Every September, backpacks fill up with the same things: notebooks, pens, planners. A tatreez bookmark is the small exception. It does the same job as any bookmark, but it carries centuries of Palestinian embroidery tradition between the pages, and someone stitched it by hand.
What makes a tatreez bookmark different?
Tatreez is traditional Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery, passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Most bookmarks are printed. A tatreez bookmark is individually hand-stitched using these traditional techniques, worked on natural fabric and finished with a tassel. The result is lightweight and durable enough for everyday use in books, journals, and planners.
If you are new to this art form, our guide to what tatreez is and where it comes from covers the history in depth.
The patterns and what they mean
Our bookmarks come in five designs, each inspired by traditional motifs and regional embroidery patterns: Turquoise Thobe, Indigo Olive, Olive Tatreez, Yafa Flower, and Hazelnut. In tatreez, motifs are not decoration for its own sake. Patterns historically identified a woman's village and region, and motifs like the olive branch and the cypress tree tie back to the land itself. We break down the most common symbols in our guide to tatreez patterns and their meanings.
Who stitches them
Each bookmark is made in our own workshop in Jordan, stitched by the women we train and employ there. This is the same workshop that produces all of our tatreez embroidery, and the training gives each artisan a trade she keeps for life. When you look closely at the stitching on your bookmark, you are looking at hours of one person's patient work. You can read more about our production and family history on our factory page.
Why they make a meaningful back-to-school gift
A good back-to-school gift for a student, a teacher, or a friend starting a new semester is small, useful, and personal. A tatreez bookmark is all three. For students in the diaspora, it is also a quiet way to carry identity into a lecture hall or library. For teachers, it is a gift that says more than a mug ever could. And because each one is hand-stitched, no two are exactly alike.
How to care for an embroidered bookmark
Treat it like any embroidered textile. Keep it dry, avoid pulling at loose threads, and spot clean gently if needed. With basic care, the stitching will outlast the books it marks.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tatreez bookmark?
A bookmark decorated with tatreez, the traditional Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery. Ours are hand-stitched on natural fabric and finished with a tassel.
Are tatreez bookmarks really handmade?
Yes. Every bookmark is individually hand-stitched in our workshop in Jordan by the women we train, using embroidery techniques passed down through generations.
What designs are available?
Five designs, each based on traditional motifs: Turquoise Thobe, Indigo Olive, Olive Tatreez, Yafa Flower, and Hazelnut.
Do they work in planners and journals?
Yes. They are lightweight and flat enough for planners, journals, and textbooks alike.
Ready to gift one, or keep one for your own reading list? Shop our handmade tatreez bookmarks. If you want to bring more tatreez into daily life, our tatreez coasters and home decor guide is a good next read.
