Stitching Traditions: The Chai Embroidery Sampler

Crafting Jewish Heritage, One Stitch at a Time

Today, I am excited to share something close to my heart - the unveiling of the Chai Embroidery Sampler! This downloadable hand embroidery pattern is not just a craft project; it's a celebration of Jewish culture, tradition, and the art of hands-on creativity.

As many of you know, I think it's important to bring beautiful, meaningful Judaica into our homes and onto our tables. My inspiration for textiles comes from a deep connection to my grandmother, Ellen, a talented textile artist. Her legacy lives on in my love of knitting and my efforts to create embroidered Judaica pieces that resonate with modern design and life. 

chai" (חַי)

In Jewish culture, "chai" (pronounced "kh-ai" with a guttural "kh" sound) holds significant meaning. In Hebrew, "chai" (חַי) translates to "life" or "alive." The word consists of two Hebrew letters, "chet" (ח) and "yud" (י), which together form the word meaning "living" or "alive." This word carries deep cultural and spiritual significance in Jewish tradition, often symbolizing vitality, good luck, and blessings. It is commonly associated with blessings for health, longevity, and prosperity. In some Jewish communities, the numerical value of the letters in "chai" (chet equals 8 and yud equals 10) is also considered auspicious, representing the number 18, which is associated with luck and good fortune. As a result, the number 18 holds special significance in Jewish celebrations, such as bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, and other significant life events, where gifts or donations often come in multiples of 18.

A few years ago, I picked up embroidery because I was looking for a new textile experience that was more expressive and a little less robotic. I love, and my brain loves, the rhythmic nature of knitting and at the same time I wanted to create with more color and have something at the end that I could display in my home or on my table.  When I looked around for Jewish embroidery books and designs, I was struck by the lack of options. Not only were there very few books focusing on Jewish symbols and hand embroidery for our ritual objects, but those that did exist were so dated in style that I couldn’t imagine anyone choosing to make them today. I wished there was modern Jewish embroidery, but as I couldn’t find any, I decided to start making these designs myself. 

Doing embroidery has been fun and meaningful. This Chai sampler is modern and vital -  you can use it as a Challah cover, a decorative cushion cover or  display it on your wall. 

As a psychologist, I really believe in the therapeutic benefits of creative activities. Especially now, when most of us need activities which get us away fom our phones and laptop screens.  Embroidery offers a unique blend of mental focus and emotional peace.  I even heard this recent podcast describing the good it does to take intellectual breaks and focus on crafting. 

But there's more - this Chai Embroidery Sampler is not just a one-off project; it's a step towards a larger goal. I'm working on a proposal for a Modern Jewish Embroidery craft book, which will incorporate lots of fresh, modern designs for embroidery projects which celebrate our Jewish symbols and ritual objects. My aim is to fill a void in the crafting world, as currently, there are no modern Jewish embroidery books available. I believe our traditions deserve to be woven into the fabric of our creative pursuits, and that we can celebrate and honor our grandmothers without having to remain faithful to an aesthetic more suited to decades gone by!

The Chai Embroidery Sampler pattern that I’m sharing today offers two color palettes - one vibrant and one pastel - making it versatile for different preferences and occasions. Whether you choose to frame it as a wall hanging or you use it to grace your Shabbat table as a beautiful challah covering, the Chai sampler is a testament to the richness of Jewish culture.

If it feels right, please share this project with your friends and family who share a love for embroidery or crafts. I have kept it simple so expert embroiderers can embellish it as they wish, and those who are new to this type of crafting (yes, even children) can still give it a go and make something beautiful. 

Your thoughts and feedback are invaluable to me. Do you resonate with this project? Are you with me on the quest for modern and bright judaica and crafts? I would love to know! 

Thank you for being a part of this creative journey with me.

Am Yisrael Chai

Kenden