reyl

I'm working on an exciting new sewing project, as you can probably tell.

Tiraz Bands are strips of fabric with Arabic writing on them, used as trim on coats and turbans. I've heard of them being painted, embroidered, or tablet woven... from different people. I've been trying to find something more solid than the painted miniatures to go on. I want to use the right technique and script for the ones I put on the coat I am making. Needless to say I squeed when I saw this picture:




I was able to decipher enough letters in it to create my own custom bands from a different phrase. I chose a line from the Koran: "Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth". (Part 18, 24 Surat Al-Nur, Verse 35)

الله نور السموت و الأرض

Here is a bad cellphone pic of the embroidery pattern:



Please note that the pattern is drawn in a small notebook. The lower part is a continuation, as this is a linear design. It will be embroidered in dark red, on some orange fabric, and will be trim on sleeves of a dark red robe.

Here is a link to the website I found the extant embroidery on: Mathilde Eschenbach's Medieval Egyptian Counted-Thread Embroidery Page.

[EDIT] AH-HAH! Here is the full size embroidered inscription, and more details.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الرحيم والمجد لله كثيرا ويشرفني أن الله والثناء على الله ودائم والذي يتحمله والبقاء لأنه لا يزال قائما. لصالح من الله ونعمة والنجاح والعمر المديد ليكون الخليفة المبارك ، عبد الله ، عبد Mugtadir بيلا ، أمير المؤمنين ، والله جعل له عظيم. في العام 313.

(Used google translate to flip the english text back to arabic, so I can try and decipher the embroidery letters better)
Original translation:
[In the name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate much glory to God and honor to God and praise to God, enduring as he endures and remaining as he remains. Favor from God and blessing and success and long life be to the blessed caliph, the servant of God, El Mugtadir billa, Commander of the faithful, God make him mighty. Year 313.]

We should have a stash sale and donate the proceeds somewhere for the Haiti relief effort. Here is my idea:

Everyone brings supplies from their craft stash that they are willing to give away. This could be fabric, yarn, pretty much anything. They tag it or bring a list with its approximate value. Those who want to buy from the stash pile make an offer, and others can try and beat it. The item goes to whomever is willing to pay most, and the money goes in the cash jar. We continue going through the stash pile throughout the evening. All proceeds will go to Haiti relief efforts.

Who wants to do this? Let me know and I'll see about hosting some.

If you're curious the idea for this came after a phone conversation with a new friend. kino_kid introduced me to Elsie the last time she came to town for an Animation convention. I was going through my wallet the other day and found her card. So I dropped her an email and asked if she'd like to meet for lunch or go to stitch 'n bitch sometime. She called me back last night, and mentioned her family is in Haiti and she's trying to get people to raise funds. She thought perhaps my stitch 'n bitch group could think of something.

Since I know *tons* of crafty people, I thought I would throw my idea out there and see if you can all get it going in your own circles. I think this would work for SCA crafters, knitters, sewers, quilters, pretty much anyone! If you have a craft group, go and suggest it!

Ottawa people, if you know any of the organizers of Spins 'n Needles, let me know. I'd like to throw this out there at them.

[EDIT]
My first thought is to donate the funds to MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES (MSF), does anyone have other suggestions?