Appliqué (literally applying) is a quilting technique of cutting shapes of fabric and stitching them onto other fabrics. Often piecing and appliqué are combined when pieces of fabric are stitched together first with seams and then onto another fabric background.
Atarah (literally the “crown”) is the collar that orients the garment and is always on the outside upper border of the tallit.
Calligraphy – using pen and ink to create decorative letters. This may be done on fabric with fabric markers or dyes.
Embroidery – the use of colored threads and decorative stitches to create a design or letters on fabric. This may be used to decorate the tallit on the atarah, the sides or the corners.
Haftarah – writings from the prophets, selections of which are read to complete the message of the Torah reading each week.
Parashah – The weekly passage from the Torah. It takes its name from the first significant word in the section.
Piecing is a quilting technique of cutting fabric into pieces and sewing pieces together with seams. By careful placement of colors and values (lights and darks), shapes and patterns emerge.
Pirkei avot – the teachings of the fathers. Words of wisdom handed down through the generations.
Tallit – The prayer shawl worn by Jewish adults when they pray. It is rectangular and has special fringes (see tzitzit below) in each of the 4 corners.
Torah – the 5 books of Moses in the Hebrew Bible. A passage is read each week in sequence.
Tzitzit – the fringes in the corners of the tallit. The pattern of the knots and wraps are very specific and meant to remind us of God’s commandments.