The Hebron Region 

Al Khalil (Hebron) region dresses are festive and richly embroidered in cross-stitch embroidery on black or dark blue hand woven fabric. This area was noted for its small, neat tiny stitching which were considered more beautiful. Its solid embroidery that covered the fabric almost completely (talis) was valued more highly than lighter embroidery. 

The dress chest piece is embroidered separately and then sawn on the dress. Red and brown color silk  threads are predominantly used in this area’s embroidery. Other color like yellow, green and pink have been used to compliment the brown and red colors. 

Hebron dresses were often ornamented with applique’ patches, inserts and trimmings in taffeta (heremzi), satin and velvet. Red, green and orange taffeta panels were inserted on the sleeves, skirt sides, hems, cuffs and skirt front.

The headdress in this area was heavily embroidered circular cap (araqiyeh). Encircling the headdress is a band of coins (saffeh) of Maria Theresa silver coins. Attached to the headdress are embroidered hair bands made of wool  (lafayef) and terminated with tassels.

 In the late nineteenth early twentieth centuries brides of this area wore a spectacular headdress called wuqayet al darahem, which was worn only during the wedding ceremony. The headdress was adorned with hundreds of small coins all around it and embroidered in cross-stitch on the top.

Another striking coin ornament worn by the bride was a vest called  Miklab. This was made of a  red and yellow striped atlas satin silk fabric  covered with coins and other ornaments. 

In the Hebron area festive veils were made from three pieces of linen or cotton fabric with silk cross-stitch embroidery joined lengthways. Each panel has wide embroidery consisting of diagonal crosses, the pasha’s tent, cypress trees and rows of branches (irq al tuffah). Tassels of cotton fringes is attached on one side of the ghudfeh.

Girdles used in this area were made of red and yellow striped atlas satin silk fabric similar to the one used in Ramallah and other areas of Palestine.