Needlepoint Tallit and Tefillin Bags
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| Material: | |
|---|---|
| Canvas, Cloth | |
| Style/Look: | |
| Individual, needlepoint embroidery | |
| Description: | |
| Needlepoint tallit and tefilin bags can be bought as kits or as a predesigned product. |
Needlepoint tallit and tefillin bags are generally colorful, often very detailed and illustrated. They are sold as 'do it yourself' kits or as predesigned bags. Some Judaica artists offer uniquely designed needlepoint talit and tefilin bags.
Contents |
Needlepoint
Needlepoint, or canvas embroidery, is an ancient craft that goes back to the time of the Egyptians and was very popular both in the Middle Ages and the Victorian period. Needlepoint uses an open weave canvas as the basic ground material on top of which a design is stitched using a variety of threads. These threads may be silk, wool, cotton or other combinations.
Thread Count
Choosing a thread type depends on the canvas being used, which comes in a variety of mesh sizes, known as the thread count per inch. An open mesh canvas allows thick wool thread to be used resulting in a fast tallit bag design since less stitching is required. Closer mesh sizes allow for the use of finer thread which can be used to create very detailed designs. This painstaking stitching can take a while and is more suitable for the smaller tefilin bag.
Needlepoint Kits
Needlepoint tefilin and tallit bag kits generally come with all the materials necessary to make the bags; the canvas, threads, design as well as a stitching instruction guide. Some companies prefer to just sell the canvas weave design alone, leaving the embroiderer to choose the quality, type and colors of the threads. An experienced needlepoint craftsperson can even buy all the individual elements themselves and design their own individual tefilin and tallit bag set, using a blank canvas. Even with set designs there is a lot of room for artistic personalization allowing creative individuals to create unique tallis and tefillin bags which will stand out in the synagogue for personal use or to give as a gift.
Needlepoint Designs
The design is usually preprinted or hand-painted on the canvas so that it is easy for the novice to follow. For the completely inexperienced needle pointer there are online videos, DVD’s, adult education classes, as well as numerous books and needlepoint magazines available.
There is a wide choice of designs for needlepoint tefilin bag kits, from very simple ones using only one or two stitches ideal for someone with no needle-pointing experience, to very elaborate designs using a wide variety of stitches for the expert stitcher. Design themes vary from traditional blue tallit bags with the person’s name stitched in a different color to elaborate views of Jerusalem as well as very modern abstract patterns. Needlepoint tallit bag kits can also be bought ready assembled so that the only thing that needs to be added is the needle-pointing itself, which makes it easier and quicker to complete.
A hand made needlepoint tallit and tefillin bag set is a unique gift either for a Bar Mitzvah boy or for a chatan (groom) for a wedding present.