How to Create Your Own Tallit
A tallit is a traditional Jewish prayer shawl that a man drapes around his shoulders and back when praying to God either at home or in a synagogue.The tallit has tzitzit, or fringe, on each of its four corners. The tradition of wearing the fringe stems from the Book of Numbers in the Hebrew Bible; the fringe acts as a reminder to observe God's commandments. Ready-made tallites and kits for making them are available, and many people purchase them. Making your own, however, will display your originality and creativity.
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Things You'll Need
- White material
- Colored threads
- Striped strips
- Fringe
- Design material
- Hole puncher
- Needle(s)
Instructions
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Measure the size you'll need for the garment. Take a tape measure and calculate the amount of material you'll need for a loose-fitting shawl that will wrap around the back and come around the neck to the approximate level of the buttocks. Pick a fabric 45 inches wide if you're of average height; larger or taller people may require 54- or 60-inch-wide fabrics. Include in your calculations a few inches around the border for a hem.
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Select the type of cloth you want. Use silk, wool or linen. Don't combine wool and linen because blending plant fibers and animal fibers is forbidden by Jewish law. Check the reverse side for knots or flaws in the fabric; avoid a scratchy wool or slippery silk. Purchase your fabric from a reliable store to obtain good quality.
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Hem the edges around the cloth so they don't fray. Create an original but simple design for the body of the tallit. Use artistic scenes from Jerusalem, biblical items such as King David's harp or any other Jewish symbols or prayers. What your design is made of is optional, although appliques are popular.
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Sew the decorations with silk or cotton thread. (Use a needle the appropriate size for the thread.) Add as many strips as you want of blue, black and/or silver across the tallit near the two ends, parallel to where the tzitzit will be.
Make a fringe edging by unraveling several inches of the fabric or by affixing a ready-made fringe decoration along the bottom of the tallit. This fringe will be in addition to the tzitzit.
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Create a crown, which is the band that covers the neck part of the garment. Sew the band to the top part of the tallit. (You can use the crown to figure out which side of the tallit is placed around the neck.) Put a prayer or decoration on this strip by using fabric paint or sewing on a pre-made design. Although not mandated, reproducing the first prayer recited when putting on the tallit is popular.
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Plan for tzitzit to be placed on the four corners. Make a hole by hand or machine. Use a button-hole cutter if that's more convenient. Place the hole 2 to 3 inches from the edge of the tallit. Take 4 strands of thread and place them through the hole. They should be the same length, except for one strand that should be left longer. Use the longer thread to wrap around the others; knot the strands five times, leaving the rest hanging.
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Purchase four ready-made tzitzit from a Judaic store if you don't want to make them yourself. Affix them to the corners of the tallit.
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Tips & Warnings
Create a tallit bag with leftover fabric to hold and preserve the tallit. Fold a 24-inch piece of fabric in half. Sew together the 12-inch sides and place a zipper or velcro on the top to close the bag.
References
Resources
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