Embroiderers through the centuries have turned to the chain stitch, especially folk artists. The stitch was a popular choice among Jewish mothers who embroidered Torah scroll binders to commemorate the births of their sons in 17th-19th century Eastern Europe. The embroidered chuppah scene above, created with chain stitches, is typical of scenes found on the … Continue reading
Probably the most popular Jewish good luck symbol today is the hamsa. It’s been around a long time–thousands of years. Here’s some background from the introduction to the hamsa project in the Sew Jewish book: Hamsa Your hand is strong. Your right hand, exalted. (Psalms 89:14) A tiny falafel shop I used to frequent in … Continue reading
Here’s the introduction to the tefillin bag project from Sew Jewish book. It’s one of my favorite project intros in the book, since there’s more to the simple tefillin bag than meets the eye. Tefillin Bag Set Me for a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm. (Song of Songs 8:6) The … Continue reading
When you’re writing a book about sewing, you get some of the most insightful questions from editors who don’t do a lot of sewing. And if you’re writing a book that touches on Judaism, you get some of the best questions from editors who don’t know a lot about Judaism. Enter my friend Ann, who … Continue reading
The slip stitch is a great way to sew a seam closed invisibly from the right side (outside) of a project. It’s a great hand sewing stitch to have in your repertoire. I’ve been using the slip stitch a lot lately, so I thought now would be a good time to share the technique: Start … Continue reading
Where are you headed this summer? Bring a sketch book. It’s the best way to capture sewing ideas that inspire you. A postcard captures an image, but sketching allows you to capture details, which is especially helpful if what inspires you are textiles and needlework. I made the sketch above on a trip to The … Continue reading
I first became aware of the fish as a Jewish symbol when I visited the Tunisian island of Djerba and saw fish painted on the walls of Jewish homes. They were stick figures, hand painted in Mediterranean blue and swimming against bright whitewashed walls. Since then, fish seem to be everywhere, and they’ve become … Continue reading
If you’ve ever wished someone “Mazel tov!” you’ve invoked Judaism’s mystical tradition, specifically its association with astrology. “Mazel tov” means “a good constellation.” This probably surprises a lot of people, since there’s a general understanding that Judaism avoids astrology. After all, a Biblical commandment states “There should not be found among you…one who calculates times” … Continue reading
The year I lived in Tunisia opened my eyes to a whole new world of Jewish culture, especially during the spring holiday of Lag b’Omer. The holiday takes place thirty-three days after the first day of Passover. In my American community, we celebrated with a picnic, but on the Tunisian island of Djerba, the El … Continue reading
For your Friday diversion: two videos about the new play The Cutting of the Cloth, currently premiering at the Southwark Playhouse in London. The play’s setting: 1953 London, where a Jewish tailor of bespoke, hand-sewn suits confronts change in the form of a successful new competitor with a sewing machine. The production is by Two’s … Continue reading
Yesterday a reader wrote to ask for advice on how to make a tallit katan, the small tallit typically worn under a shirt for daily use. It’s something I had been looking into although I haven’t written up a project, so I thought I’d share with you what I know. Because making a tallit katan … Continue reading
Adam Mendelsohn talks to Sew Jewish about Jews and the garment industry, his problem with the Tiger Mom, and history’s lessons for people who want to turn sewing skills into paying careers. The Rag Race: How Jews Sewed Their Way to Success in America and the British Empire By Adam D. Mendelsohn Amazon.com | Indiebound … Continue reading
Prints help make life fun. Polka dots, florals, checks, batiks, abstract designs — all add dimension to applique projects. We’ve collected our top tips for choosing them and using them: Match the scale of the print to the size of the applique. Small appliques call for small prints, otherwise the pattern will overwhelm the applique, … Continue reading
Here is Adin Steinsaltz, perhaps the pre-eminent Talmud scholar of our times, speaking about the many different paths to Jewish practice: “We believe that the Law has at least 600,000 different paths within it for individuals to enter. There is what is called ‘the private gate’ for each of us. And we each have to … Continue reading
I honed my skills in the home economics school of sewing, which is mostly about sewing clothes and choosing threads to match your fabric. But last year I took my first quilting class [at The Happy Quilter in Valley Cottage, New York – since closed] and learned the virtues of working with neutral colored threads. … Continue reading
Switch up your latkes with this sweet and savory combination of beets and goat cheese. A layer of melted goat cheese in the middle makes the texture rich and decadent. My daughter describes them: “Sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy.” Serve them with a crisp green salad to complement the the latke’s sweet, creamy richness. I was … Continue reading
Even in sewing, different schools of Jewish thought can clash. How big does a tallis have to be? Where should we put the tzitzit holes? Different veins of Judaism answer these questions in different ways. Does it matter that the different traditions disagree? In the most recent issue of the Jewish Review of Books, Leon … Continue reading
A huge thanks to Dr. Carol Gerson for sharing photos and details of this button-closure tallit bag she designed to accompany a hand-made tallit for a bar mitzvah boy. Making the tallit was a family project, with the bar mitzvah boy choosing the design elements, Dad on the sewing machine, and Mom helping out, too. … Continue reading
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