Otomí embroidery, also known as Tenango embroidery, is attributed to the indigenous Otomí-Tepehua community in the mountains surrounding Tenango de Doria in the state of Hidalgo. This region is known as “the cradle of embroidery” due to the community’s dedication to the craft.
Otomí artisans draw inspiration from daily life, resulting in work that typically depicts images of local festivities, harvests, religious ceremonies, natural landscapes, plants, and animals. Many Otomí artists add mythological creatures, abstract designs, and fantastical plants to their embroideries.
In addition to its distinct and joyful imagery, Otomí embroidery is well-loved for its vibrant use of color. Otomí embroidery technique maximizes the amount of colorful thread on the fabric by tactfully using what is available and minimizing thread on the backside.
In this workshop, participants will embroider a common Otomí motif at home, while learning about the history and deep cultural significance that embroidery plays in Mexican culture.
Date
Thursday, May 14th, 2026
Time
12:00-2:30 pm ET
Location
Zoom, a link will be sent to participants the day before class
Cost
$75
Recording
All World Embroidery Series sessions will be recorded. A link to each recording will be emailed to all registrants following the live session. Each link is live for three months after the live session.
Class Materials:
- Medium-weight cotton fabric in natural/white color, 10 x 10 inch square
- Embroidery needle (Size 7 or 9)
- 6-strand embroidery thread, separated into 3 strands, in an assortment of bright colors
- 6-inch embroidery hoop
About the World Embroidery Series
TATTER’s World Embroidery Series is a celebration of global embroidery craft. Sewists will encounter an astonishing array of culturally specific techniques, and will have the opportunity to learn from accomplished practicing teachers who are equally purposed in preserving heritage techniques.
Our Teacher
Maité Jiménez is a textile artist and teacher born and raised in Mexico City, where she has been surrounded by textiles all her life. As a child, Maité’s grandmother embroidered and made bobbin lace, while her mother and aunts would embroider, weave, and knit. This early exposure to textile creation led Maité to study Textile Design at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, where she deepened her exploration of the textile arts. Maité went on to work in automotive textiles for 7 years with Guilford Mills in Mexico City, specializing in Jacquard weaving, but remained fascinated by her country’s rich textile traditions and began a self-guided immersive exploration of Mexican textile traditions. Maité has researched and studied traditional techniques with artisans from Oaxaca, Chiapas, Hidalgo, Puebla, and State of Mexico. Through this journey, Maité has learned how challenging it can be to find teachers of traditional Mexican textile techniques. Now, Maité makes these learnings more accessible to curious minds like herself by running an Airbnb experience in which she shares her passion for traditional Mexican textiles with textile lovers from around the world. Maité also works alongside her sister, making costume pieces for independent theater, film, and dance companies.