Sewing For The Home At Passover Time

This year, Passover begins on April 14th and ends on April 22nd. Around the world, families are gathering for the traditional Seder feast.

More and more I am discovering the significance of Passover and the Seder feast and its ties to Christian tradition.

Over the years, some very dear Jewish friends and I have come to appreciate our mutual traditions and come together to share all major holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Passover and Easter.

We actually look forward to our holiday get-togethers. Now that the Passover/Easter season is upon us, we are already making preparations.

I’m not sure what or even if I will be doing any sewing for the occasion, but I have been doing some research on making items for the home to commemorate Passover.

It was no surprise to discover that there are an almost infinite number of choices when it comes to sewing decorative items for the home to celebrate Passover.

Passover Sewing Projects

On a visit to the Sunshine Sewing and Quilt Shop in Margate, Florida, I came across several kits for sewing Passover specific table decorations – specifically a table runner, matzo cover and placemats.

The kit that really drew me in was the one that includes fabric that looks almost exactly like matzo.

When attached to quilt batting and with straight lines quilted about one inch apart, this fabric looks so much like the real thing, you are tempted to break off a piece and pop it into your mouth.

It isn’t necessary for you to purchase the kit with the fabric. If you choose, you can also purchase the kit without the fabric for a reduced price and use your own fabric combinations to make your Passover table décor.

If you are in South Florida, you can drop by the Sunshine Sewing and Quilt Shop to pick up your own Passover kits.

They are open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10AM until 5PM; 10AM until 4PM on Saturday and from 10AM to 9PM on Thursdays.

If you can’t get there, visit them online at sunshinesewing or give them a call at 954.971.4810. Be sure to tell them that you saw this article. The folks there would really appreciate knowing how you learned about their store.

Passover Sewing Ideas From The Internet

No doubt, you will also be able to find Passover sewing ideas in your own local area as well as on the internet. Some online sewing patterns are free of charge. Others are available for a fee.

If you look at the offerings on allfreesewing, for instance, you will find only two free sewing projects for Passover – a kippah, which in my opinion, can be used all year round and an easy to make Passover pillow cover that almost any beginner would be very comfortable with making in a single afternoon.

Other websites, however, have lots and lots of Passover craft and sewing projects that you can make and even several that get the children involved as well.

During my online search, I came across creativejewishmom, a blog that appears to be devoted to Jewish holiday sewing and crafting projects.

Unfortunately, however, I found all sorts of Passover craft projects, but nothing that required any sewing – not even for beginners.

There is also sewjewish. I found some great ideas for sewing home décor items for Passover there, including quilted matzo covers, pot holders, napkins, coasters, table runners, place mats, casserole covers, and Seder plate mats.

One of the things I discovered on this site was what they call the first ever Jewish craft and quilting swap, where people can upload and share their own Passover sewing and quilting projects.

I even came across a video tutorial for sewing a pomegranate. I don’t think the pomegranate is a Passover specific item, but it’s there nevertheless.

The deadline for sharing ideas is April 12th, so if you have an idea to share, time is getting short. If, however, you are looking for a Passover sewing idea, I believe you can wait as long as you like.

One thing I noticed, however, was the fact that the work highlighted as sewing projects for Passover featured Menorahs, which I thought was used at Hanukkah, not Passover.

No doubt, that was just a minor oversight on the part of the webmaster which will be corrected in the very near future.

Other sources for Passover sewing projects include designs by Anita Goodesign. I find lots of great quilt kits by Anita Goodesign at Cynthia’s Fine Fabrics in Tamarac, Florida.

If, however, you cannot find them in your local area, you can get them online at anitagoodesignonline.

This is a company that has been around for a long time and has a well-established reputation for creating some of the most popular quilt designs available for the home sewer.

A cursory search of the Anita Goodesign website reveals that there is a Jewish Traditions quilt kit that includes several items, including Passover table runners, and several variations of the Star of David and Elijah’s cup.

Conclusion

When it comes to preparing for Passover and the Seder feast, it is important to remember that there is no hard and fast rule that you have to decorate your home for the occasion.

Many people, however, do choose to take extra steps to make their homes reflect the solemn tone of the occasion. Setting the Seder table with the Seder plate is a must.

Decorating it with your finest china, crystal and tableware including Passover table linen is a wonderful way to deliver a message to your family and guests that this is, indeed, a very special day.

If you are like my sewing buddies and me, you look forward to putting your hand and talents to anything and everything that you consider to be special in your home, and that especially goes for the accent pieces, including your table runner, napkins, matzo cover, placemats and Passover pillows.

If you want to, you can even make kippahs and yamukahs for the men and boys in attendance that compliment your table linen.

Making your own home décor items is probably the one and only way to guaranteeing that you have exactly what you want – the perfect accents for your home. The good news is you could probably get it all done in a single day.
Happy Stitching.