A note from Palestine
There’s a family celebrating your order.
Shukran. شكراً. We’re so happy your piece has found its way to you.
Arroub Refugee Camp · Palestine
Ahlan wa sahlan · أهلاً وسهلاً
Hello from the Alraee family.
We’re the Alraee family, the Palestinian family behind By Palestinian Hands. We started this little business to share Palestinian art with more people, with the makers and their stories recognised along the way.
Many of our pieces are hand-stitched in Arroub Refugee Camp, south of Bethlehem, using patterns passed down through generations. So every order means something real to us, and to the hands behind it. Thank you for choosing us.
From our family to yours
- A Palestinian-owned family business
- Hand-stitched in Arroub Refugee Camp
- Every order supports the makers
02 · A gift for you
A little something from Palestine, for you.
Pick a motif from our tatreez and save it as a phone wallpaper or a print for your wall. No email, no sign-up. Just a small thank you.
Free for personal use. Designed by By Palestinian Hands from our tatreez motifs.
03 · Care & craft
What did you unwrap?
Tap your piece to see how to look after it, how it was made and a little tip from us.
Clothing
Caring for it
- Hand wash gently in cold water with a mild detergent, keeping similar colours together.
- Don’t bleach, scrub or wring the embroidery, and don’t tumble dry.
- Reshape gently and dry flat, away from direct sunlight.
How it’s made
Each design is hand-embroidered by Palestinian makers in Arroub Refugee Camp, south of Bethlehem. Many of our clothes are made to order.
A little tip
To press, use a low heat on the reverse side of the embroidery.
Bags & Accessories
Caring for it
- For small marks, gently blot with a soft cloth lightly dampened with cold water. Test a hidden area first.
- Don’t soak, machine wash, scrub or wring.
- Reshape gently and let it air dry.
How it’s made
Our bags and pouches are handmade in Arroub Refugee Camp. Small variations in the stitching are part of what makes each one yours.
A little tip
On velvet, blot rather than rub, so the velvet and the embroidery stay smooth.
Tatreez
Caring for it
- Handle with clean, dry hands and dust gently with a soft, dry cloth.
- Display away from damp, direct heat and long hours of direct sunlight.
- Support the fabric when you mount or frame it.
How it’s made
Our tatreez art is worked in counted cross stitch, every cross sewn by hand. It arrives unframed, so you can choose a frame that suits your home.
A little tip
Kept out of direct sun, the colours of the thread stay rich for longer.
Jewellery
Caring for it
- Keep dry, and take them off before showering, swimming or sleeping.
- Keep perfume, hairspray and cleaning products away from the fabric and fittings.
- Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth. Don’t soak or scrub.
How it’s made
Our tatreez earrings are hand-embroidered in Arroub Refugee Camp, then backed, finished around the edges and attached to silver-tone hooks. Our mother-of-pearl pieces are made in Bethlehem.
A little tip
Put your earrings on last, after perfume and hairspray.
Keffiyehs
Caring for it
- Hand wash separately in cold water with a mild detergent.
- Don’t bleach, scrub or wring the embroidery, and don’t tumble dry.
- Reshape gently and air dry, away from direct sunlight.
How it’s made
A classic woven keffiyeh, finished with a tatreez border hand-stitched by makers in Arroub Refugee Camp. Each careful stitch is part of someone’s working day.
A little tip
Wear it loosely as a scarf, or drape it over your shoulders.
Home & Art
Caring for it
- Remove the cushion insert before cleaning.
- Spot clean gently with a soft cloth lightly dampened with cold water, testing a hidden area first.
- Don’t soak, machine wash, bleach or scrub the embroidery.
How it’s made
Our cushion covers, coasters and tissue holders are hand-stitched by Palestinian makers in Arroub Refugee Camp. Cushion covers come without an insert.
A little tip
On coasters, blot spills straight away with a clean cloth.
Olive Wood
Caring for it
- Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry it straight away.
- Keep it out of standing water and the dishwasher.
- Display away from direct heat.
How it’s made
Our olive wood is hand-carved in Bethlehem, from nativity scenes and ornaments to bowls and keepsake boxes.
A little tip
Every piece has its own natural grain, so yours is one of a kind.
04 · Tap to discover
A little piece of Palestine.
Three small stories behind your piece. Tap a card to turn it over.
Tatreez · تطريز
A language stitched in thread
Tatreez is the traditional embroidery of Palestine, a cross-stitch passed down through families for centuries. Each region and village had its own patterns, so a dress could tell you where its maker came from.
In 2021, UNESCO recognised the art of embroidery in Palestine as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Arroub Camp · مخيم العروب
Where our stitching begins
Arroub Refugee Camp sits in the hills about 10 miles south of Bethlehem, on the road towards Al Khalil (Hebron). It was established in 1950 for Palestinian families displaced in 1948.
Today it is home to makers whose skill was handed down from mothers and grandmothers, and many of our pieces are stitched here.
Handmade · صنع يدوي
Why no two pieces are alike
Every cross is sewn by hand, one at a time, and a single piece can hold many hours of patient work. Because no two hands stitch the same way, small variations are part of its character.
Our olive wood and mother-of-pearl pieces are made in Bethlehem, each with the natural grain and shimmer of its material.
05 · Thank you, truly
Your order made a difference.
Every piece we send out starts with a pair of hands. Here’s what choosing one helps to carry forward.
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01
For the makers
Your order supports the Palestinian makers behind our pieces, many in Arroub Refugee Camp, who earn from the skill in their hands.
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02
For their families
That work helps support the families behind it, one stitch, one piece, one order at a time.
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03
For the craft
Patterns passed down for generations get stitched again, by hands that learned them from mothers and grandmothers.
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04
For the culture
Wear it, gift it, talk about it. Every piece keeps Palestinian identity visible in the world.
You’re part of this story now. We hope you feel proud of that.
06 · Add your pin
From Palestine, to you.
We’re stitching together a map of everywhere our pieces have travelled, from Arroub Camp to homes around the world. Add your town below and we’ll stitch in your pin.
Add your piece to the map
Got a photo of your piece? Tag us @bypalestinianhands on Instagram and we’ll add it beside your pin.
We only ever show your town, never your address. Your email is just so we can tell you when your pin is live, and you can ask us to remove it at any time.
07 · Share the love
We’d love to see your piece.
Snap it at home, out and about, or on someone you love, and tag us on Instagram. Seeing our pieces in their new homes honestly makes our day.
@bypalestinianhands
Leave a review
A few kind words go a long way
We’re a small family business, so every honest review really helps. It helps someone else discover Palestinian craft and choose with confidence, and it tells us how your piece is getting on.
Not sure what to say? Tell us what you unwrapped, how it feels, or who it’s for.
08 · A note from our family
We hope your piece brings you as much happiness as your order brought us.
Thank you for helping keep Palestinian work seen, loved and passed on.
With love,
The Alraee Family