What’s a Good Size for a Wedding Chuppah?
Use this rule of thumb to determine the size of chuppah canopy that’s right for your wedding.
Latest Entries
Adventures in Mini Tallit Making
For the past few weeks I’ve been having fun working out how to make a doll size tallit. It’s not quite there yet, but it’s pretty close. For my first versions I tried woven wool fabrics so I would have fibers coarse enough to make little tassels at the ends of the tallit. I’m kind … Continue reading
10 Books to Celebrate Jewish Book Month
Here’s a huge thanks to all the Jewish authors and the publishers who bring Jewish books to life. To mark this year’s Jewish Book Month, I’ve gathered a group of Jewish book recommendations for your bookshelf (and kitchen shelf). Most of the selections are new this year, but for the Jewish sewing and needle craft … Continue reading
You don’t need to make a whole tallit. Just make the atarah!
If you love the idea of making your own tallit but the thought of taking on the whole project feels intimidating, I have great news for you: You can create a very special, personalized tallit by making only the atarah –the neckpiece– and sewing it onto a purchased tallit. The atarah is a long, narrow … Continue reading
For Brides, Pilgrims, and a Certain Angel: The Wreath as a Jewish Decoration and Symbol
Wreaths are not a major motif in Judaism, but Jews used wreaths as holiday decorations and wedding accessories even in antiquity, when the Temple stood in Jerusalem. Although today wreaths are strongly associated with Christmas, Jews made wreaths for Shavuot and other festive occasions before the birth of Jesus. And as a symbol, the wreath … Continue reading
3 Chuppah Frames You Can Buy Online
One of the most fun developments of Jewish wedding planning over the past few years has been the emergence of DIY kits that enable couples to build their own chuppah frames. While the first kits on offer were almost entirely made from birch branches, you can now find chuppah kits using a variety of materials. … Continue reading
Embroidering Sacred Texts – A Book of Judaic Needlework Designs from Rachel Braun
This month, when so many students are going back to school, seems like the perfect time to highlight Rachel Braun’s book, Embroidery and Sacred Text: New Designs in Judaic Needlework, in which Rachel draws on principles of mathematics to develop needlework designs that explore Jewish spirituality. Rachel teaches high school math and statistics, and she’s … Continue reading
How to Determine the Canopy Size for Your Wedding Chuppah Frame
Couples planning weddings have lots of options when it comes to their chuppah, and the person supplying the chuppah frame is often not the same person creating the canopy. How do you make sure the canopy and the frame will be the right size for each other? This blog post explains the dimensions that count … Continue reading
The Rose as a Jewish Symbol
Roses are red, or yellow, or blueish, But did you know they can also be Jewish? OK, that was kind of corny. And we all know roses come in a lot more colors, like white or pink or peach. But the rose’s status as a Jewish symbol is less well known. A Symbol of God’s … Continue reading
5 Tips for Using a Birch Branch Wedding Chuppah Kit
Are you sewing a wedding chuppah canopy or having one made for you? You’re probably also looking for poles or a frame to hold up the canopy. Birch branch chuppah frames are popular for weddings because they just look super charming. And birch chuppah kits can be ordered online, which makes them super convenient. Last … Continue reading
New “We will build this world with love” embroidery pattern
Here’s a new version of the Olam chesed yibaneh embroidery pattern. Earlier this year I posted a hand embroidery pattern for a tallit atarah (neckpiece) with the theme Olam chesed yibaneh. The English translation is “We will build this world with love” or “We will build this world with kindness.” The design was inspired by … Continue reading
Where to Buy Matzah Print Fabric
Online sources to order matzah print fabric for your fabulous Passover projects. Continue reading
Make a Hoopla! Add a Back to an Embroidery Project and Hang it Up
Have you ever finished an embroidery project and wanted to hang it up using the hoop as the frame? Use these instructions to add a back to a hooped embroidery project and give it a finished look. Add a ribbon, and it’s ready for hanging on a wall or window. For the hoopla in the … Continue reading
Sewing Book Review: Stitch-a-hedron! Is Just Plane Fun
Get Stitch-a-hedron! in paperback (Amazon) or PDF (Etsy). Stitch-a-hedron! the latest book by Cathy Perlmutter, is just plain fun. Or maybe that should be fun with planes, as in flat surfaces. All the projects in the book are based on polyhedrons, three-dimensional shapes made from flat surfaces. Combine six squares and eight hexagons, for example, … Continue reading
How to Play the Dreidel Game – The Rules in Fabric and Thread
It’s Hanukkah season and here’s your dreidel game refresher in fabric and thread. There are lots of variations, but this is the classic version as I learned it. Good luck! Start the Game At the start of each round all players put a chocolate coin into the center pot. The first player spins the dreidel, … Continue reading
This Cell Phone Bag Is Ready to Ship for Hanukkah
Did Hanukkah sneak up on you, too? Heck, even Thanksgiving snuck up on me. Only yesterday I realized I needed to check in with my kids on which foods they’d like for Thanksgiving. Then I realized Hanukkah starts only 10 days later. That doesn’t leave a lot of time for Hanukkah sewing. For folks who … Continue reading
Personalize Your Cell Phone Sleeping Bag
Personalize your cell phone sleeping bag, the cut-and-sew project available at Spoonflower (Cell Phone Sleeping Bag Cut-and-Sew Project), by adding your name with embroidery. You can use an electronic embroidery machine, of course, and you can also embroider a name by hand. If you’re giving the bag as a gift, a hand-embroidered name gives your … Continue reading
How to Sew the Blanket Stitch
The blanket stitch comes in handy for several uses. As an embroidery stitch, you can use it to outline an object and give it a real folk art look. Or use it to hand-sew an applique onto background fabric, like the hamsa in the photo. You can also use it to finish a narrow hem … Continue reading
How to Embroider the Running Stitch
This stitch creates a dashed line. Pass the needle up and down at equal intervals through the layers of fabric or trim. A typical stitch length is about 1/8” (3mm), but you can adjust the length based on the materials you’re working with. If the fabric allows, you can make more than one stitch at … Continue reading
Sew Jewish 