. But like my grandparents, they all moved to
Nisreen: Jordan. So I've never been, but that's where I'm from. And I have been to Jordan. I've gone like many times. That's where my family live, and unfortunately I have never been to Falasteen, but, as
Nisreen: we all know, as Palestinians, even if we've never been, it's.
Nisreen: In our hearts deeply.
Amanne: Yeah.
Lina: And Inshallah.
Amanne: Never been either. And yeah, I have not been yet. And Inshallah, Lina and I are planning something. And hopefully everyone gets a chance to go because.
Nisreen: Inshallah! Inshallah! It's a dream. It's yeah.
Nisreen: It's the Palestinian dream, right? And we all dream that we go back and live there. Actually, I think that's actually the the true Palestinian dream, not to just visit our land, but to actually live there.
Nisreen: Yeah.
Lina: On Shalom.
Nisreen: Wednesday.
Lina: Yeah, I was somewhere I was. Oh, my friend had a brunch the other day, and we were, and I was. I pulled out my tatreez, of course, and we were sitting around chatting, and someone asked me, and I get this a lot. I think, also because I live in the city in New York City, and people are like, oh, like. So do you see yourself in New York for a long time like, where do you see yourself. Blah blah! I'm like I don't like. I don't know like my parents are in one place. My brother's in another place, like my family's all over the place.
Lina: and I always wonder about you know, when Falasteen is free, like, I say, I would like go back to Falasteen. But I wonder, I wonder if, like, we fantasize about it in the diaspora. And
Lina: I don't know. It's a tough. It's a really tough question. But we obviously need the option like that needs to be an option on the table.
Lina: Yeah, but I don't know. I'm curious like, how do you feel about that concept?
Nisreen: I think
Nisreen: I think that when we are free our country will be so incredible because we have so many
Nisreen: incredible Palestinians. And when I say, incredible, intelligent, educated, artistic. There's so much, and you know, not just in the diaspora, but also in Falasteen as well. And there's so many things that
Nisreen: I mean Palestinians thrive wherever they are. I don't know where it was, but I read something about how successful Palestinians are in the diaspora, and how educated they are. And this is, we're not even considering. There's also a sTatreeztic about in Gaza, their literacy rates right? So these are people that have such limited access to everything. And yet
Nisreen: they're very, very educated. And then also the west bank. And then you have to think about Jordan. You know the percentage of Palestinians in Jordan, and and you know what they make up of.
Nisreen: you know I don't wanna.
Lina: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Amanne: Yeah, yeah, we know, we know.
Lina: But it's like against all odds, you know, against all odds.
Nisreen: All odds.
Nisreen: Palace. I really do believe Palestinians thrive everywhere, and if you imagine how much we thrive everywhere, what how beautiful and amazing
Nisreen: would our country be, and I think we would just only care about us, you know, like just building our own country and
Nisreen: no outside noise. And I have a Palestinian friend, and she always cracks a joke. She's actually from 48, Palestine, and she lives there. So she has the
Nisreen: Israel.
Nisreen: and she still obviously has a hard time with certain things and going certain places, and you know she always makes a joke that when we're free she's going to work. She's going to work in our in our visa center, and she's gonna reject everybody.
Nisreen: What I do is get rejected. I want to do it nice to people.
Amanne: As long as she doesn't reject us we're good.
Nisreen: We're allowed back.
Nisreen: But I I
Nisreen: and I think maybe there are. There are. I'm sure there are a lot of Palestinians that we fantasize about it, and in the reality, like people have families where they are, and this and that. But I do think
Nisreen: that there are so many Palestinians that will at the drop of a.
Lina: Oh, yeah.
Nisreen: We'll go back home, and I can say that for all my family in Jordan I can say that for all the Palestinians I know personally. For myself, I can say that for sure. And I think we're just. You know. I think I we dream about it being so beautiful. And sometimes, I think, imagine how many amputees adults there'll be at that time, and that sometimes I'm like we also would have so much work to do.
Amanne: Yeah.
Nisreen: With mental health, with physical health, you know, like.
Nisreen: you know, these children that are amputees at the moment. They're going to grow up one day, and we're going to have a lot of disabled Palestinians, which
Nisreen: which is really heartbreaking. But I do think that we could, and we will. Inshallah, have a beautiful amazing.
Lina: Successful country, Inshallah, and I hope that sooner than later, and I hope that we all get to.
Nisreen: To experience, that.
Amanne: Inshallah, yeah, it definitely will not be easy by any means. I think that's where that's maybe one of the things that will be a hard pill to swallow that it's going to be difficult, and it's going to take time. But I think to your point, Nisreen, between the Palestinians that are already home, and the Palestinians that are waiting to come home. I think that we can take care of each other and support each other, and.
Nisreen: You too.
Amanne: Inshallah will do it soon, I hope.
Nisreen: Inshallah.
Amanne: I'm curious, you know. You grew up in diaspora in the Uk, right.
Nisreen: I was doing that.
Amanne: But you also spent a lot of time going to Jordan, where your Palestinian family was as well. What was it like? Like? What was your, I guess? What was your relationship to your Palestinian identity like growing up.
Nisreen: You know that joke of like stereo Arab stereotypes, and they say, like Egyptians, are funny, and this and that, and they always say Palestinians will always tell you. They're Palestinian, like multiple times.
Nisreen: you know, like.
Nisreen: meet them like they will just make sure that you know that they are Palestinian, and it's so weird, because obviously from a young. Ever since I can remember, I've gone to protests.
Nisreen: And I've I've always
Nisreen: I don't really know. I'm not sure I can't tell you. When I understood what was going on in my country. I don't remember that time when I learned I don't remember it, but
Nisreen: I just remember always being so proud of being Palestinian. So it's where I live, and I think the Uk. In general we don't have, and it's not like America where you guys have a big Palestinian communities. We don't have a lot of Palestinians in the Uk. So a lot of the time I meet people, and it's like the 1st time I've ever met a Palestinian before
Nisreen: growing up. I think now, because there's so many protests. And people know about Palestine a lot more. I think they've come across more Palestinians, but growing up like they'd be like, Oh, Palestine, where's that like? They wouldn't know, you know, or the typical Palestine Pakistan, like they don't know.
Amanne: Yeah, yeah.
Nisreen: but definitely like, since I can remember, I have, like always, wrapped like flag everything like if I find a T-shirt or my coffee, or whatever it is like. I'm always telling everybody, and I remember at school I always made sure that everybody would know about Palestine, and would all say, always say Free Palestine. I feel like I've always been so proud of it. I don't know what it is. I think it's just like an innate thing about being a Palestinian, and I don't know whether there's
Nisreen: like a subconscious connection to them wanting to convince people we don't exist, and us
Nisreen: going that extra mile to prove that we are.
Nisreen: Real. Do you know what I mean? Like we, we are a nation that does exist. We're people that do exist, and no matter what they do or how much money they spend on convincing people that you know Palestinians are are not real, you know. They they say they sometimes say you know we they're not. There's no such thing as a Palestinian just just
Nisreen: I think there's something in us that we just feel like. I don't know, you know, I think
Nisreen: only as a Palestinian, you can understand, but it's a joke. It's a Palestinian state, you know. They always say that Arabs of the Middle East. That will tell you constantly where they're from are Palestinians, and I feel like I've always been like that since I can remember, and I'm very proud of being Palestinian. I love it. It's a blessing, really.
Nisreen: We have such a beautiful, rich culture, and I think that's another thing, that
Nisreen: it's like a thorn in their necks, you know.
Lina: Yeah, today, yes.
Nisreen: It is yeah,
Nisreen: And going on into that about tatreez when I 1st started doing it. And I learned about the different motives and how they're connected to the land, and how each area that we have, like even the motives from those areas are connected to the specific area of Falasteen, where a woman is, from what she would wear from her village and her area, and and how it's specific. You know, what grows in that area would be on her dress.
Nisreen: You know what what animals are in that area will be on her dress and these kind of specific things. And I think that again is another just shows you how deeply rooted and connected we are to our land. Because, Eve not just Falasteen, as in general.
Nisreen: You could say all the Palestinian motives like No, it goes so deep that every village, every area, has our own specific
Nisreen: designs and patterns. And it's it. Just so. We're so deeply rooted. Our culture, our traditions, our heritage, everything. And I feel like this is another thing that
Nisreen: that they can't take away from us. It's not something that you know
Nisreen: a hundred years ago there are a few pictures. No, this is thousands of years old, you know this practice. And
Nisreen: this is another thing that just proves how
Nisreen: another thorn in their neck that
Nisreen: you know, like they, you know you can't deny it. Something like this. You can't deny it, and I think that's 1 of my favorite things about is because it's a Palestinian tradition that no one can deny is ours. You know.
Nisreen: No one can deny his powers and
Lina: And they've tried.
Nisreen: They will, they will try, but it's it's no matter what way they spin it. You can't. I can tell you what motives come from my village, and you.
Amanne: Opens.
Nisreen: Me what motives come from your village and why they're connected to that specific area. They can't do that. They have nothing in, you know. So I just
Nisreen: I just think, for example, something like tatreez. It's so beautiful, and it speaks for itself, you know, and and I think it it not only speaks for itself, but it just tells the story of a Palestinian woman as well, and how we are connected to our land. And I think it's beautiful. And yeah, I think when I started doing tatreez, I was like, this is amazing. I love being Palestinian, you know.
Amanne: Yes.
Nisreen: Yeah.
Amanne: We feel that we feel that. Okay, that's actually a perfect segue. So let's talk a little bit about how you personally started learning tatreez, because I'm sure the threes was always a part of your life as a Palestinian. But when did you pick up the needle and thread? Why did you pick up the needle and thread.
Nisreen: So obviously, we all know tatreez as Palestinians. We wear our dresses on Eid and and Ramadan, but I actually, weirdly enough, I think, maybe like 5 or 6 years ago, I was like, I want to learn. And I went on Youtube. And I had a look. And there was one video, and it just wasn't helpful at all like that was all that was on the Internet. And I tried to do it. And I was like, I can't do this like I just was like, I need somebody to teach me. And I think.
Nisreen: of course, like many actually, I think, like many Palestinian women
Nisreen: after October 7.th I don't know something just in my I was so I felt so low, and I think everyone did, and I think everyone does, and until now,
Nisreen: And you know, I've always gone to protests, and I've always boycotted. But you just feel so useless like I just felt so useless. And I was like, I don't know what to do like.
Nisreen: And it, you know, maybe to somebody that doesn't understand our culture. It seems a bit silly like. Oh, stitching is going to make you feel a type of way. But it it really does make you feel connected. And it really does make you feel like I'm doing something, because even if it's something so small, like learning about our history and our culture and our heritage, and and like, I said, finding out how deeply connected
Nisreen: this practice is to our land.
Nisreen: It made me feel like I'm doing something, and I know it sounds so ridiculous to maybe other people, but it does. It makes you feel connected. You have that kind of string attached to you and your country by.
Nisreen: you know, learning something that is only ours.
Nisreen: and yeah, I started, I think I again again went on Youtube. And I was like, let me figure this out. I'm gonna learn and I bought everything, and I was like, No, no, I'm really going to learn. And I think, Lena, I came across your page first.st
Nisreen: And I saw that you made your own sorb. And I was like, Wow, that's a dream.
Nisreen: How did she even do this like I was like, this is incredible, and I was like, let me just start off slow. So you know, I had a little bit of 8 o'clock, and I started to do different designs. I went on, pinterest and I found different patterns. And then I started learning. And then eventually it just I was like, I love this like, I love this so much, and it made me feel better, and and we can't ignore what's going on.
Nisreen: But it made me feel like I'm just doing something for my
Nisreen: country and for my people, and even if it's so small as it's learning more about our
Nisreen: our culture and our heritage, it made me feel a little bit better. And then I just realized I love this so much, and it's there's nothing better than sitting down and getting your tattoos out, and and then I did my 1st like big piece, which was my denim jacket, and I think I showed you Amanne when I met you.
Nisreen: Yes.
Nisreen: it's on my cage if anybody wants to go and see it. And I actually, at that point I was still
Nisreen: I was still like I figured out how to do, tatreez, but I didn't figure out how to make my own patterns, which I do do now, but I found a girl her tatreez Page, and she posted a pattern with Falasteen written in Arabic and a little design around it. And I was like, this is so nice. I'm going to put on a denim jacket, so I started doing it. And then, when I had finished it, I was like, there needs more.
Nisreen: So I ended up freezing all kind of the names of the areas of Falasteen on the side, and you can find it on my page if anyone wants to go and have a look at it, and I do also have a pattern if anybody wants to get it. If you donate to PCRF and you send me a screenshot that you've donated. I will send anybody the pattern.
Nisreen: But yeah, that's like my favorite denim jacket now. But yeah. So
Nisreen: I guess that's how I got into it, and it's just a way to make me feel more connected to being Palestinian, and, you know, feel like I'm doing something and not being so useless, even though I think we all still feel so useless whether you're Palestinian or not at this point, like, it's everybody that's having this feeling.
Nisreen: But yeah, that's how I got into it.
Lina: So that's a big jump. You you watched Youtube. And then you did your denim jacket. Was there anything in between.
Nisreen: There was loads in between. Yeah, sorry, from like one extreme to the other.
Amanne: How.
Nisreen: Oh, I did a lot of practicing, and I have a lot of insane. I don't know where they are messy pieces and but eventually you get the hang of it, you know. So.
Nisreen: Yeah.
Amanne: What was it for you that like got you comfortable to kind of make that that jump? Because you're like, I think, a lot of people. Now there are more classes and stuff, but there's also still people who are like in areas where they might not be able to attend a class in person or learning just by them, like on video, is difficult for them. So how did you go from kind of learning by yourself to practicing kind of getting comfortable enough to get to a denim jacket.
Nisreen: Practice, I would say, just keep practicing. Just keep doing it. And I definitely think what helped me was I?
Nisreen: I went on very random. But I went on, Pinterest, and I'm not even somebody that really uses Pinterest. But I went on there, and I searched trees patterns, and you'll be surprised. There's so much on there so many little things with explanations of what the designs are, you know little motifs. And I just started doing loads of little motifs, and then I did
Nisreen: a to 3 sampler, and I actually gave that to my brother to frame which he still, until today has not framed, which is very.
Amanne: Drag him, send him to.
Nisreen: He all listen to this, and he all because last time I went to his house I saw it, and it was just on the table, and I was like I made this.
Nisreen: I am. What's your brother's name? Let me shame him!
Nisreen: I'm out, I'm out.
Amanne: I'm on. I have.
Lina: -
Nisreen: So I did that. And then after that, I think I did a few more pieces. And then I was like, now I want to. Actually, I think I did a T-shirt, and I just did the flag on a T-shirt just to kind of figure out how to use the waist canvas, and then I figured it out, and I will. If anyone wants to do anything on denim.
Nisreen: I will tell you. Your fingers will kill and.
Amanne: Yeah, give us your tips. Give us your.
Nisreen: Oh, my!
Amanne: I think a lot of people see denim jackets and want to do them. And I'm not gonna lie. I I was with Paige, and Dana recently, and I. They both had really cute denim jackets, and I was like, Okay, maybe I should stitch a denim jacket. So tell us, tell us your tips and tricks.
Nisreen: Okay. So if I could go back in time because it ended up taking me a lot of time only. And I started just doing other things because it really hurts your something. It's really number one. Pick a really light denim
Nisreen: whatever type of denim, because the denim jacket I had had to be the thickest, strongest denim. I didn't even think about it at the time. I was just like, Oh, this is a nice jacket. This would be perfect. So I would say, make sure you pick a soft denim. If you want to do a denim jacket or any type of denim you want to any denim. Make sure it's a soft denim. Don't do what I did because you will put off finishing it forever. Your fingers will bleed.
Nisreen: they will crack. I like honestly a lot of vaseline when you go to bed. Obviously, when you're stitching, you can't have any vaseline. So a lot of vaseline when you go to bed.
Nisreen: But I would say
Nisreen: also a hoop, an embroidery hoop will really help you, because it's not like soft material where you can just go in and out from the front. It's something that you really have to go
Nisreen: down and out and in and out.
Nisreen: but yeah, I think those are my my tips just really soft, denim. Don't make my mistake, because it will take you a long time, and sometimes at some point it was nearly finished, and I just kept looking at it, thinking my fingers hurt. I don't want to do it, but I got there and.
Lina: How worth it is it now.
Nisreen: It is so worth it now it's so worth it, and every time anyone sees me wearing it they're like, is it for sale? And I'm like, no.
Amanne: Like it's mine absolutely.
Lina: Absolutely not.
Nisreen: But yeah, it's that's like, my, my.
Nisreen: I'm very proud of that piece. That was something that I'm very proud of. And my next goal. If you guys are going to ask.
Amanne: That's like.
Lina: Yes.
Nisreen: To make my thobe. So I have.
Nisreen: Yeah, I'm very excited. I have my
Nisreen: material. I bought my material in Egypt, which, if anybody.
Amanne: Thank you.
Nisreen: Anyone goes to Cairo I would definitely suggest, like they have beautiful linens and cottons, and I mean Egyptian cotton. It's like known for that, you know, but they're linen. I bought linen for this. I bought 2 different colors because I was still trying to decide whether I wanted to do a cream, thobe or a black thobe. I've gone with cream.
Amanne: Okay.
Nisreen: And.
Amanne: You get the type of linen that you're going to stitch on directly, or are you still gonna use waste canvas.
Nisreen: I'm going to use waste because.
Amanne: Okay.
Nisreen: Nanny, I'm not like you. You are the professional.
Amanne: No, I'm.
Nisreen: I've seen what you can do. I can't do that.
Amanne: I'm a crazy person.
Amanne: I'm not. Well, okay, okay, go on. Go on.
Nisreen: Yeah. So I'm I'm definitely gonna be using waste canvas one day I'll get there where I can
Nisreen: hopefully. But yeah, so I have my material. I have my pattern. I have cut a lot of corners. I can't lie because I have got some tips from Jordan, and I got a cutout in Jordan, apparently in Jordan. By the way.
Nisreen: they will literally cut the material out for you. Put the waste canvas on top like they will do everything I was like this is, I wish I could do this, but I really want to do it myself, you know, like I want to
Nisreen: get my hands dirty with it. But yeah, so I did get a cut out from from Jordan just to make things easier. But I'm very excited. That's my next
Nisreen: my next project, and then I also have, like loads of little random things, as you guys know, that I'm just working on and dipping in and out of. But yeah, I'm very excited to make my own thobe. I don't know how long it's going to take me. I'm sure you guys know
Amanne: Doesn't matter, it'll be worth it at the end.
Lina: Wait, tell us.
Lina: tell us more so. What are the colors of the thread? What kind of motifs are you thinking? Do you have a design.
Nisreen: So.
Lina: You said you had a design already.
Nisreen: They have a design already. And it's actually very colorful. So love. Yes, colorful on a cream, Sorb.
Nisreen: and I, of course, have the design that I did is all motifs from Ramallah, because I'm from Ramallah. So I thought the 1st thing for me to do, and I was thinking of whether I should do a typical ramallah dress where you know it's cream and red. That's
Nisreen: kind of more traditional. But I thought I have some already, so I want to make something really special myself.
Nisreen: and I don't.
Nisreen: Yeah, and I don't have a colorful one. So
Nisreen: that's what I'm gonna do. I'm very excited. I will be posting progress as I do it for you guys.
Amanne: Yes, yeah.
Amanne: That'll be fun to watch. I'm excited.
Nisreen: Lena, you definitely inspired me because you're really good with documenting your sometimes I forget, you know, like, even when I did my denim jacket. I started. And I was like, I'm going to document this. And I just sometimes you're just like, Oh, I just want to sew. And then you.
Lina: Yeah.
Nisreen: And forget it, forget about it. So I'm going to try and be on that.
Lina: No pressure. Sometimes it's fun not to think about it, too. You just journey.
Nisreen: Enjoy the peacefulness about.
Nisreen: I'm impressed that you already have your design done, and everything, too. That's
Nisreen: that was the 1st thing I did. The 1st thing I did.
Amanne: Oh, I love.
Nisreen: Yeah. Yeah. And I learned how to. I was like, I'm 1 of those people that if I see somebody doing something and like, I'm like I need to learn how to do it like I'm very like that. So when I saw people posting like their patterns, and I was like, oh, my God! I need to learn how to make my own patterns like it hit me. I was like I have to.
Nisreen: So I think one weekend I just I I signed up to
Nisreen: I actually use Stitchly. I think that's what it's called.
Nisreen: And
Nisreen: I was just like, I'm going to learn how to use this. And I'm not very technical. I'm not very good with that. But I was going to figure out how to do it, how to copy and paste and flip. And you know, because once you actually figure out how to do it. It's it's not too bad.
Amanne: Yeah.
Nisreen: So yeah, I. And then after that, I was like, I'm going to make my, I did a few different chess patterns. And then I was like, I need to figure out how I want to.
Amanne: Have my thobe. So it's going to be very colorful.
Nisreen: And you guys will see it hopefully soon. The progress is going to take.
Amanne: Yeah, no, it's all good, I think. Like
Amanne: I think Lena can speak to this more obviously, because she's been on the journey and documented the journey. But as somebody who just watches people's journeys so far, it's really nice to see the progress, and it's honestly.
Amanne: and it's like it's totally motivation for other people, too. That's
Amanne: is. That's why we all post our stuff like, let's be honest, like.
Nisreen: Yeah.
Amanne: Like a lot of it happened organically. And people are like people share. Others share their work because they want to connect with other cities. And it's it's fun. So
Nisreen: Yeah.
Amanne: Don't don't worry about how long it takes just to show us what you can.
Nisreen: Yeah, I will say, I don't know if you guys have this problem. But I definitely have gained back problems since doing. I don't know if this is something that collectively.
Nisreen: Yeah, I bet I.
Amanne: So I get it.
Nisreen: Yeah, posture issues. So I think if anybody is listening to this and they are going into, they're thinking of, like, you know, learning how to do to trees and stuff, I would say, get your posture before you start.
Nisreen: Yes.
Nisreen: out a way to sit and where you're gonna do it, because I initially would just do it like on the sofa sitting. However, you know, whatever.
Amanne: I am.
Nisreen: It caught up with me, it 100% caught up with me. So now, like I have to go to the study, I have to sit properly, and I have to. Then, you know I can. I can sit on my sofa for a little while, but if I'm doing it for hours. I need to. Yeah.
Nisreen: So I would. You know a little. A little tip for for the girls.
Lina: That's my immediate like.
Amanne: I know. I immediately started sitting up. Right? That is the life lesson that you gained from the threes. You already answered that question. Amazing.
Nisreen: Yeah, yeah, that's 100%, 100%. Because I threw up my back once. And I was like, I know what this is. I know where this.
Amanne: Oh, yeah, you know I have. I do my wrists. My right
Amanne: get. So sometimes I'll have to take a break from stitching. Yeah, someone told me to do acupuncture, and I did it one time, but I wasn't consistent with it, and it it did feel like it helped. I don't know but it was one time, so who knows?
Nisreen: I did have a massage actually, often, I think, but it's still there's how many massages can you have like if you're somebody that's constantly stitching like you're you're gonna so that's my my biggest recommendation is, find a position that gives your back support because it really does. It can catch up to you. So.
Amanne: I will say for the record. I can do weekly massages. If anyone wants to volunteer.
Amanne: you buy me gift cards.
Amanne: so okay, well, this thing you also mentioned. Obviously you already designed your thought. But you mentioned that you kind of like really wanted to start learning design patterns. You saw other people doing it. You wanted to do your own. I resonate with that because I actually saw so many offerings, for, like cross stitch like Western cross stitch patterns, and I was like, why don't we have that for the threes? And then started designing my own stuff? So
Amanne: I'm curious, as you've been like on this journey of as a designer, right as a pattern designer, whether it's for yourself or designs that you share with other people. What would you say, is kind of like your design, style.
Nisreen: Okay for patterns. I've only I've done. I've done a couple of like random patterns, like I did some
Nisreen: Palestine map patterns.
Nisreen: But mostly I'm doing chest patterns. I would say they're quite colorful.
Nisreen: I think they're quite colorful.
Nisreen: You can go on my page and see a couple that I have on there as well, and I also have them on my Etsy, but
Nisreen: I I don't know. I'm quite girly, so I really like very colorful things, and I think you can also see it in my tattoos as well like. You can see that I like to like mix colors, and I I like colorful things which I think is so nice about tattoos as well like when you find your own, because at the beginning you're doing kind of what you see, like you find you're learning how to stitch, and then you're finding little designs to learn how to stitch with, and but eventually it becomes your own.
Nisreen: your own design, right? We're artists in this field. So I definitely know. For me. It's I love a bit of color I love like a pretty design, like I'm very girly. So I like that kind of thing. So I definitely think it's come out in my patterns, which I never thought about before. But now that you're saying it, yeah, they're all very pretty and colorful and girly. I think that's what it is. Yeah.
Amanne: I love it. It's going to be interesting to see how your design style continues to evolve too, but I obviously resonate with the colorfulness. But I do. I also do want to say, like I absolutely love when Palestinians take the threes and make it their own, because, as Lena will co-sign. I'm sure you know the threes is all about story
Amanne: telling. And just because we are in 2025, whether you're a Palestinian living in Palestine, or you're a Palestinian living in diaspora like our stories haven't stopped so we should be evolving the threes to continue to tell our stories. And I love love, love absolutely love, seeing people's personal style come through in their it like warms. My little heart.
Nisreen: Same. Oh, that's you know, that's so true. Like, we're still Palestinians existing. And you know we're going to exist. And these things are going to evolve. So yeah, a hundred percent. I think it's beautiful. And I and I actually have noticed when I go on different to Therese artist pages. You will see everyone
Nisreen: eventually, you know, if they've been doing it long enough, will have their own style to it. And I think it's really nice. You know, I definitely will say that, you know with Amanne. If I see something I'm I'm sure I can tell. It's yours.
Nisreen: you know. If I randomly saw something. I'm going to know that it's yours, and I think that's beautiful, you know. I think that's really nice.
Amanne: Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. It's really cool to just see all the different styles and personalities come through through everyone's art. Yeah.
Lina: Yeah, nisdina, I wanted to ask you about the rest of your family. Did anyone else pick it up with you as you were learning. Have you brought anybody else into the session.
Nisreen: I'll I'll be honest. I haven't. And you know it's kind of funny, because I don't know if you guys have the same
Nisreen: situation with your families, but I told my family in Jordan, and they were just like.
Nisreen: Oh, this is so random, you know. I don't.
Amanne: If you.
Nisreen: Said the same thing. They were like, Yeah, this 3 is doing to trees like this is, you know, such a Valahi thing to do like back in the day, like.
Amanne: Oh, yeah.
Nisreen: Really. Yeah, I don't think anybody has. Nobody's picked it up. I think I want to go there and like, show them my my work and stuff so they can see. Maybe I might be able to pull some of my cousins into it. But
Nisreen: I think it's it's a bit of a it's a
Nisreen: I don't know whether it's maybe because they're in the Middle East, and they they are kind of more connected to.
Nisreen: You know more of our culture, even if it's not our country, for example, that they're in Jordan. But here we're kind of like very isolated. So what can we do that really does connect us to?
Nisreen: You know our culture more, maybe I'm not sure
Amanne: I think a lot of it, too, has to do with the fact, because Lena and I experienced this when we went to Jordan last summer, which actually, Lena, the one year anniversary, is coming up of our trip, I know, but when we were there one of my aunts was like teasing us. She's like you guys came here to do like the 3 stuff and meet like other people who do tatreez like. Why? And one of the things. I realized when I was talking to her more.
Amanne: They're so they are so used to machine embroidery and very cheap machine embroidery. So unfortunately, tatreez doesn't hold the same value to some of them.
Amanne: It's so mass produced. There, now, you go to like, and you can like, get stuff for like nothing. And it's you know, it shows. Yeah. But so I think that's 1 of those things. And like, I know, Lena and I have talked a lot about this for for people when you are able to like, pick up a needle and thread, it changes things
Amanne: like you. Then get to understand, you experience it. And it really really changes things for you versus just going to like, you know, some random like market that has a bunch of like cheaply made and cheaply priced machine embroidered like swab, probably from China, you know.
Nisreen: Yeah. And also, you need to remember, like, there are also a lot of people that are poor. So and if they're, you know, for example, you know my city. She would wear a thobe all the time, you know, but this is like back in the day. But now I think maybe the younger generation don't wear them that much, and then if they do, they're just gonna buy one from the market like you said. But I think this is another reason why it's really important that
Nisreen: there are still Palestinian women that are doing tatreez, because, we need to keep this alive. I think it's really important. And I feel like that's an example. Because maybe if they're closer to the land, and there are still, of course, Palestinians in Palestine that are still, you know, practicing this, but even there they are also wearing machine made.
Nisreen: Thorpe. So yeah, I think it's an example of why it is really important that we that we continue this and and learn it and
Nisreen: evolve it like you said.
Lina: Yeah. So I guess maybe a question that we had for you was, if you could speak to your past self the one the Nasreen that never really had picked up a needle and thread before you decided to go on Youtube. What would you say to her now?
Nisreen: What would I say to her
Nisreen: that you are going to love this?
Nisreen: But I also want to make sure that you set properly.
Nisreen: I told you that's my definitely my lesson.
Nisreen: Oh.
Nisreen: yeah, honestly learn how to sit properly when you're when you're stitching. You know what's interesting as well about saying like me, picking up a needle and a thread, even when I was like, I swear when I was like 10 I learned how to knit.
Nisreen: And I used to knit like obsessively. So I feel like I've always had that in me a little bit.
Amanne: Yeah.
Nisreen: And I feel like I don't know whether you guys the same, or whether you were interested in arts and crafts before, but, like I. I went through a phase in my teenage years where I constantly was like knitting nonstop. So I'm not really surprised that this was the one thing that I decided to do. I definitely, I'm like, yeah, this is definitely a bit of me. And it's just even better that it's, you know, ours.
Amanne: Definitely. It has a little deeper connection, for sure.
Nisreen: Yeah.
Amanne: Okay. So I do have one other question for you. I'm curious. I remember in the early on in the beginning you mentioned the fact that you didn't necessarily have a large Palestinian community in the Uk, like locally that you grew up with. Have you been able to use Tatreez to connect with other Palestinians. Obviously, you have, like, you know, Palestinians like globally like us. But have you been able to connect with other Palestinians more locally or non-Palestinian allies through tatreez.
Nisreen: Well, I would say so. I think I told you, Amanne, I've done some events, so we have a really great Palestinian solidarity campaign here.
Nisreen: And they, you know, every few months, I mean. Obviously there are protests nonstop like every week. There's protests here in London, or where I'm from or just.
Nisreen: there's always protesting. But then, every now and again they arrange events where we raise money for Falasteen, and there'll be bazaars so different.
Nisreen: you know
Nisreen: places selling olive oil and people doing Dabka, and, you know, like loads of different things. And by chance I I was at a protest, and
Nisreen: I said to one of the organizers, I said, Look, I have a bunch of little to trees pieces that I would love to sell for Falasteen. So if there's any time that I can just come somewhere where you guys are set up because they're constantly handing out flyers and things like this, I said, if I can just give them to you even, and you can sell them on, you know, on my behalf.
Nisreen: And wherever you guys donate your money, just kind of do that. And then he was like, you emailed us. And I was like, yeah, I did, because I actually emailed them. And he was like he was like we have, you know we are going to. And this is like kind of at the beginning of, you know, this few months after 7. So they started doing these Palestine events, which I think is amazing, because
Nisreen: I now get to see the support we have, which is absolutely incredible and as heartbreaking as everything is
Nisreen: when I go to these events, and I see how much people care like
Nisreen: it just gives me so much hope, like really people from all over the world that dedicate their life to their activism for Falasteen. And it's incredible. But yeah, and he was like, why can't you start coming to our events and having a store. And I was like, Yeah, that's a great idea. I'd love to do that. So I've done a few now, and I've also done a few workshops as well. And it's really interesting, because, you know, I also.
Nisreen: we do have an Arab community here, but a lot of the people that come, you'll be surprised are not actually Arabs. There's a lot of English people wherever they're from, and they're just so fascinated. And I think it's so nice, and even like telling people about the history of tatreez. And and you know, explaining the motives and and
Nisreen: and how I started it. And it's really lovely. So that's something that I have been able to do and connect with people that I guess are activists for Falasteen.
Nisreen: And then go do these events, and
Nisreen: That has also made me do little. I, you know. Sometimes you have to think if you're if you're at a bazaar, you're doing little like
Nisreen: pieces, knickknacks to sell. So I usually do bags, canvas bags.
Nisreen: and it's really nice as well, because then I get to just think about like just doing random patterns and like. And I've had a lot of fun of that. And they're on my page as well. And I think how you're saying like, what's my style like? And you can see in in the bags that I've done. I'm always like, I want to do this color now, and I want to do this color. And they're all very colorful. So yeah, that's I think that's something that has. You know. I've opened that door with the solid, the Palestine Solidarity campaign. And it just makes me feel like I'm
Nisreen: doing something, you know, we're all trying to do something. So yeah, that's kind of what I've had.
Amanne: I love it. No, that's really awesome. I'm excited to continue to see like your style evolve. I'm really excited about your thobe. I cannot wait. I love that you decided to do something colorful. By the way, like I really really do it like warms my heart. And again, like, I know I already said this, but the fact that you're making in your own and like doing your own spin like you're using your motif. So you're staying true to the rules.
Nisreen: Yeah.
Amanne: But baking it your own, and that's.
Nisreen: Yeah.
Amanne: Okay, so we know what's next on your journey. You're working on that. I'm sure that by the time this comes out you'll probably have some new patterns to share, and we'll obviously share that with people. But
Amanne: is there anything else that you hope to do after your thobe and like, what's the next step in your journey as a Tatreez artist, whether it's a project, or just in general, of like what you want to like, achieve as a Tatreez artist.
Nisreen: I think
Nisreen: I want to do definitely do more events, and I think I would love to do more workshops, because I think one thing that I realized about the workshops. It's a little bit like manic. I don't know if you guys have done any, but it can be a little manic, and especially when the ones that I did with the events I was like having, like 10 year olds, learn as well like they wanted to do it.
Amanne: I don't do kids.
Nisreen: We'll do it. Okay.
Nisreen: I love it, but it's very manic. But I have to say there's no feeling better than
Nisreen: just explaining the history of tatreez, and you know somebody that has never heard of anything. And like, really, when you see people's face light up, and they're like, Oh, my God, this is this, and this is that. And
Nisreen: and you're like, Yeah, this is an olive. And they're like, Wow, this is an olive. And I know, it sounds so like small. But like they're also so fascinated. I'm like this really is amazing, you know. And they're like, Wow, so these are all from different areas. And I'm like, yeah. And I show you know
Nisreen: how Palestinian women in each area would wear. I usually print out, have printouts of like women from each area, from Khalil and Ramallah and Gaza, and like all these places, and how they're all very different. But also you can see that they're all you know to trees is on all of them.
Nisreen: And I think
Nisreen: it is. It's so beautiful, and it's so amazing. And when you explain it and you, you know, you retell the story. You're like, Wow, this really is amazing. And I'm so, you know, glad to be a part of it. So I think, definitely do some more workshops.
Nisreen: and I hope that I can just.
Amanne: Spend my life making as many thobes as possible, and I know that sounds so dramatic. But I would love to, and Inshallah! One day
Amanne: sounds like a dream. I don't know what you're talking.
Amanne: Yeah, dream.
Nisreen: And you know, one day we'll be able to, you know, pass it on to our children. And like, I think it really is actually like a thobe is an heirloom, I think, like I really do think you know so.
Amanne: Totally.
Nisreen: Yeah, that's hopefully what I'll be doing.
Lina: I love it. I'm with you. I'll be there with you. I'll see you in 50 years, with all.
Nisreen: Yeah, yeah, that's that's the goal.
Nisreen: I don't know if you guys have seen that woman, and she's like showing all her
Nisreen: so up. And she has like. I don't know what she said, like 200.
Lina: Oh, really.
Nisreen: Yeah, have you guys seen?
Nisreen: I don't think I have to send you guys the video of her. She's an old Palestinian woman, and it. It's incredible! And she just has cupboards and cupboards of them. She's in Palestine we love.
Amanne: As long as I'm Palestinian.
Nisreen: It's the goal. Yeah, she's a Palestinian old Palestinian lady in Palestine, and
Nisreen: she has just cupboards of them, and they're all so beautiful. Yeah, I'll send it. I'll send it to you guys because you have to see that I'm sure you guys have seen the video. But that's the goal. That's the goal. Just.
Lina: I love it. I love it dreams, schools. I love it. Okay. And I know that we already discussed your major life lesson.
Lina: Hopefully. He is.
Lina: Is there anything else you want to add.
Nisreen: Are, that.
Lina: The back saving. That's a good. That's a good.
Amanne: Honestly, I love that as your life lesson.
Nisreen: I think
Nisreen: I think it's honest, because it like tatreez, is so fun. And so, you know, peaceful. And it's you know it looks great. But make sure you sit properly, freely, honestly, yeah, I think that's the best advice I can give somebody that's learning.
Nisreen: but I don't think I have anything else.
Lina: That's perfect.
Lina: perfect, Nisreen. Thank you so much for joining us. It's been such a pleasure, and let us know where everyone can find you also for anyone who's in the Uk like any specific cities that you've been.
Nisreen: Yeah.
Lina: At. Tell us all the places.
Nisreen: Yeah, Nisreen's threads on Instagram. You guys can find me and I have everything on that. Whatever events I'm doing, I always post about it, and then I also have my Etsy, where I'll I have patterns, and I donate the money to Falasteen as well. So
Nisreen: if anyone wants to have some beautiful chest patterns to do. You're also welcome to have a look at my Etsy and my page, or just message me. And also, if anybody wants to have any tips or anything like. I'm always happy. Sometimes people message me, and they say, like, How did you do this? Or How did you do that, and I'm always happy to help, because I love.
Nisreen: You know Palestinian women learning how to to do tatreez. I think it's beautiful, and it's also the community is so nice. So yeah, feel free to message me.
Amanne: Love that love that. Thank you so much for being here.
Nisreen: Oh, my! Gosh!
Amanne: Got it.
Nisreen: And I'm sure.
Amanne: Chat with you soon. We can't wait to see your soul.
Nisreen: For sure. Thank you so much, guys. I hope I see you again soon, and if you're ever in London like, tell me, please.
Amanne: Done and done.
Amanne: Oh, it's so fun that you guys met in the wild. I know
Amanne: it's like, so it's like so random.
Lina: I still love that so much that's so awesome. That's good. That means more. People are doing tattoos.
Lina: Yeah, thing.
Amanne: Yeah, no, it was really funny, because I voila! I my 1st thought was like, what did I do?
Lina: I thought I was in trouble.
Lina: Oh, it was really.
Amanne: And I'm I'm telling you. Her and her mom were so chic I was like, alright.
Lina: Really.
Amanne: Yes, I was like, Okay, hey? Cuties? But yeah, no, it was. It was really fun, and it was really sweet. And I love. I love those moments of like meeting the Tatreezers. I would have never expected to randomly meet at the threes or on the streets of Paris. But, hey, you know.
Lina: Yeah. Why not?
Lina: Oh, Bro, that's.
Amanne: But I do. I really love.
Amanne: I really really love the story that is already starting to be told through her thobe, and I'm excited to see it, because I love that she went, and like designed it, using her Ramallah designs her Ramallah motifs.
Amanne: but doing her own like color palette, and making it her own thing, like I resonate with that so hard. So I'm excited to see what it looks like, and hopefully we can motivate her to stay on top of her journey. You know what she's right, Lena. You are really good about documenting stuff. So I need you to continue to do that, and motivate other people too. Thank you so much.
Lina: I'm on it.
Amanne: You don't be doing content like that.
Lina: I'm doing my best, doing my best. Yeah, I love it. I love it. No, she'll she'll be fine if she got through a denim jacket. My goodness, it'll be a breeze.
Lina: especially if you got some Egyptian cotton like. She'll be good.
Amanne: She'll be good, I know also. Can we just
Amanne: talk about her life lesson I love like Nope, good posture.
Lina: Honestly.
Amanne: And I was like, Yeah.
Lina: Wrong. She's.
Amanne: Hot, though she.
Lina: He's gone.
Amanne: Like, I love.
Amanne: Yeah, it's a very real and practical life lesson.
Amanne: Yeah, I actually.
Lina: Do have a pillow. It's specifically for it's specifically for your back, and it's ugly. It doesn't like look nice, but I need it because I stitch all the time. I'm not going to sacrifice my stitching time
Lina: totally. I won't give it up so.
Amanne: Totally. I hear you all right. Well, as always. Thank you so much for listening to Tatreez talk. We want to hear about your tatreez journey. Share your stories with us at tatreeztalk@gmail.com. And we might have you on an upcoming episode. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening platform, and be sure to leave a 5 star review. You can follow me @minamanne and Lina @linasthobe and of course follow the pod @tatreeztalk. We'll talk to you soon.
